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Language Foundation

held by customs

It is a status in which a shipment is being detained by customs authorities and not released for onward transport until customs clearance is completed.

In plain English

Customs has stopped the shipment from moving on. It remains with the customs authorities and cannot continue its journey until the required clearance is finished.

In context

Here, it reports that the shipment is currently detained by customs and has not been released to continue transport because clearance is still not complete.

Situation
Completing customs, import, export, duty, declaration, and clearance administration
What it communicates
reports that the shipment is currently being held in customs.

Meaning limits

The term by itself does not say why customs is detaining the shipment or how long that detention will last.

Examples

“The parcel is held by customs and cannot continue to the next airport yet.”

Core meaning

“We were told the crate is still held by customs, so the carrier has not moved it on.”

In context

  • detained Broader Term

    This is a customs-specific case of being detained.

  • customs cleared Opposite

    This indicates release after customs clearance, not detention pending clearance.