Narrative:

My crew and I were called out for a trip to go from ZZZ-ZZZZ1-ZZZ2-ZZZZ3-ZZZ4 and went on duty at 1030Z and departed for ZZZZ1 at 1130Z. We arrived in ZZZZ1 1440Z on schedule. The FBO that serviced us advised that only 5 of the 15 pallets were on-site. We all went to the FBO and began the wait. We were told several times the freight would be there in 45 minutes. The freight eventually arrived many hours later and we didn't block out for ZZZ2 until 2150Z -- 7 hours and 10 minutes after we had blocked into ZZZZ1. At this point we were approaching 11 hours on duty with about another 6 hours of flying left and about another 10 hours of being on duty.we had no option to eat in ZZZZ1; [because] I didn't feel it was safe to try and leave the airfield due the current stern travel advisory for the area. I called the company and the duty officer periodically throughout the wait and requested catering to be made available in ZZZ2. The company complied with the request. Prior to leaving ZZZZ1; I spoke with the duty officer again and mentioned to him that we were still ok to continue; but that we were going to be over an 18 hour duty day. He mentioned that he was going to a party and may or may not be available later; but to try him if I needed anything. He also advised that there was a little bit of weather; but it shouldn't be a factor for us at ZZZ2.we departed for ZZZ2 and the flight was uneventful until we neared ZZZ2. At approximate 300 NM from the airport we began see severe weather on the aircraft radar near ZZZ2. ATC amended our routing to try and get us in on another arrival. As we neared the airport; the weather got worse and ZZZ2 airport was closed. We were asked to hold for 45 minutes to an hour. I advised ATC that we were unable to hold due to our fuel state. We were given direct ZZZ5; our alternate. I called dispatch and advised we were diverting. They arranged with us customs for us to refuel only in ZZZ5 and return to ZZZ2. They then filed us a flight plan back to ZZZ2.we looked at the routing and didn't think it would be a good idea. The routing would take us back through the weather to ZZZ2. ZZZ2 also had more weather over the field and building west of it. The filed alternate was ZZZ5. This route would have us go through the weather and if we couldn't get into ZZZ2 we would have to fight our way back to ZZZ5; which had weather moving towards it as well. I advised dispatch [that] the routing wasn't acceptable and we needed to try a different route with a different alternate; but that didn't look too good either. After looking at the FAA radar website; the first officer and I concluded ZZZ2 wouldn't be a viable destination for a few hours.we suggested that we try to clear customs in ZZZ4. There was no weather problem between ZZZ5 and ZZZ4. In our opinion; this was the safest course of action. We were advised that were on very thin ice with us customs and they would only authorize us to go to ZZZ2. Our time on duty is now nearing 15-16 hours. Also keep in mind; none of us have had anything to eat so we are all getting tired at this point. We had discussed our physical and mental condition among ourselves and decided we could continue if we could go to ZZZ4 and get catering there. Dispatch advised us that customs would only allow us to go to ZZZ2.dispatch advised me to call the duty officer. I did so and he was at party and didn't see a problem with ZZZ2 as dispatch had only read him the taf and not the current weather or radar; which showed winds over 63 KTS and adverse weather. The duty officer became very frustrated and said he was at a party and didn't have access to radar and hung up on me. I called dispatch back and told him this. The dispatcher did apologize for not checking the weather better and said he would send the duty officer an email. I then told him we're not going to ZZZ2.the company finally was able to get us routed to ZZZ4 for customs and we cleared there without a problem. We alsofinally received catering in ZZZ4; 17 hours later. We then flew to ZZZZ3 and returned to ZZZ4 with only a minor issue with ZZZZ customs. ZZZZ customs questioned us about our reasons for arriving so late. We then flew back to ZZZ4 and put in close to a 23 hour duty ZZZ. I later learned that the director of operations wanted to change the crew out in ZZZ4; but us customs would not allow it.why is us customs able to threaten crew to fly to an unsafe airport? Why can us customs deny a crew change and supersede the fars. Had I called in fatigued; I would have been fined by us customs. Note: this trip didn't end until 23 hours later.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Weather; political border issues; US Customs and a company Duty Officer participating from a house party conspired to keep a B727-200 flight crew on duty for 23 hours.

Narrative: My crew and I were called out for a trip to go from ZZZ-ZZZZ1-ZZZ2-ZZZZ3-ZZZ4 and went on duty at 1030Z and departed for ZZZZ1 at 1130Z. We arrived in ZZZZ1 1440Z on schedule. The FBO that serviced us advised that only 5 of the 15 pallets were on-site. We all went to the FBO and began the wait. We were told several times the freight would be there in 45 minutes. The freight eventually arrived many hours later and we didn't block out for ZZZ2 until 2150Z -- 7 hours and 10 minutes after we had blocked into ZZZZ1. At this point we were approaching 11 hours on duty with about another 6 hours of flying left and about another 10 hours of being on duty.We had no option to eat in ZZZZ1; [because] I didn't feel it was safe to try and leave the airfield due the current stern travel advisory for the area. I called the company and the Duty Officer periodically throughout the wait and requested catering to be made available in ZZZ2. The company complied with the request. Prior to leaving ZZZZ1; I spoke with the Duty Officer again and mentioned to him that we were still ok to continue; but that we were going to be over an 18 hour duty day. He mentioned that he was going to a party and may or may not be available later; but to try him if I needed anything. He also advised that there was a little bit of weather; but it shouldn't be a factor for us at ZZZ2.We departed for ZZZ2 and the flight was uneventful until we neared ZZZ2. At approximate 300 NM from the airport we began see severe weather on the aircraft radar near ZZZ2. ATC amended our routing to try and get us in on another arrival. As we neared the airport; the weather got worse and ZZZ2 airport was closed. We were asked to hold for 45 minutes to an hour. I advised ATC that we were unable to hold due to our fuel state. We were given direct ZZZ5; our alternate. I called Dispatch and advised we were diverting. They arranged with US Customs for us to refuel only in ZZZ5 and return to ZZZ2. They then filed us a flight plan back to ZZZ2.We looked at the routing and didn't think it would be a good idea. The routing would take us back through the weather to ZZZ2. ZZZ2 also had more weather over the field and building west of it. The filed alternate was ZZZ5. This route would have us go through the weather and if we couldn't get into ZZZ2 we would have to fight our way back to ZZZ5; which had weather moving towards it as well. I advised Dispatch [that] the routing wasn't acceptable and we needed to try a different route with a different alternate; but that didn't look too good either. After looking at the FAA RADAR website; the First Officer and I concluded ZZZ2 wouldn't be a viable destination for a few hours.We suggested that we try to clear customs in ZZZ4. There was no weather problem between ZZZ5 and ZZZ4. In our opinion; this was the safest course of action. We were advised that were on very thin ice with US Customs and they would only authorize us to go to ZZZ2. Our time on duty is now nearing 15-16 hours. Also keep in mind; none of us have had anything to eat so we are all getting tired at this point. We had discussed our physical and mental condition among ourselves and decided we could continue if we could go to ZZZ4 and get catering there. Dispatch advised us that Customs would only allow us to go to ZZZ2.Dispatch advised me to call the Duty Officer. I did so and he was at party and didn't see a problem with ZZZ2 as Dispatch had only read him the TAF and not the current weather or RADAR; which showed winds over 63 KTS and adverse weather. The Duty Officer became very frustrated and said he was at a party and didn't have access to RADAR and hung up on me. I called Dispatch back and told him this. The Dispatcher did apologize for not checking the weather better and said he would send the Duty Officer an email. I then told him we're not going to ZZZ2.The company finally was able to get us routed to ZZZ4 for Customs and we cleared there without a problem. We alsofinally received catering in ZZZ4; 17 hours later. We then flew to ZZZZ3 and returned to ZZZ4 with only a minor issue with ZZZZ Customs. ZZZZ Customs questioned us about our reasons for arriving so late. We then flew back to ZZZ4 and put in close to a 23 hour duty ZZZ. I later learned that the Director of Operations wanted to change the crew out in ZZZ4; but US Customs would not allow it.Why is US Customs able to threaten crew to fly to an unsafe airport? Why can US Customs deny a crew change and supersede the FARs. Had I called in fatigued; I would have been fined by US Customs. NOTE: This trip didn't end until 23 hours later.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.