I suspect that it may be the result of a chain of events:
1. 9/11/2001 occurred
2. All packages are likely to be scrutinized more (before, they could possibly feign ignorance).
3. Since they can tell what is in it at that point, they charge duty, which probably is in fact required.
Has anyone else suddenly been hit for duty? ... Or is Bush trying to reduce the budget shortfall due to the war?
Cheers...Gary (who pays some horrendous duty AND VAT here)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gary Mason Haarlem, The Netherlands ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~