Customs Officials

[El Diablo]

... in response to Re: Customs Officials, posted by cjweir on Jul 17, 2001


The last time I went though Miami from Cali, I was carrying cuban contraband, four boxes my buddy asked me to bring back.  My bag was an hour behind everyone elses bag and only appeared when I had given up all hope. When I picked it up and headed for customs they were waiting for me.  Well Mr. Diablo they said "did you buy anything in Colombia you'd like to tell us about that's not on your claim here".  Well I bought some shirts at Arturo Calle.  Good answer I thought.  That's nice they said but what about Cuban cigars.   Cubans what are Cubans I thought to myself.  (-:

Well what's a devil to do!!  Lie, no NOT a smart move as the hour delay meant that they already new the answer.  So I told them the truth but acted as naive as possible inorder to avoid any complications. (-:   In the end I had to wait around at customs another half hour, the last official to talk to me said something like, "you're the guy with the cigars right, just get out of here".  I couldn't believe it.    

Well I missed my connection and had to hang around the airport another four hours but my buddy back in California was as happy as could be.

[Edge]

... in response to Re: Re: Customs Officials, posted by El Diablo on Jul 17, 2001

I did not have four boxes of Cubans, but I had a few.  Luckily, I did not miss my connection and got to keep the cigars.  

I do not know if it is the same in Sante Fe de Bogotá now, but that was by far the toughest airport to fly out of compared to Cali or Caracas.  This was a few years back, but we went through at least 3 full searches of all possessions and body pat downs.  They might have been on high alert for some reason.

I always tell anyone who asks that I am/was visiting my girlfriend and I have not had any problems yet.

[El Diablo]

... in response to Re: Re: Customs Officials, posted by El Diablo on Jul 17, 2001

If I wasn't clear, they let me keep my four boxes of Cuban's .... I may have a career as a courier!!  Just joking....

[Houndog]

... in response to Customs Officials, posted by Sol on Jul 17, 2001

...the whole truth..and nothing but the truth. So help you God.

HD

[Cali vet]

... in response to Customs Officials, posted by Sol on Jul 17, 2001

Sol I have been through the airports at Bogota, Cali and Barranquilla numerous times and have never had a single unpleasent encounter. Once a guy checking the contents of my bag pulled out the binochular I use for birdwatching and scanned around the airport. He was fascinated that's all that was about and he carefully put them back. I have always found the personel at the airports to be gracious to us although they aren't always so nice to Colombians. Once leaving the Cali airport I saw another American trying to leave through the national flights door and they wouldn't let him through pointing to the International door. He was furious and started cursing a blue streak calling them fking a-holes etc. finaly yelling "goddamit I don't speak Spanish". Even with this behavior they remained calm and guided him out the proper door. My thoughts were 1. man are you lucky these people don't understand Engish and 2. this is THE WRONG country in which to draw attention to yourself!
Near the counter where they stamp your passport as you enter the country there is sometimes an extencion de impuestos table set up. Be sure and get your paper there so you can skip that step when you leave the country. By the way did you know there is a free (in Colombia??!!) internet cafe at the Bogota airport? It's in a back room of the Telecom office on the floor where all the shops are.
Now U.S. customs is another story. The last time I came through Miami the guy asked me what I was doing in Colombia. I said I was visiting friends. He looked over every page of my passport and said sarcasticly "you must have a lot of friends in Colombia" then asked me to list every place I'd been on this trip, where do I live, where do I work and how long I've worked there. He was starting to get downright intrusive and of course searched my bags. That experience has made me somewhat aprehensive but what can you do. Just keep your cool I guess so they don't start looking places where the sun don't shine. However I have to admit that was an exception. 95% of the time they just wave me through.

[Keith Smith]

... in response to Re: Customs Officials, posted by Cali vet on Jul 17, 2001

If anyone's interested, please go to Archive 034 regarding my experience with U.S. Customs at Miami International Airport on Dec. 2, 2000. You might find it interesting.