Is mate de coca going to get me in trouble with customs when I land in Los Angeles, California from Peru?

Question

I have a small amount of coca tea with me (100 tea bags), and I am leaving for Los Angeles from Peru tomorrow. I wanted to know if customs would give me trouble, and if they do... what should I say?

Answer 1

I landed in Seattle from Peru about a month ago, and they went through everything I had looking for coca leaves.  They flipped through all my books, everything.

Answer 2

Yes. If they realize what it is. The D.E.A. of the United States has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to cocaine in any form. This could be a serious offense.

Answer 3

I dont think so. It is just  an infusion, In Peru  is sold in any market like this :.

http://www.foodite.com/photos/posts/cusc...

http://roian.cl/venta.roian.cl/venta/te1...

Answer 4

The stuff in coca tea isn't cocaine, you'll be fine.  If worse comes to worse, they'll simply confiscate it and then tell them that you didn't know.  Mate de coca doesn't have cocaine.

Answer 5

as stated above, Coca leaves are not cocaine, but they are still prohibited in the United States.

You'd be smart to skip the leaves and order Coca tea bags from an international grocer.  There are plenty of them online.

Answer 6

You cannot bring the LOOSE leaves out of the country..but if you bought them in the box of 100 tea BAGS, that's fine.  I just came from there 3 weeks ago and I bought a ton of the tea BAGS out, no problem.  But you cannot bring the LOOSE leaves out.

Answer 7

As a rule, coca tea IS confiscated at the border during customs. It's discovery will also prompt further examination of your luggage and belongings... a pain in the #$% even if you are not carrying anything else.  

BTW and FYI if you have been ingesting coca tea while in Peru (commonly used for stomach ailments as well as the alleviation of altitude sickness symptoms) and you have to undergo a urine drug test in the next few days be sure to let them know that you have been drinking the tea on the list of meds/herbs etc that you will provide the tester.  You WILL test positive for cocaine metabolites for a few days after drinking the tea.

Answer 8

You can buy Mate de Coca at almost any Trader Joes & also at Bay Cities Deli on Lincoln in Santa Monica. I brought back dulce de leche from Argentina & then found the exact same thing at the deli. That place RULES. They even sell the gords for the mate.

Have fun on your last night in Peru!!!! I miss it!

: )

Answer 9

first  : it's prohibited to bring any type of plants, dead or alive. .

second; Coca leaf is considered to be a drug

3rd : drug import is very harshly punished..

The plane will arrive from PERU  so it will be regarded as suspicious for drug import.

don't be stupid and do not bring this in the USA.. unless you like to watch your back when you take a shower.

Answer 10

They will probably take it eventhough it's completely ridiculous since coca is NOT cocaine and the amount of cocaine you could make form 100 teabags wouldn't even make a fly space out....

Good luck and I am curious to know if you managed to take it along in the end....