Customs Agent: Where did you buy that XXXXX?
Jan 13, 2016, 6:41 am
#31
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Yikes. But then again, I'm guessing that they think, "When there's smoke, there is fire" and probably are obligated to search.
Jan 13, 2016, 6:48 am
#32
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CBP aren't obligated to search just because of any and every joke made in perhaps no/poor/good taste. But some people in positions of authority lack an appreciation for jokes because they take any attempt that humanizes a situation and treats the counterparts as an equal being to be a threat to their authority as a petty little Napoleon.
Last edited by essxjay; Jan 13, 2016 at 2:17 pm Reason: unnecessary wholesale quote
Jan 13, 2016, 10:26 am
#33
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There are times to make jokes, and then there are times to not be an idiot. I get you believe they are all out to get you, but get real here for a minute. The comment alone was the justification because they are in a position of authority, it is their job to investigate.
Jan 13, 2016, 10:55 am
#34
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I get the application of the false belief represented in the above post, but that false belief is not mine. 
There is a lot of room between a time to make jokes and being an idiot. A follow-up question about whether the comment is a joke or a serious declaration would save the taxpayers' resources if the CBP (or its predecessor agencies) wouldn't be on such a trip to make an example of how they can get away by behaving like petty little Napoleons when the traveling public doesn't behave in the lawful ways in which the CBP employee wants for reasons that have little or nothing to do with securing the country from inadmissible persons and delivering the customs and contraband control functions to which they've been tasked.
There is a lot of room between a time to make jokes and being an idiot. A follow-up question about whether the comment is a joke or a serious declaration would save the taxpayers' resources if the CBP (or its predecessor agencies) wouldn't be on such a trip to make an example of how they can get away by behaving like petty little Napoleons when the traveling public doesn't behave in the lawful ways in which the CBP employee wants for reasons that have little or nothing to do with securing the country from inadmissible persons and delivering the customs and contraband control functions to which they've been tasked.
Last edited by essxjay; Jan 13, 2016 at 2:17 pm Reason: unnecessary quote
Jan 13, 2016, 11:10 am
#35
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The only time I was asked anything like this was some time ago. I had just flown SEL-DTW, after being stationed in Korea for a year in the US Army, and hadn't returned to the US for the whole year.
Customs officer: what are you bringing back with you?
Me: I was stationed in Korea for a year. The Army paid to ship most of my things, except for what is in these bags. Truthfully I'm not sure if anything I bought is here or in the bulk shipment.
Customs officer: (rolls eyes) Go ahead
Customs officer: what are you bringing back with you?
Me: I was stationed in Korea for a year. The Army paid to ship most of my things, except for what is in these bags. Truthfully I'm not sure if anything I bought is here or in the bulk shipment.
Customs officer: (rolls eyes) Go ahead
Jan 13, 2016, 11:20 am
#36
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OTOH, if the agent in question routinely approaches his/her job with a chip on his/her shoulder, well...anything can and will be claimed to be 'smoke' worthy of further retaliatory investigation.
A true professional doesn't abuse his/her authority or waste his/her employer's time pursuing petty little acts of retaliation. A true professional keeps his/her eye on the mission at hand and doesn't allow him/herself to be distracted.
An annoyed employee engaging in pointless retaliation is a distracted employee who is not performing 100%.
Jan 13, 2016, 12:02 pm
#37
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The only time I was asked anything like this was some time ago. I had just flown SEL-DTW, after being stationed in Korea for a year in the US Army, and hadn't returned to the US for the whole year.
Customs officer: what are you bringing back with you?
Me: I was stationed in Korea for a year. The Army paid to ship most of my things, except for what is in these bags. Truthfully I'm not sure if anything I bought is here or in the bulk shipment.
Customs officer: (rolls eyes) Go ahead
Customs officer: what are you bringing back with you?
Me: I was stationed in Korea for a year. The Army paid to ship most of my things, except for what is in these bags. Truthfully I'm not sure if anything I bought is here or in the bulk shipment.
Customs officer: (rolls eyes) Go ahead
Jan 13, 2016, 2:01 pm
#38
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Jan 13, 2016, 2:05 pm
#40
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The word contraband, reported in English since 1529, from Medieval French contrebande "a smuggling," denotes any item which, relating to its nature, is illegal to be possessed or sold.
Jan 13, 2016, 2:10 pm
#41
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Imported goods where due duty has not been paid may be considered contraband in some circumstances. But the word loses its meaning when even the declared booze (potentially subject to duty) is not subjected to duty due to CBP having other priorities that come with the CBP's de facto waiver of some import duty/tax.
Jan 13, 2016, 2:12 pm
#43
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Jan 13, 2016, 2:14 pm
#44
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An example of contraband are Cuban cigars. You don't declare them, and they're not allowed.
An example of not contraband are Dominican cigars. You are supposed to declare them, and they are allowed.
An example of not contraband are Dominican cigars. You are supposed to declare them, and they are allowed.
Jan 13, 2016, 2:17 pm
#45
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I'm guessing that if the agent in question is truly smart enough to do her/his job, s/he doesn't really believe that an untimely joke constitutes 'smoke'.
OTOH, if the agent in question routinely approaches his/her job with a chip on his/her shoulder, well...anything can and will be claimed to be 'smoke' worthy of further retaliatory investigation.
An annoyed employee engaging in pointless retaliation is a distracted employee who is not performing 100%.
OTOH, if the agent in question routinely approaches his/her job with a chip on his/her shoulder, well...anything can and will be claimed to be 'smoke' worthy of further retaliatory investigation.
A true professional doesn't abuse his/her authority or waste his/her employer's time pursuing petty little acts of retaliation. A true professional keeps his/her eye on the mission at hand and doesn't allow him/herself to be distracted.
An annoyed employee engaging in pointless retaliation is a distracted employee who is not performing 100%.