That's not how the world works. You are responsible for the luggage you are transporting even if it's not yours. The customs do not care and they are not going to try to figure out the laws of the place you came from or get in contact with their authority.
> The customs do not care and they are not going to try to figure out the laws of the place you came from or get in contact with their authority
Yes. They also won't try to 'interpret' their own country's laws, it's above their paygrade. If you aren't doing exactly what they expect, they will hold you (or your passport) and push the issue upstairs.
Source: I had this happen to me when I tried to enter Canada to work on a contract for which I should have had a work permit. My company had given me the paperwork appropriate for a salesperson or conference attendee. The officer at the gate confiscated my passport, told me to come back the next day with the correct paperwork, and threatened me with arrest if I failed to return. Stress and long nights ensued.
Yeah, and if the perpetrators have disappeared, the authorities aren't going to say "Oh well, they disappeared, let's hunt them.", but they'll drag the mule into court instead...
