What was airport inspector in Curacao looking for?

When I left Curacao, an unfriendly guard was asking everybody to open their
bags for inspection. He was really digging through things. He unzipped
small cases and even felt around the lining of my jacket. He didn't know
how to pack clothes folding my tie in eighths and my jacket in quarters. I
didn't say anything because he looked like a street thug with attitude who
was put in a uniform. Had it been the US, I would have said, "Hey, my
clothes are going to get wrinkled."

What was he looking for? It could not have been explosives because the
places he was looking were too small. Also, there are tests for explosives
which are easier to do and more accurate. It would not make sense to search
for drugs going out of your country. Using dogs to check for drugs would be
quicker and more accurate.

I have never had anybody inspect my bags like that going into or out of any
country. They did not even do that in China.

I will never go to Curacao again and that guard is one of the reasons. I can
find better hotels, beaches, and more accommodating people in Aruba. Also
Aruba is much safer than Curacao.

"Odysseus" wrote in message news:m7vvc.33715$pt3.5606@attbi_s03...
When I left Curacao, an unfriendly guard was asking everybody to open
their
bags for inspection. He was really digging through things.

SNIP

What was he looking for?

Curacao is notorious as a drug shipment point. At least one gets that
impression by reading the St Maarten Daily Herald
http://www.thedailyherald.com/. They carry frequent stories about drug
"mules" from Curacao being arrested upon arrival in St Maarten.

"R J Carpenter" wrote in message
...

"Odysseus" wrote in message news:m7vvc.33715$pt3.5606@attbi_s03...
When I left Curacao, an unfriendly guard was asking everybody to open
their
bags for inspection. He was really digging through things.

SNIP

What was he looking for?

Curacao is notorious as a drug shipment point. At least one gets that
impression by reading the St Maarten Daily Herald
http://www.thedailyherald.com/. They carry frequent stories about drug
"mules" from Curacao being arrested upon arrival in St Maarten.

So are you trying to say that Odysseus looks like a mule . . .or acts like
one?

Hello,

It's not nice having a gruff person invading your personal
possessions. I hope the rest of your stay was nice.

Living in Bonaire and having traveled to Curacao often, I can say the
airport people are VERY rude. The tourism board would do well to offer
some training to staff there. This has been consistent to me. I hate
that airport..

The drug traffic is SO bad in Curacao that KLM has changed their
routings in some flights to avoid CUR. The Bolitas (drug swallowing
couriers) are BAD.

Also in the crime is VERY VERY high in Curacao. Each day Extra shows
at least one murder or violent crime, most drug related.

There are some awesome aspects of Curacao. I love the Kura Hulanda
Hotel and Museum, the pulse of Otrobanda, Westpunt, Jaanchi's for
lunch..but I wouldn't go there if my boyfriend didn't live there..it's
NOT a nice island in many regards.

In my opinion for what it's worth..

Annie
www.bonairecaribbean.com

Odysseus wrote in message news:m7vvc.33715$pt3.5606@attbi_s03...
When I left Curacao, an unfriendly guard was asking everybody to open their
bags for inspection. He was really digging through things. He unzipped
small cases and even felt around the lining of my jacket. He didn't know
how to pack clothes folding my tie in eighths and my jacket in quarters. I
didn't say anything because he looked like a street thug with attitude who
was put in a uniform. Had it been the US, I would have said, "Hey, my
clothes are going to get wrinkled."

What was he looking for? It could not have been explosives because the
places he was looking were too small. Also, there are tests for explosives
which are easier to do and more accurate. It would not make sense to search
for drugs going out of your country. Using dogs to check for drugs would be
quicker and more accurate.

I have never had anybody inspect my bags like that going into or out of any
country. They did not even do that in China.

I will never go to Curacao again and that guard is one of the reasons. I can
find better hotels, beaches, and more accommodating people in Aruba. Also
Aruba is much safer than Curacao.

What was he looking for?

I wondered that too, but I suspect it was for drugs. We are a family of 5,
and we had 8 bags. They went through each one thoroughly. They also did
the same thing in Costa Rica.

Sandi

Odysseus wrote in message news:m7vvc.33715$pt3.5606@attbi_s03...
When I left Curacao, an unfriendly guard was asking everybody to open their
bags for inspection. He was really digging through things. He unzipped
small cases and even felt around the lining of my jacket. He didn't know
how to pack clothes folding my tie in eighths and my jacket in quarters. I
didn't say anything because he looked like a street thug with attitude who
was put in a uniform. Had it been the US, I would have said, "Hey, my
clothes are going to get wrinkled."

What was he looking for? It could not have been explosives because the
places he was looking were too small. Also, there are tests for explosives
which are easier to do and more accurate. It would not make sense to search
for drugs going out of your country. Using dogs to check for drugs would be
quicker and more accurate.

I have never had anybody inspect my bags like that going into or out of any
country. They did not even do that in China.

I will never go to Curacao again and that guard is one of the reasons. I can
find better hotels, beaches, and more accommodating people in Aruba. Also
Aruba is much safer than Curacao.

They do the same thing at the departure gate in Aruba on a random basis!

In article , "fradybunch"
wrote:
What was he looking for?

I wondered that too, but I suspect it was for drugs. We are a family of 5,
and we had 8 bags. They went through each one thoroughly. They also did
the same thing in Costa Rica.

Where was this in the process? For instance on Provo in T&C, they hand search every bag as part
of the standard boarding process. I was thinking abou holding a bake sale and
seeing if I couldn't raise enough money to buy them a dog and/or the heavy
duty X-ray machine.
Although the last time I was in Aruba (over New Year's) they had "regular"
procedures.

--
"All of us learn to write in the second grade.
Most of us go on to greater things."
Bobby Knight.

Obviously drugs and explosives.

Perhaps somebody can elaborate, but the USA probably has some kind of
requirements in place that all checked baggage must be either x-rayed or
hand searched. And of course, for the smaller islands, its much cheaper
to hire hand searchers then to operate an x-ray machine. One time in
Kingston Jamaica they made me come down to baggage loading area and open
my suitcase...I had 20 packages of jerk seasoning powder that could have
been cocaine for all they knew...just looking at the x-ray.
Im not an expert, but I imagine that a through hand search is more efficient
then a machine, assuming the person searching is well trained. Obviously, both
would be the best.

So, another good reason to travel light and dont pack your bags full.

john

Also in the crime is VERY VERY high in Curacao. Each day Extra shows
at least one murder or violent crime, most drug related.

I figured that out when I arrived at my hotel, the Hilton. The guard
had to raise a gate to let the taxi in. I also noticed a fence with
razor wire. I spent less than half an hour in Willamstad because
I was alone and did not feel safe. .


There are some awesome aspects of Curacao. I love the Kura Hulanda
Hotel and Museum, the pulse of Otrobanda, Westpunt, Jaanchi's for
lunch..but I wouldn't go there if my boyfriend didn't live there..it's
NOT a nice island in many regards.


I agree. I went to Cruacao looking for Amsterdam in the Caribbean
but without the drug addicts. What I found was much different than
that.