<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by simplyjond:
I don't have "smuggler" tattooed on my forehead.
On 99% of trips I can walk thru Customs with easy disregard. I thought those two factors went together - easy disregard and walking thru. If there's nothing on your conscience, then you broadcast that in
your body language or something. I had clung to that theory for a number
of years. But there was one trip that blew all of my pre-conceptions to pieces.
a taxing experience
(personal web-site only - no spam, no pop-ups)
I hope you enjoy this week's Tale - and maybe someone can tell me how Customs officials spot miscreants??
(after 7th December, check site Archive for the Tale).
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I'm curious to know myself. I think it has to do with location and age. I'm young so i'm at a disproportionate disadvantage but I understand why.
I was coming back from SE Asia and the customs official at SFO was really curious about my trip to Malaysia. He also wanted to know what kind of job I had. I told him I traveled back and forth from Singapore to Malaysia (trying to incite that I wouldn't be THAT stupid to smuggle anything through there) and he eventually let me go after some decision time.
Coming back from China and Hong Kong, nothing at all, handed the slip to the fellow and walked right through.
My Uncle was coming back from St. Maarten and when he was asked how much alcohol he had, he said what he had, something like 9 liters, and never got a bill or paid a fine. He also bought some jewelery that my aunt was wearing but no mention of that (since it was on her and they could say they got it in the US) and they walked right through.
I'm going to Brazil, Argentina and some other spots in South America but i'm going through Tijuana so I won't have to face anyone except the customs agent when walking back across the border. I'll tell them the truth but can't expect them to give me that hard of a time. Why would I smuggle coke or heroin from Brazil when there's enough to be smuggled from Tijuana?