Prohibited items
A prohibited item is one the destination's customs authority will not accept under any circumstances — no permit, no quantity reduces the prohibition. Attempting to import a prohibited item leads to seizure, destruction, and (depending on the substance) criminal referral. This is a safety + compliance reference.
Safety + legal-compliance focus. This site does not and will not provide guidance on evading customs prohibitions. Where an item is prohibited, the correct action is not to attempt import.
Most-prohibited items globally (30)
- FirearmsProhibited in 163 indexed countries
- Pepper SprayProhibited in 162 indexed countries
- Pocket KnifeProhibited in 162 indexed countries
- Cannabis SeedsProhibited in 152 indexed countries
- CBD OilProhibited in 151 indexed countries
- Counterfeit GoodsProhibited in 115 indexed countries
- Sporting ammunitionProhibited in 103 indexed countries
- Ivory & CITES-Listed ItemsProhibited in 65 indexed countries
- AntiquitiesProhibited in 53 indexed countries
- Collectible coins (numismatic)Prohibited in 50 indexed countries
- Vape / E-CigaretteProhibited in 49 indexed countries
- Alcohol / SpiritsProhibited in 44 indexed countries
- Tobacco CigarettesProhibited in 38 indexed countries
- Adderall (Medication)Prohibited in 23 indexed countries
- Codeine (Medication)Prohibited in 16 indexed countries
- KhatProhibited in 15 indexed countries
- Tramadol (Medication)Prohibited in 13 indexed countries
- Body ArmourProhibited in 12 indexed countries
- Night Vision DevicesProhibited in 10 indexed countries
- Meat ProductsProhibited in 8 indexed countries
- KratomProhibited in 6 indexed countries
- Fresh FruitProhibited in 4 indexed countries
- Vyvanse / LisdexamfetamineProhibited in 4 indexed countries
- Satellite PhoneProhibited in 3 indexed countries
- Poppy SeedsProhibited in 3 indexed countries
- Dairy ProductsProhibited in 3 indexed countries
- E-Cigarette Liquid (Vape Juice)Prohibited in 3 indexed countries
- Chewing GumProhibited in 2 indexed countries
- Seeds & PlantsProhibited in 2 indexed countries
- Religious ItemsProhibited in 1 indexed countries
Common bases for prohibition
- Narcotic + psychotropic substance control — UN conventions.
- Endangered species (CITES) — wildlife, ivory, certain timber.
- Counterfeit / intellectual-property infringement.
- Cultural property — antiquities, ceremonial objects.
- Weapons — firearms, ammunition, certain bladed weapons, biological + chemical weapons material.
- Biosecurity — specific food / animal / plant categories.
- Sanctions — country-specific blocks on certain goods.
- Obscenity + child-safety law.