Originally Posted by
tide
Question #1: I've been screened 4 out of the last 5 arrivals NRT-IAD on UA/NH that lands late at night. There are multiple flights arriving at the nearly the same time in same terminal so not sure if that's a factor.
Be prepared for bags to be checked. If I were you, I would bring your chew on your person, not bags. Nobody's going to jail for this. They will likely just confiscate if discovered, with a warning.
(bold added)
Not quite. If during a search any tobacco products are found, there will be a substantial fine for failure to declare a restricted item (tobacco), as well as charges for excise taxes. There isn't an option to just walk away and allow confiscation. On the other hand, I think that upon payment of fines and taxes Customs will allow the tobacco to be brought in.
On the screening, it could be random, or it could be responding to a security alert. I've been on these UA/NH flights fairly often and am generally allowed to walk right through.