Every country has different laws and punishments in relation to drugs. So it’s important to consider that the risks you might take at home like taking illicit substances may be much greater overseas.
Who was Michelle Lesley? She was most famous for being a pretty girl caught with an E in Bali. But what about the hundreds of others not as good looking we don’t hear about? At any one time, there are many Aussies in jail worldwide for taking or possessing what might have been just a small amount of drugs. What’s a slap on the wrist at home might end up as serious time in a hellhole prison.
Aside from minor possession charges we all know about Schapelle Corby and the Bali Nine, who have caused themselves well-publicized drama for trafficking drugs into Indonesia (including the looming death penalty for Scott Rush, just 19). Or remember Nguyen Tuong Van, an Australian executed in Singapore in 2005 for drug charges? (https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4487366.stm).
These cases show how seriously overseas authorities take illegal substances. Indonesia is not alone in a hard-line approach to drugs, Thailand, Singapore, much of South East Asia, Latin America and Northern Africa all have the strange mix of easy access to drugs coupled with huge consequences for being caught with them.
There are stories that come out of South East Asia as well as Latin America which suggests that sometimes tourists are targeted or set up by police for drug offenses. Although this has happened there are very clear and easy ways of preventing anything like this happening to you:
Be aware of the consequences of being around, possessing illegal substances
Be aware of what those around you are doing as you may be implicated by association
Refuse to carry bags or luggage for anyone you do not know
Stay well clear when a puff on a joint might land you in a Bali prison for seven years!
While many people indulge with drugs overseas and get away with it the consequences in some countries are just not worth the risk. Even in the USA, a drug charge might see you never returning…just think hard before you do it.
Obviously strapping heroin to your body in a country that has the death penalty is something that only those who have done it would be able to try and justify.
Some countries do not have a nationwide rehabilitation center referral service, particularly those whose harsh drug laws render such services unnecessary.
How Drug Trafficker Smuggle The Drug in the Luggage?
There are many creative ways that been came out by drug traffickers to transport drugs to different countries through the flight. Most of the drugs are camouflage as legal stuff and they will be inserted into the cans, boxes, and etc.
The drug traffickers tend to stroll in the airport and find the victim who can help them to carry the luggage to go through customs check. So, if you are in the airport and some strangers come to approach you and ask you to carry luggage for them, you better reject them and walk away quickly.
Here are some videos that I would like to share with you on how creative the drug traffickers are. The 5 videos will show you how drug traffickers using different stuff to contain the drugs and try to have innocent people to help them to carry them to go through the customs check.
1. Drugs in Coca Cola Bottle
There are drug traffickers who will make use of soft drink bottles like the Coca-cola bottle to contain the drug.
At first you will see there is no difference for this bottle with the normal Coke. But when peel off the wrapping plastic label which is wrapped around the bottle, you will see there is a gap line on the bottle.
You can actually spin the bottle and for a while, you can take the upper half of the bottle up. By then we only know that this bottle is actually specially made that can split the bottle into 2-half.
There is a cellphone hiding inside the bottle as well as a small pack that is being wrapped. Once you unwrapped the small pack then only you realize that it is actually a drug hiding in it.
2. Drugs in Cans
This video shows all the cans for food and drinks can be used to store drugs inside. Be it soft drink bottle, soda can, pringles container, or any cans that can use to contain stuff, the drug traffickers will use them to contain drugs and try to smuggle out.
3. Drugs Camouflage in iPhone Box Packaging
iPhone is the cell phone that loved by most of the people. Do you ever think that drug traffickers can make use of the iPhone to pack the drug inside and smuggling to other countries?
From this video, we can see that the iPhone is actually pack in very good packaging. If you take a look at the outer packaging, you will not able to tell there is actually no iPhone inside. It is just not possible for people to differentiate it through the look of its appearance.
When the customs officer takes a knife to cut off the seal and open up the box cover, it is actually drug hidden inside instead of the iPhone. The weight of the drug is also almost similar to the weight of an actual iPhone.
4. Drugs in Edible Meat
The drug trafficker just makes the trafficking technique to another level. This time they are storing the drug inside the meat of beef.
From the video, we can see the meat is even already marinated with seasoned and gravy. They keep the drugs in small packs and store them inside the meat.
Most of the people will not think there is actually drug inside the meat.
5. Drugs Hidding in Wedding Invitation
Have you ever think of the drug that can be hidden inside the wedding invitation? This video shows us how creative the drug trafficker is to insert the drug into the cover of the wedding invitation and seal with paper.
It appears so thin that people will not think that there is anything in between.
When the customs officer tears off the wedding invitation, there is actually a pack of drugs that is hiding between the card cover.
From the videos, we can know that drug traffickers will think of all the ways to smuggle drugs all over the world. All these drugs are generally contained in camouflage stuff and will all put inside the luggage. If you not familiar with their trick and help them to carry the luggage, you may get yourself in huge trouble!
How to avoid falling into the trap?
- Try to decline your friend request euphemisms and as polite as possible if he asks you to carry his luggage for the customs check while at the airport. Unless you really know what you are carrying, otherwise you shouldn’t help him to carry especially if the luggage has been sealed.
- Don’t help people that you are not so familiar with to carry or check-in their luggage, especially those who are abroad and constantly approaching you in the name of their fellows.
- Refusing to help anyone to carry valuables, tobacco and alcohol, watches and jewelry, meat products, medicines, and health products. Most of these are prohibited items in most countries.