General Info

[QUOTE=X Man]Friend, but then you go on to describe what a few people have described already.

WHat is missing is details.

Did your friend ask what they were looking for?

X[/QUOTE]
I just came back from 6 weeks in Philippines and have been there 12 times now.The last 4 entries into the USA I have had my luggage searched. This time as I was waiting for my bag at the carousel the agent comes up to me and asks where i traveled to and how long I stayed and how many times I have been to Philippines. After I told him he patiently waited with me for my bag and told me to follow him. He checked my camera pics and did a quick hand search of my luggage but to me if I was actually hiding something in there he would not have found it. Makes me wonder why he bothered. I did ask him what red flags I brought up and he said the 3 things you answered are all red flags.. He also said in my demeaner I acted nervous ( whatever that means )..lol.. i said i think its natural to act nervous when your being questioned by any officer of the law. Anyway I did'nt have anything anyway not even naked filapina pics as i had sent them to my e-mail before I left Cebu. I am going back again in August so i will be expecting another trip to the luggage inspection table when i get back

[QUOTE=GregLondon]This does seem to have become a serious issue recently and is an outrageous extension of the police state. An Ozzie friend returned from 2 weeks in th Phils yesterday and was stoped by customs and they spent 40 mins searching his camera and phone. They claim its random, but obviously they are profiling middle aged guys travelling alone to SEA.

He had deleted all naughty pics so was fine.

I'm from the UK does anyone have any feedback on whether UK customs have started to take a similar policy?[/QUOTE]Im an Ozzie living PI. I can confirm that almost every time I re-enter Australia in the last 4 years I have been dragged off to the separate search area & put through this crap of extensive bagged search & in depth questioning. I actually build in the delay to my time-table these days. It seems to be even worse at smaller air ports such as Coolangatta/Gold coast. I think these goons are just doing it out of boredom. They never answer my question as to why I am targeted.
AV

[QUOTE=Amavida]Im an Ozzie living PI. I can confirm that almost every time I re-enter Australia in the last 4 years I have been dragged off to the separate search area & put through this crap of extensive bagged search & in depth questioning. I actually build in the delay to my time-table these days. It seems to be even worse at smaller air ports such as Coolangatta/Gold coast. I think these goons are just doing it out of boredom. They never answer my question as to why I am targeted.
AV[/QUOTE]Wow.. theres a lot of learning going on here about stuff I never imagined happened. Thankfully my trips are generally within Asia..ocassionally Europe, and have never been searched. Good job as theres lots of bad stuff on phones and camera!

[QUOTE=FreebieFan]Wow.. theres a lot of learning going on here about stuff I never imagined happened. Thankfully my trips are generally within Asia..ocassionally Europe, and have never been searched. Good job as theres lots of bad stuff on phones and camera![/QUOTE]

Adding my bit to the learning. Try to vary your destinations and go to a few countries that are not what they call a "source country". I used to get hit all the time coming back to New Zealand from Asia, mainly Hong Kong and Thailand. I once asked a customs ape during the search what profile I matched and he said single male traveller, returning from a "source country" (drugs, taxable goods, contraband etc), purchased ticket on-line, and purchased ticket recently (I'd be suspicious, too). The next trip I returned from China and in response to my polite query the ape said "we get lots of hits from Asia". The searches stopped once I'd done a few trips to Japan and South Korea which are respectable enough tourist destinations. I didn't get pulled for several trips after that, until my most recent to Thailand and Taiwan, an odd combination which sparked the interest of the passport desk ape who wrote a long electronic report for the search chimps in the baggage area. Sure enough I got pulled and interrogated by the rudest public servant I've ever encountered. Interesting thing was that I never got searched. The reason being frequent travel to a wide number of destinations, no customs intelligence file on me and no criminal record. I don't seem to fit their profile any more, so they didn't bother searching.

It also helps if you have a good cover story. I got into trouble with the passport desk simian because I couldn't think of anything to say when he asked what the highlight of the trip was. I was a bit tired after the 12 hour flight for quick thinking and am too bashful to be honest about the highlight. I recovered for the later interrogation. It helps to be sarcastic with them. It shows your not nervous. Also be familiar with your country's customs officer code of conduct etc that they sign along with their employment contract, relevant legislation etc. The one I had was wrong on a point of legislation, incorrectly altered a document and was rude. If I hadn't been so tired I would have had her. Remember that everything is video and audio recorded so if they are out of line there is evidence. If you know your complaints procedures and have a lot of time on your hands, then you can make a little trouble for them. It help sometimes to remind them that they are servants not masters. And their boss hates having to deal with complaints. These are not people who did well in school.

I also never have anything but the most innocuous stuff on my laptop. There are dozens of free photo upload and storage services available. Use them.

When I started traveling I would go all over Asia, now I go to only P.I., but I go 2x a year. One time, about 3 yrs. ago, a customs gal went thru my things and looked at every picture. I don't know why I developed them in P.I. (I think to give a girl copies), I usually develop the film back home in U.S. There was nothing close to nudity or porn in my possession, but - Ever since then I've stopped taking pictures period!

When they ask me about my trips I just say "visiting friends" or "looking for someplace to buy for retirement".

[QUOTE=Mr Hawaii]When I started traveling I would go all over Asia, now I go to only P.I., but I go 2x a year. One time, about 3 yrs. ago, a customs gal went thru my things and looked at every picture. I don't know why I developed them in P.I. (I think to give a girl copies), I usually develop the film back home in U.S. There was nothing close to nudity or porn in my possession, but - Ever since then I've stopped taking pictures period!

When they ask me about my trips I just say "visiting friends" or "looking for someplace to buy for retirement".[/QUOTE]And what would happen if they did find some pics of naked gals on your phone/ cam / SD card. Can't be a crime to have naked pics otherwise how is Hustler etc sold.

I'm assuming they are checking to sure there no paedophilia etc. But having pics of naked girls can't be a crime. Can it?

I think the airport guys are just jealous that you guys can travel in and out of dream lands and they are just stuck at the airport .....

so close to destination and yet so far from boarding it :) it must suck to screen the guys who just been to places where they would love to go..

On my way back to the States from my recent Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia trip passing first through Honolulu I had the pleasure of another “random” questioning and search by our wonderful customs agents. I don’t know what “where do you work?”, “what do you do?” and similar questions has to do with securing the “Land of the Free”. When asked what I was doing there I tell them that my girlfriend lives there and that we traveled together. I find it strange that the only country that ever hassles me when I enter is my own country. I’ve only been hassled in LAX and MIA and now HNL. I will especially try to avoid Honolulu from now on as a first port of entry. Every time I fly directly into Las Vegas it is a breeze. Of course they never find anything as I have nothing to hide.

Southbound69

Your experience is not uncommon. I've found the best way to handle it is be polite, answer their questions without getting tooooo specific. (No sense saying "well, I had a threesome with three young women every night I was there and sometimes a foursome in the afternoon, etc. And man, that mother daughter thing was great and man, was it cheap. You should try it sir. ")

I've been hassled numerous times. I don't have any "nude pics" on my camera, I don't carry even anything at all suspicous and except for this last travel, I even get rid of my condoms.

Maybe we should be taking notes in our diary and then read it off to them.

Day 1: Awoke and discovered that I forgot my toothpaste. Walked down to the corner store and bought some. Stopped in at athe 7-11 and went wild. I bought a frosted donut. Hell, I never do that at home!

Best to just be courteous and endure the grilling. If anyone else has any ideas, I'd love to hear them.

[QUOTE=Southbound69]On my way back to the States from my recent Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia trip passing first through Honolulu I had the pleasure of another “random” questioning and search by our wonderful customs agents. I don’t know what “where do you work?”, “what do you do?” and similar questions has to do with securing the “Land of the Free”. When asked what I was doing there I tell them that my girlfriend lives there and that we traveled together. I find it strange that the only country that ever hassles me when I enter is my own country. I’ve only been hassled in LAX and MIA and now HNL. I will especially try to avoid Honolulu from now on as a first port of entry. Every time I fly directly into Las Vegas it is a breeze. Of course they never find anything as I have nothing to hide.

Southbound69[/QUOTE]

[quote=jack sheet]you can expect this kind of treatment more and more in the future. after 911, george w. threw billions of dollars to hire tons of these goons to help catch terrorists coming into the country. to my knowledge, they have not found any terrorists but they still have to justify their inflated head count of officers. as a result, they have nothing else to do but shake down countless innocent americans coming into their own country.[/quote]it has very little to do with terrorist and more to do with ****files. especially since they have recently found a few news making ****files in thailand. first was the guy who claimed he killed the ramsey girl, (which really brought it to the attention of heartland america) and then another recently. the u. s. has stepped up the interrogations/searchs of all adult males which they deem fit the profile and single adult males traveling to sea is the first of several criteria.

[QUOTE=Southbound69]On my way back to the States from my recent Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia trip passing first through Honolulu I had the pleasure of another “random” questioning and search by our wonderful customs agents. I don’t know what “where do you work?”, “what do you do?” and similar questions has to do with securing the “Land of the Free”. When asked what I was doing there I tell them that my girlfriend lives there and that we traveled together. I find it strange that the only country that ever hassles me when I enter is my own country. I’ve only been hassled in LAX and MIA and now HNL. I will especially try to avoid Honolulu from now on as a first port of entry. Every time I fly directly into Las Vegas it is a breeze. Of course they never find anything as I have nothing to hide.

Southbound69[/QUOTE]Southbound 69,

If you travel to most country in Europe ,they do ask you questions as you enter what is your Business here and what company do you work for ,they don't ask or check your baggage in asia but I did got random check once in Singapore .

Fast eddie 48

[QUOTE=FreebieFan]And what would happen if they did find some pics of naked gals on your phone/ cam / SD card. Can't be a crime to have naked pics otherwise how is Hustler etc sold.

I'm assuming they are checking to sure there no paedophilia etc. But having pics of naked girls can't be a crime. Can it?[/QUOTE]

No, it is not a crime to have pictures of naked ladies. I don't think that is the point..to me the point is..."Hmmm, if this guy is doing this overseas, what else is he doing? Let's flag his passport". I don't know, maybe I am paranoid, and I know there are ways to take digital pix and send them to your home computer and erase your camera, etc., so that you can post them for the forum..but I would rather have them think I am seeing my friends or looking at property..or fucking every girl in the P.I. They can think what they want, but cannot "prove" anything. Yes, they should be looking for terrorists and not bothering us, but it seems rather easy to deal with.

Can someone with accurate knowledge or "connections" set us straight on this? Thanks.

[QUOTE=Mr Hawaii]No, it is not a crime to have pictures of naked ladies. I don't think that is the point..to me the point is..."Hmmm, if this guy is doing this overseas, what else is he doing? Let's flag his passport". I don't know, maybe I am paranoid, and I know there are ways to take digital pix and send them to your home computer and erase your camera, etc., so that you can post them for the forum..but I would rather have them think I am seeing my friends or looking at property..or fucking every girl in the P.I. They can think what they want, but cannot "prove" anything. Yes, they should be looking for terrorists and not bothering us, but it seems rather easy to deal with.

Can someone with accurate knowledge or "connections" set us straight on this? Thanks.[/QUOTE]
I have just posted two extensive posts on this subject. Right after my detention I called a lawyer and got my ex-wife involved who is a cop. I work for “Uncle Sam.” Have Gov credentials the whole nine so no one is protected when it comes to this.

( I got stopped in Bangkok for questioning at the airport and when I whipped out the Gov ID I was promptly sent on my way as in the US they don’t give a shit.) There is nothing you can do about it.

Illogic over and out.

Interesting. When I was robbed they took the money out of my left pocket. That's the pocket where all I had was about 20 USD. Even in my right pocket I "only" had about $100 USD. I think they key is not to carry any amount more than you could feel "reasonably ok" about losing. $120 bucks for me. I could afford. After all, I can pay the girl back in the hotel room with cash I have there.

[QUOTE=Mr Hawaii]I generally go to P.I. for 2 weeks at a time. What works for me is this: I take my ATM card and charge card. My hotel room charges go on my charge card. When I run low on cash (I take about $1500 in crisp $100bills) I use my ATM card and withdraw 10,000p at a time. Sometimes the ATMs will not work, out of service, etc., so don't run completely out of cash. Let your bank know you are traveling to the P.I. so they don't block your card when they see the charges. I put my "big money" in my left pocket, my spending money in my right pocket. My wallet and ID I leave in my room. If you are robbed you try to throw the money from your right pocket one way and run the other way...that's what I've read, never had it happen, knock on wood.

Do what feels comfortable, have a backup plan..a friend at home you can call for $$$ if the worst happens.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Redfield10]Best to just be courteous and endure the grilling.[/QUOTE]After going through their drill literally dozens of times, and trying all kinds of approaches, I absolutely agree. No cover stories, no sarcasm, no joking around. Just a kind of world-weary politeness -- it comes easily now.

That said, if one of these sad little men asked me something like 'What was the highlight of your trip?', I'd be very tempted to tell him. It's not like shagging a consenting adult is against either local or US law. Not yet anyway.