Asia - Legality of sniffing dogs in baggage claim in TPE T1???

Just finished an absolutely excellent few segments WBC with my wife on 69 and 70 respectively, stayed a while in KIX while then flying into TPE. Then flew back a few days ago.

Noticed something after landing in TPE. For priority baggage, it's hit and miss in TPE. I've waited up to 40 minutes for my bags, sometimes it's been 5 minutes. On this particular night, the baggage claim was the one on the furthest right (as you descend down the stairs in Terminal 1 after immigration). There is a table for animal insepction and declaration and stuff. While my wife and I were waiting for baggage, an airport worker carried around a dog and went around, not trying to bring attention to herself, but obviously trying to find out if anyone was carrying food into the country. I have NEVER seen this in any other Asian airport (been everywhere major in the southeast Asian corridor except CGK). I also witnessed her asking an obvious tourist after the dog paused in front of his other bags and asked the gentleman if he was carrying food from the airplane.

Questions
1. What is the legality of this airport worker carrying this dog?
2. If drugs are found, what is the prosecution process if the person is not a Taiwanese citizen (drug possession to my knowledge is pretty much an automatic death sentence in Taiwan)?
3. Has ANYONE seen this being done in any other international airport, either overseas or stateside?

Have seen dogs in the baggage claim areas of JFK, HNL, LHR.
I thought it was pretty common practice.

Questions
1. What is the legality of this airport worker carrying this dog?
2. If drugs are found, what is the prosecution process if the person is not a Taiwanese citizen (drug possession to my knowledge is pretty much an automatic death sentence in Taiwan)?
3. Has ANYONE seen this being done in any other international airport, either overseas or stateside?

1) You're in a public place. Its legal. Just like those video cameras watching you will in baggae claim.
2) Get arrested. Go to court. Beg for forgiveness. Get sentenced. Serve sentence.
3)Every US port of entry uses dogs one way or another, either by Customs for Drugs etc, or by Dept. of Agriculture for banned food items.

Seen this in DTW, MSP, YYZ also.

Very common. They make the rules so my guess is that it is totally legal.

Resistance is futile!

The legality is obviously up to the Taiwanese government.

The dog was most likely there to find drugs, not food.

It is fairly common and have seen it done in many airports.

I've seen it at ATL, too. The dog even picked up the left-over orange scent from my backpack which I put orange in it the day before.

Drugs are illegal anywhere. Just don't bring it and you'll have nothing to worry about.

(drug possession to my knowledge is pretty much an automatic death sentence in Taiwan)?
?


In this regard, is it possible you are confusing Taiwan with Singapore?

A lot of the asian countries take drugs VERY seriourly. Last time I was in SIN the visa form they hand you in the airplane says in big bold letters "DEATH TO DRUG TRAFFICERS".

Other than that I've found customs and immegration in most asian countries to be much nicer than comming back to the US.

In this regard, is it possible you are confusing Taiwan with Singapore?

I was born in Taipei and raised in Taoyuan (where the airport is located, it's not in Taipei). Taiwan is not as bad as Singapore but next time you are in TPE, look for the big sign that says "possession and distribution of drugs is punishable by death". I don't remember exactly where the sign was. Next time I go home, I'll take a picture.

I flew into YYZ on Jan 2 and a customs agent armed with a beagle pulled 3-4 people aside for having food in their luggage. Seems to be a very effective way for them to find such things that people claim on their customs form they don't have.

I was born in Taipei and raised in Taoyuan (where the airport is located, it's not in Taipei). Taiwan is not as bad as Singapore but next time you are in TPE, look for the big sign that says "possession and distribution of drugs is punishable by death". I don't remember exactly where the sign was. Next time I go home, I'll take a picture.

When I flew through TPE, I came off the jetway, turned, and the sign was overhead not 50 feet from the gate door. Walked right under it (after taking a photo).

When I flew through TPE, I came off the jetway, turned, and the sign was overhead not 50 feet from the gate door. Walked right under it (after taking a photo).

I have not been to Taiwan in the past 3-4 years, but as I recall, not only is the sign VERY prominent, but the flight attendants are required to announce that drug trafficking is punishable by death.

I have not been to Taiwan in the past 3-4 years, but as I recall, not only is the sign VERY prominent, but the flight attendants are required to announce that drug trafficking is punishable by death.

The FA's or the "Welcome to XXX" arrival videos in many Asian countries say Drug Trafficking is Punishable by Death. To me, it feels a bit creepy to hear those announcements, especially if am originating from the USA as you cannot have your luggage locked, or you must use a TSA recognized lock .... which is often cutoff anyhow.

As far as sniffer dogs, I've seen em' all over the world including in the USA .. DTW, JFK, CVG, LAX, MEM, etc.

The dog was most likely there to find drugs, not food.

It is fairly common and have seen it done in many airports.

Actually I've seen a number of "food" dogs recently. Australia is one that comes to mind.

Actually I've seen a number of "food" dogs recently. Australia is one that comes to mind.

o.k...... I'll admit it.... a few years ago, I brought a salami back from Prague. Had it on my carry-on when we landed at JFK. Sniffer dog approached and walked right by.

Busted by the Beagle Brigade in ORD. I was caught with a banana from Stockholm.

The dog jumped on my carryon bag on the floor and started to howl. Very embarrassing as everyone thinks you are carrying drugs.

I think that HNL is one of the places where food/fruit actually is an issue. Don't want to introduce any diseases to the fragile island habitat!!! Always see the dogs there.

In this regard, is it possible you are confusing Taiwan with Singapore?

Nope, its Taiwan. Northwest also makes a statement over the PA each time before landing, "Northwest is obligated by the government of the Republic of China to remind you that drug trafficking is punishable by death." I think CX and UA also make the same announcement.

Taiwan is one of the biggest strategic points in terms of the trafficking of ecstasy and its gotten out of control, I'm pretty sure why they have such a stiff penalty if you are caught.

I should've clarified my original post, as I have seen sniffing dogs stateside and not international. My fault.

I have seen this in MEL and DTW. In fact in DTW I could see the dogs sniffing the luggage carts on the tarmac (my flight was from AMS so I would guess it's a likely target).

Dup post, deleted.

I have not been to Taiwan in the past 3-4 years, but as I recall, not only is the sign VERY prominent, but the flight attendants are required to announce that drug trafficking is punishable by death.

Yes, the attendants still do that announcement, in multiple languages, before landing.

They have different dogs sniffing different things. Some are trained for drugs, food (fruit or meat), explosives/arms etc. DTW has 3 cute ones that all sniff different stuff. They use grass strip outside intl arrivals as their 'restroom'. Hillarious to watch a CBP official patiently waiting with a plastic bag in his/her hand to Mr.K9 has done his inoffical business :)

I recall a couple of flights landing at LAX (one ex-South America, one ex-Asia) that had the sniffers at the jetway as we disembarked. They were german shepherds too, so no cute little beagle sniffing you as you walk on by.

Definitely don't want to hear one of those growl as you walk on by :eek:

They have different dogs sniffing different things. Some are trained for drugs, food (fruit or meat), explosives/arms etc. DTW has 3 cute ones that all sniff different stuff. They use grass strip outside intl arrivals as their 'restroom'. Hillarious to watch a CBP official patiently waiting with a plastic bag in his/her hand to Mr.K9 has done his inoffical business :)

Chihuahua for tacos?

I traveled to Darwin, Au. this past summer on a flight from Singapore. While we were waiting on line at immigration control, the guards had the dogs walk the line, sniffing us all. I presumed it for was drug & narcotics detection; when I actually got to the head of the line, the agent asked me about food and about deodorant cans, etc. There was also a small bit of rummaging through the luggage, as well as the "Why are you here?" questions.


Actually I've seen a number of "food" dogs recently. Australia is one that comes to mind.

Yes, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) use beagles at international arrivals ports in Australia to detect prohibited food or plant material. They are not narcotic detectors. Beagles are preferred because they are friendly and non-threatening to travellers.
The Customs service however does use other breeds to check arriving baggage (before it reaches the carousel), parcels and international mail for drugs.

My friend got sniffed good in VCE after a double mis-connect from LGA a few years ago ($200 r/t LGA-DTW-AMS-VCE became LGA-DTW-CDG-VCE, with a WBC segment TATL :cool: ). Anyways, while waiting for his bags to come out, the dogs did a loop and passed by his carry-on bag. Didn't seem to indicate too much, but clearly the agent thought the dog detected something. The next 30 minutes consisted of the agent demanding that my friend give him the drugs and my friend explaining that he wasn't carrying any.

On the plus side, it did provide time for the other three of us travelling to pick up some euros and buy our tickets for the water shuttle to Venice.

>>>>sniffed good in VCE...

I've also seen it in Italy at rail stations in Ventimiglia (border with France) and Rimini (not border with anything in particular). It was mostly young people who were more directly approached and their bags sniffed.

This has nothing to do with NWA and as such I'm moving it to TravelBuzz

thezipper
NWA Moderator

Taiwan doesn't even come close to Singapore in this regard. I have been living in Taiwan for several years and have never heard of a foreigner being executed for bringing narcotics into the country, although it is fairly common to hear of people being caught at the airport. Technically the law is on the books, but you can be sure that the Taiwanese government does not want the negative international publicity that would come with executing a foreign national. Singapore, on the other hand, has enforced this law with regularity. In Taiwan, you would be likely to just get a long prison sentence.

From a Reuters article, "Singapore's tough anti-drug laws include a MANDATORY death sentence for anyone over 18 guilty of trafficking more than 15 grams (half an ounce) of heroin, 30 grams (an ounce) of morphine or 500 grams (18 ounces) of cannabis." Taiwan doesn't have mandatory death sentences for anything drug related, AFAIK. Also, they only executed 3 people last year, none for drug related offenses.

-Jeff

I remember having to walk past a sniffer dog on arrival at YYC, between the jetway and bag claim/customs.

As I understand it, dogs are specialized, so a dog that is trained for drugs won't alert on explosives, or on food...

i dont see taiwan executing any tourists anytime soon.. they dont want to do ANY damage to their diplomatic relations with the US.

and dont they like to be seen as the more enlightened, compared to china?

i dont see taiwan executing any tourists anytime soon.. they dont want to do ANY damage to their diplomatic relations with the US.

and dont they like to be seen as the more enlightened, compared to china?

Agreed. I think the United States would have an attack if Taiwan executed an American for bringing in a small quantity of drugs. Actually really I think they (we) would have a problem with them executing an American for any reason.

This has nothing to do with NWA and as such I'm moving it to TravelBuzz

thezipper
NWA Moderator
Actually, IMHO, this thread belongs in our China Forum . Please follow there.
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

theyd never do it, so we wouldnt attack them..

Actually, IMHO, this thread belongs in our China Forum . Please follow there.
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator
Uh, just curious why does this belong in the China forum as opposed to Travelbuzz? Isn't it about drug-sniffing/food-sniffing dogs in airports around the world? And the thread hasn't really mentioned China much at all...

Uh, just curious why does this belong in the China forum as opposed to Travelbuzz? Isn't it about drug-sniffing/food-sniffing dogs in airports around the world? And the thread hasn't really mentioned China much at all...

Ditto - in fact if not in Travel Buzz - In Other Asia forum because Taiwan is NOT PART of China.

I have some experience with this from my military career. The small breeds are easier and cheaper to care for, live longer, have way fewer cases of hip dysplasia, and can get into tighter spaces than the large ones. If all you need is their noses, and not their teeth, small breeds are preferable. Nobody cares if the public is more comfortable around them -- not a factor.

Dogs can be trained to detect, and alert on, virtually anything if you can conduct consistent, repetitive training with accessible training aids.

We have dogs in Hawaii trained to detect snakes -- used extensively at both sea and air ports. And yes, they train on live snakes -- a small number, all sterilized so they can't reproduce, and controlled tighter than the gold in Fort Knox. It may sound comical, until you learn what the brown tree snake has done to the native bird population in Guam...or should I say the former native bird population in Guam?

As far as Taiwan goes, I don't remember seeing dogs at the airport, but I don't fly that much. Recent news reports have spoken of cooperation between Taiwan and Australia in the training of drug-detecting dogs (for marijuana, heroin, opium, ecstasy and ketamine--I wouldn't like to suggest that's a complete list: maybe there's other drugs they don't tell you about). Also, police have used dogs at rock concerts to crack down on drugs (with great futility).

Ditto - in fact if not in Travel Buzz - In Other Asia forum because Taiwan is NOT PART of China.

^

Mike

My Jamaican-born husband and I tend to go back to Jamaica about once a year to visit family. A friend of my husband and the friend's wife wanted to come along with us to see the country. This couple are chronic smokers of ganja and I knew that was the main reason why they wanted to come along. They smoked around the clock while we were down there (they brought ganja with them from the states and got more from my Rastafarian mother-in-law), often stopping in our hotel room with lit spliffs in their hands before we walked to dinner together.

Returning home, I was worried that this couple were stupid enough to bring some ganja back with them. When we arrived in MIA, I insisted we go to the opposite side of the luggage carousel, to ensure we weren't "grouped" in with them just in case they got busted. Imagine my surprise when the beagle walked right by their bags and then proceeded to sit down next to my husband's and my bags! I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest! :confused:

My concerns were alleviated when the agent asked if we had brought any fruit back with us. We had bought a big bag of mangoes in Jamaica and we left them sitting on the hotel-room table throughout the week, only eating 1 or 2 a day. The scent must have permeated our bags.

theyd never do it, so we wouldnt attack them..

Are you freaking kidding me? You should probably think of Taiwan as a child or a weaker brother to the U.S. - getting into trouble with China and then U.S. has to jump in to protect Taiwan.

On an economic-side, U.S. sells 3rd rated arms to Taiwan at a premium. It's in the U.S. best interest to keep Taiwan as an allie and against China (conflicts or threats always sell more arms).

Taiwan doesn't really execute on illegal drugs for its own citizens, why would it execute foreigners and risk straining relationships.

Singapore, on the other hand, executes pretty much any body.

When I read the thread title, my first thought was, "I don't think it's illegal. The question is, why would you want to sniff a dog?" :D

Chihuahua for tacos?

Drop the chalupa! :D

i had a suitcase full with chocolate and other food from germany last time.
dog in NRT approched my bag and didnt say a WORD :p:D

i found the no food practise to be understandable , but sometimes i ask myself who did put these drugtrafficers will be sentenced to death LAWS in action.

i mean, so many people smoke pod, take harder drugs, and still nothing bad happens.

i am against any death row , and i think that alcohol and zigarettes are as bad as any other drug. but why does the governments take the right to tell us what we can do ??

i hope that one day, drugs will be totally legalized and for heavy users like heroin addicts there will be a controlled program where they can get their daily shot until they are clean . (in swiss this is working very well)


another thing which i really dont get is, you can only take X USD back home from your vacation , X cigarettes and X L alocohol..

i hate this instead of ripping us everywhere possible, govenments should stop wasting money .

i am sure that oneday all this borders , tax etc. crap will be gone, but it really annoyes me. (hopefully it will be America , EU, AU (asian union ) + Africa only and this country border crap will be gone one day. something like a world wide schengen )

dont you ask yourself sometimes, why you can only take 1 bottle alcohol home?



dp

I think if someone wants to sniff dogs, it's a matter of personal choice and the law shouldn't interfere.

Having said that, if you're a public figure doing this in an airport, you can expect to be disowned by your party.

i mean, so many people smoke pod...

Well, I've never smoked pod, but I have smoked salmon! :)

Depending on where you are going the no foods really means no meat products, and certain plants. Things like chocolates, snacks etc are generally fine. I don't see why the dog would go off at your chocolates unless you had a few pounds of steaks or a few pounds of cocaine there too, depending if it was a agriculture dog or a drug sniffing dog.

Depending on where you are going the no foods really means no meat products, and certain plants.

And I think the restrictions are on fresh, non packaged meats. I've never had any problem with dried, packaged/sealed meats/fruits, and do not believe the restrictions apply to these.

In the United States, the Supreme Court has held that a dog snifff is not a search. See ILLINOIS v. CABALLES

And I think the restrictions are on fresh, non packaged meats. I've never had any problem with dried, packaged/sealed meats/fruits, and do not believe the restrictions apply to these.

i thought that all kind of food is prohibited from bringing into other countries.

actually i had salami from milano, bread from paris (cdg ) and some other goodies in my bag too.

but NO DRUgS :p so maybe the dog was only trained for drugs :9

dp

i thought that all kind of food is prohibited from bringing into other countries.

actually i had salami from milano, bread from paris (cdg ) and some other goodies in my bag too.

but NO DRUgS :p so maybe the dog was only trained for drugs :9

dp

I am pretty sure that there is not a restriction on ALL FOODS for most countries. I think that as long as it is packaged and sealed (by the mfr--not in a zip-loc bag ;)), there is no problem. I think the restrictions apply to fresh meats and fruits. Foods that are processed and packaged have little danger of carrying disease, parasites, etc.

When we go to Taiwan to visit my in-laws, we always bring packaged dried abalone for my MIL as it's a lot cheaper in the US than in Taiwan. I've never had any problems getting it into the country. We also bring back a lot of packaged Taiwan foods to the US, and again, have never had any problems.

When I read the thread title, my first thought was, "I don't think it's illegal. The question is, why would you want to sniff a dog?" :D

Yes, that was my immediate rather disconcerting mental picture too :)