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I was hit both leaving MBJ and in Atlanta. The lady in MBJ felt me up, seriously, so when I was pulled for the second time in ATL I was a little over it. Swab test, pat down, have a great day sir. I don't do blow either, however maybe I have that look. LOL
5 solo trips to JA and fingers crossed the 6th will be just as uneventful! But entering the US on my Canadian passport after just immigrating so thinking that it is going to pose it's own issues. Only been searched once, was very embarassing, coming out of Amsterdam going back to the UK. Was the 5th trip in about 18 months. They search right at the gate, going through the metal detector at the same time....the officer, a female, had her hands all over, including shaking my bra and lifting it up and down and she undid my jeans button. Was a bit embarassing considering I was the first through the check and all of the rest of the plane was behind me watching. Took a good 10 minutes for her to get through her routine....which she didn't conduct on my travel partner! Wasn't my last trip to Amsterdam though and the one and only time it happened. For some reason, more worried about US customs then any other place.
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After they swabbed me and I tested positive for cocaine this is when the Cavity search was going to happen. He didnt mention any sort of fancy "x-ray" system in fact he got graphic and told me that they would be able to see "all the way up inside of me" And that if I had anything "up in me" they were going to find it. Which he then corrected himself and said that not him but female officers. He continued to tell me that they weren't doctors... Just because you test positive for drug use doesnt mean you can be arrested the same if you smell of marijuana it is not illegal to smell like pot. They just continue to make it difficult with constantly being searched etc.
I will have more of a laxed attitude going on my next trip knowing that I will definitely be flagged for a search and just sort of roll with it rather than let it bother me. It will just have to become part of the "trip" lol But I know now that I can do everything I can to not smell of any substance and to have my hands completely scrubbed so that they have no reason to threaten me again with a cavity search.
and Manda you were in good company because Public Safety Minister Vic Toews had no idea he was carrying cocaine Tuesday http://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/09...order-controls
it is reported that 85% of canadian money has traces of cocaine on it
Yes that's true that our money has alot of cocaine on it but I think that's probably just most money and not just ours lmao However I didnt have Canadian money, the last money I touched was Jamaican at the airport :s
I just wish I would have thought of the money explaination while I was standing there in front of the Officer, normally I'm very quick witted but in that situation I just sort of drew a blank. I was more shocked that I had residue on me and I hadn't been around it.
There was a huge ariticle about how airport workers at Pearson were stealing luggage tags of passengers and placing them on bags and bags of drugs. A lot of these bags were unclaimed in the baggage area and were opened only to find thousands of dollars worth of Cocaine and other substances.
I read about that maybe 2 weeks after I got home and went through my ordeal. I figure the time could have been better spent on the security clearances of the Pearson Airport employees.
90% of US dollars have cocaine traces
i can't image the percent on jamaican dollars (couldn't find it on google)
so someone coming back from jamaica and then being tested for cocaine traces - is probably going to test positive (and the customs folks know it) - probably coming back from other places too - so there must be a "threshold" or it would be a stripping good time
last year i had to go through a special customs line to have my luggage re x-rayed...there were a few other jamaicans in the line...this was in baltimore. they did not go through my luggage, but when i came home, i noticed that they had cut the bubble wrap on my sangsters at the neck of the bottle.........don't know why......
I wonder if that machine they use to test the swabs just lights up for everybody? I'm thinking it's just a good bit of customs police theater, designed to make you think you're busted if you do have something to hide.
US customs always is more intense for me than Jamaican customs. They ask all kind of personal questions of me (solo female traveller) which I am becoming quite skilled at deflecting by playing an old clueless white woman. :confused:
yep - i have become quite adept at playing "clueless tourist" at C & I at both ends...... although sometimes i have to grit my teeth and resist the compunction to "tell these people a thing or two" -- but since i look the part, it usually works.