11 Apr 2023
The Duty Free Shop in the Huatulco Airport is for passengers returning to a foreign country, e.g. Canada. Beware if you are connecting through Toronto or any other Canadian city if you leave the security zone. Here’s what happened to me on April 1/23: I bought a bottler of tequila in the duty free shop. This was a bad decision because the tequila is cheaper in downtown Crucecita or at the Chedraui. Our luggage was checked straight through to Ottawa from Huatulco. We only had carry on luggage. Upon arrival in Toronto you clear Customs and follow connecting signs which takes you out of the secure zone. Then you have to go through security again to connect to your Canadian city. BEWARE, because the security people took away my tequila because it was not in a CLEAR PLASTIC BAG, HEAT SEALED with the RECEIPT ATTACHED. People destined to Toronto only were not affected by this rule and walked away with their duty free purchases. The CBSA personnel took the tequila and said they would incinerate it. Did they? I don’t know.