Came back from Cairo yesterday and went through the gate security scanner with nine small bottles of hotel shampoo, body wash etc in my carry-on bag. Security guard asked what they were and I had to get them out to show him. Told I could not carry them on board, I said they were only small toiletry items and he checked with a colleague who also said that I could not take them on board. He now told me there was another way, asked to see my passport and holding it with his fingers stroked his palm with his thumb. Unwilling to bribe him for the toiletries, I said no and walked away, he called me back and summoned a suited man, presumably a manager, who then said I could keep them.

Does anyone know how much it costs to take a machete, automatic rifle and 5kg of explosive on board at Cairo airport?