Hi,
I happened to be reading these posts during a break at work and realized some pertained to me, lol.
I am the poor guy Rob was referring to. I paid a $2500 fine to the USDA for buying some plants from Malaysia(N. ramispina and large red sanguinea). And yes, I did have an import permit. I was waiting for the stickers(they negelcted to send them-twice) when the guy in Malaysia launched the shipment. Even though had a permit that pre-dated the infraction, and Phyto and CITES are supplied on the other end, since I ordered them, the USDA considered me the catalyst of the whole thing. I might have been able to take this to a hearing and win, but the fine could have gone as high as $10,000 if they thought me guilty. Because the guy lied about the contents, that is called smuggling. Also, a insect crawled into the box, to make things worse.
I hope that clears some things up.
Joe