We flew into Los Cabos Airport on September 1st for week long live aboard trip. Two of the divers in our group were profiled and forced to pay the 19% tax. Both divers were traveling alone, had two checked bags, and both were identified by the same Customs officer. Neither was asked to hit the red/green light, they were just told to go have their bags checked. Their passports were taken and then they were escorted to a room where they were advised they would have to pay the tax. One was taxed $95.00 for a 15 year old Sealife camera that does not have a housing, it is a one piece camera. The other was taxed $150 for a pair of Backscatter MW-4300 video lights. Neither could leave the room or contact anyone, and one was threatened with arrest because his buddy was calling trying to figure out where he was. They do not accept cash or American Express, Visa or Mastercard only to pay the tax. Asking to speak to a supervisor was pointless, both asked several times but no supervisor ever showed up. They were each held nearly an hour before they decided to pay the tax and move on, which is what the intent was in segregating them and taking their passports.
The last time I went through Los Cabos Airport I was "selected" for search. I had a TG-6 in an Olympus housing and the Customs Officer told me that I was fine as long as the value of the housing did not exceed $500. On this trip I had my camera and housing (Olympus E-PL10) in a backpack and was only dragging one bag. It may have helped that my wife speaks fluent Spanish and did all the talking.
The last time I went through Los Cabos Airport I was "selected" for search. I had a TG-6 in an Olympus housing and the Customs Officer told me that I was fine as long as the value of the housing did not exceed $500. On this trip I had my camera and housing (Olympus E-PL10) in a backpack and was only dragging one bag. It may have helped that my wife speaks fluent Spanish and did all the talking.
