American tourist charged with carrying ammo on airplan

[Alexx1401]

People are human and none of us are exempt from missing something or making a mistake. A 12 year prison sentence for low volume miscellaneous ammo is nothing more than an egregious money scheme. The punishment doesn't fit the crime.

Speaking only for me yes I am exempt from this kind of mistake. Now if you feel you are just not capable of not bringing contraband to a foreign country? Simple, do not ever cross the border to another country. Now how laws work in other countries? Again, not in my control. What is in my control is choosing to visit them or not. Mommy and Daddy are no longer there when adults make this choice. For those who need Mommy and Daddy to keep them from doing something this damn dumb? They need to stay in the US with Mom and Dad then.

 

[Alexx1401]

Ridiculous. Illegal immigrants bringing tons of Fentanyl across the border that is more than enough to kill all of us still continuous. Not to mention other contraband including weapons.

You do realize we are not talking about the US here right?

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

You do realize we are not talking about the US here right?

 

[Koda]

For those who need Mommy and Daddy to keep them from doing something this damn dumb? They need to stay in the US with Mom and Dad then.

Visiting Turks and Caicos be like...
View attachment 1887785

 

[ma96782]

What I don't like about laws like this (I understand other countries have different philosophies for their laws) is the lack of criminal intent. If mom gets pulled over and dirtbag son leaves his backpack in the car (he is not there) and for some reason it gets searched and dope, guns, etc. are found, generally there would not be a crime as she did not have any criminal intent to possess. (Or knowledge, for that matter.) I suppose in these cases one could argue there is a higher duty to make sure your luggage is sanitized, but it is also why in the States accidental (negligent) violations like this are often adjudicated in a civil proceeding from what I hear. I knew someone who didn't declare a firearm in checked luggage (a cop) and ended up writing a large check.

Criminal Intent?

Rrrrrright.......I guess that you haven't watched many of those TV shows, where they show Customs and Border Control Officers doing their job, at various ports of entry (including International and at the Mexican Border)?

Yeah....... "How did that get in there"?



Aloha, Mark

PS........but YES, I could imagine a case where there might just be an "innocent mule" involved.

 

[Mikej]

Visiting Turks and Caicos be like...

Show of hands? How many even heard of this place before this story? Certainly not asking a hand from folks here that have, over the years, enjoyed hitting exotic islands.

 

[Alexx1401]

Show of hands? How many even heard of this place before this story? Certainly not asking a hand from folks here that have, over the years, enjoyed hitting exotic islands.

I am sure I had heard of the place but until this could not have pointed to it on a map as had never had any inclination to go there.

 

[wired]

Show of hands? How many even heard of this place before this story? Certainly not asking a hand from folks here that have, over the years, enjoyed hitting exotic islands.

I really only do Mexico for the last 20 years but yeah, Ive heard of T&C and can point it out on a map. I wont go there now .

 

[HiFi Magnetics]

Show of hands? How many even heard of this place before this story? Certainly not asking a hand from folks here that have, over the years, enjoyed hitting exotic islands.

I got good news for you... That radical DA got ousted...

You do realize we are not talking about the US here right?

Got lost.. Sorry man..

 

[WillametteWill]

I really only do Mexico for the last 20 years but yeah, Ive heard of T&C and can point it out on a map. I wont go there now .

On any given day, I'm betting if you happen to run into the wrong person entering Mexico with something they don't allow, you could end up in the same situation. (And this is true of many countries, including the US.)

Criminal Intent?

Rrrrrright.......I guess that you haven't watched many of those TV shows, where they show Customs and Border Control Officers doing their job, at various ports of entry (including International and at the Mexican Border)?

Yeah....... "How did that get in there"?

This is the difference between local law enforcement and alphabet agencies. Although they shouldn't, feds operate with a completely separate set of rules. My partners and I would see or hear about things these agencies would do and shake our heads in disbelief, knowing there was no way a) we would ethically want to operate that way and b) would get our cases tossed out of court. LEOs should be trying to do the right thing, put actual crooks in jail that harm the public they protect, conduct traffic enforcement to reduce crashes, not create revenue, and not strip search an 87 year old Nun going through TSA security while staying hands off five military aged males boarding together with one-way tickets. Just my view.

PS........but YES, I could imagine a case where there might just be an "innocent mule" involved.

That's my point exactly: lack of criminal intent. To me, the concept of "Ignorance of the law is no excuse" has limits, and there is a big difference between this and factually having no way of knowing that you are committing a crime.

 

[ma96782]

I'm "comfortable" with US Fed Agents checking me and my baggage, as I enter and leave the USA for another country. And, that also goes for.....a foreign govt's agent, inspecting me and my baggage as I enter or leave their country.

YES.....I believe that Countries have a RIGHT to border security.

As for a possibility of a ROGUE AGENT (American or foreign)?

Yeah.....It could happen.

BTW.....Cough, cough.....
Are BRANDON and the "Open Borders" people listening?

And YEAH.....
There have also been times when Americans have been caught crossing an international border with "verboten Items" such as :

Pornography (i.e. Hustler, Playboy Magazine, Sexually explicit DVDs).
Illegal Drugs (Rx drugs. Rrrright.....in some countries they are not approved).
Or even regular consumer products and/or potential "black market items" (in massive/large/dealer quantities).
And other things (too numerous to mention). Guns and ammo being obvious here.

So then......YES.......
A true case of "Ignorance of the law" is one thing. BUT, when you're caught, over and over again.....and you're still claiming ignorance. Well.....

"I don't think so".

Note the ___Fill in the Blank___ tourist(s). Coming with live animals, plants, foods, animal products, etc..... etc.... They "declare nothing". Yet, again and again.....they get caught (even after being warned on previous occasions) attempting to "SMUGGLE".

Watch the TV program. There are plenty of excuses, for having concealed items, in one's luggage and/or NOT KNOWING why the "empty luggage" weighed so much.

So anyway.....
Please don't expect me to COVER or EXPLAIN everyone's particular circumstance or case.

Hummmm...... Perhaps, I'm just by my own nature.....skeptical of a lot of "stories".

Aloha, Mark

 

[wired]

On any given day, I'm betting if you happen to run into the wrong person entering Mexico with something they don't allow, you could end up in the same situation. (And this is true of many countries, including the US.)

Yes, but in Mexico yoiu slip the customs agent a hundred and he goes back to what he was doing.

 

[MichaelH]

They are REALLY trying hard to make 6,737 firearms confiscations sound like a lot.

There were 16.3 million flights serving 77.5 million passengers in the US in 2023.

We've all known our entire lives firearms and airplanes are a no-no. Imagine if it was bombs: you be alarmed. People manage not to pack those by accident.

 

[Alexx1401]

We've all known our entire lives firearms and airplanes are a no-no. Imagine if it was bombs: you be alarmed. People manage not to pack those by accident.

Not to mention its one thing to do this in the USA. The "pain" is normally mild at worst. So many get sloppy and no doubt have an "accident". Going out of the US, to another country? Again now its time to remember you are now an adult. No one is coming to save you. The information on what will happen is easy to find. Its also easy to see a lot of people who have had it too easy just can't be bothered to look. So when they get sloppy? Now they get to feel real pain. Bet none of them will have that "accident" again now will they? When I was a kid this used to be Americans going to another country and buying drugs. They used to have commercials, PSA's before they were called that. Warning people that it they get caught in another country they were in for a ride. A lot of them still did and paid a heavy price. Excuses are like a body part we all have. Stupidity should be painful. Often its not and people just don't learn until it gets REAL painful.

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

Not to mention its one thing to do this in the USA. The "pain" is normally mild at worst. So many get sloppy and no doubt have an "accident". Going out of the US, to another country? Again now its time to remember you are now an adult. No one is coming to save you. The information on what will happen is easy to find. Its also easy to see a lot of people who have had it too easy just can't be bothered to look. So when they get sloppy? Now they get to feel real pain. Bet none of them will have that "accident" again now will they? When I was a kid this used to be Americans going to another country and buying drugs. They used to have commercials, PSA's before they were called that. Warning people that it they get caught in another country they were in for a ride. A lot of them still did and paid a heavy price. Excuses are like a body part we all have. Stupidity should be painful. Often its not and people just don't learn until it gets REAL painful.

Back in college (mid 80's) one of the art history teachers did a Europe tour and one of the pre-reqs was a mandatory movie night at her place to watch Midnight Express
She was dead serious about it and would also have mandatory preflight bag checks because kids that age are dumb and all that bad stuff only happens to other people

 

[MichaelH]

Yes, but in Mexico yoiu slip the customs agent a hundred and he goes back to what he was doing.

True going in, not so much coming out.

 

[wired]

True going in, not so much coming out.

Absolutely true going in. Ive slipped a few gringo money papers to Mexican officials over the years.

Coming out, especially in my teens , those guys take their jobs way to seriously. Had to dump out many a bottle of tequila in the border sink. Had to wait in line to do it.

 

[MichaelH]

Show of hands? How many even heard of this place before this story? Certainly not asking a hand from folks here that have, over the years, enjoyed hitting exotic islands.

I would have said the Carribean, but apparently NE of Cuba and N of Haiti. Looks like it might have a bigger swell window than the rest of the tropical Islands down there.

 

[WillametteWill]

Illegal Drugs (Rx drugs. Rrrright.....in some countries they are not approved).

This is one to be careful with too. Especially with some Rx meds for pain, benzos, and others common here. When I was in Scotland a few weeks ago I had a fresh wound and was looking for some triple antibiotic ointment. OTC here, Rx only there. Other meds seemed to be the other way around.

 

[ma96782]

RE : Post #86

Blame Shifting.

American dad held in Turks and Caicos for having ammo in his luggage blasts State Department

Travelers caught with ammunition on Caribbean island face up to 12-year sentence

www.yahoo.com

Aloha, Mark