2 times we have been stopped and had items that had made it past security in the US confiscated by security in Cozumel.
The first time was last December when the wife had a couple of keychain tools taken away (one is a knife with a 1" blade).
This week, they got a couple of live 9mm rounds from me and an empty cartridge. hehe.
I had no idea what they were looking for since I had my laptop in the bag but once they pulled out the live ammo, I was able to see how it got there. I was using my range bag as my carryon. Simple signing of why I had the ammo and away I go onto my flight.
Have you had anything taken up that made it past your airports security?
billindenver
July 12th, 2009, 12:08 AM
Our first Coz trip I had forgotten to take our dive knives out of our carry on. I discovered this prior to the flight HOME when during check in at Coz they found a dive knife in my bag. Oops..gift for the security guy and we were on our way. When I unpacked in Denver, I found the other dive knife in that same bag. So, both knives went through denver security (where the bag was hand searched after seeing two reg's, computers etc on xray), through customs in cozumel (where it was hand searched) and one of them made it back through both securities and customs again....but at least they caught the one of them! These were standard folding dive knives...blades about 4 inches....oops.
It kind of pisses me off that I have to remove my shoes because of one idiot and his shoe bomb....but I can carry knives back and forth in a carry on that is Xrayed..and they don't see them.
tk trekers
July 12th, 2009, 12:49 AM
My wife had one of those pointed metal nail files in her purse, no problem getting through DFW TSA, but leaving Cozumel, they quickly pulled her bag aside and the guy dug around in there and pulled it out. I have the feeling that our TSA people are probably paid a lot more too...
MMM
July 12th, 2009, 01:43 AM
2 times we have been stopped and had items that had made it past security in the US confiscated by security in Cozumel.
This week, they got a couple of live 9mm rounds from me and an empty cartridge. hehe.
I dunno. Live rounds of ammo sound like dumb stuff to take on a dive trip. Too bad US security didn't notice.
FishOutUvH2O
July 12th, 2009, 09:43 AM
This week, they got a couple of live 9mm rounds from me and an empty cartridge. hehe.
I had no idea what they were looking for since I had my laptop in the bag but once they pulled out the live ammo, I was able to see how it got there. I was using my range bag as my carryon. Simple signing of why I had the ammo and away I go onto my flight.
I don't know what your purpose is for this thread, but the above is a load of BS. If you had been caught with ammo, whether it's just brass, a bullet, or a complete round, you most certainly would not have just signed a piece of paper and been on your way. After you got to the jail they might then let you explain why you had the ammo. This is a serious federal offense here in Mexico, is taken very seriously, and you WILL spend time in custody.
psychocabbage
July 12th, 2009, 12:33 PM
I don't know what your purpose is for this thread, but the above is a load of BS. If you had been caught with ammo, whether it's just brass, a bullet, or a complete round, you most certainly would not have just signed a piece of paper and been on your way. After you got to the jail they might then let you explain why you had the ammo. This is a serious federal offense here in Mexico, is taken very seriously, and you WILL spend time in custody.
No. Apparently, since you were not there, you do not have any clue what had transpired.
From start to finish:
Backpack with laptop is scanned and when it comes out it is pulled aside and I am asked if the pack is mine. I state it is. This is a backpack with some features. It has a built in camelback and a hidden coverall for the bag to keep it dry. I normally (even right now) have it setup as my range bag so it will hold my ammo, ear muffs and etc when I go shooting.
I dont think anything of being pulled aside and watch them pull out the following:
1 Dell Laptop
4 magazines (2 scuba diver and 2 automotive)
2 pairs of headphones
1 set of keys
At this point he (the guy doing the search) is still digging around and I am thinking they are trying to figure out how to get the hydration pack out to make sure there are no liquids in it or trying to see the hidden compartment with the bag cover.
As I am going to show him, he produces 2 9mm rounds and continues digging when he finds 1 empty casing.
They then ask me for my "passport and boarding pass".
I walk over to the gate and get my wife to hand me the documents which I then take back to the officials. At this point we have the 1 guy that did the search, his supervisor, 1 Federal Policeman and the Military guy that hangs out in the area all by me talking.
I explained how and why the ammo is in there. They stepped away for a moment.
Returned with a sheet of paper and asked me to write why the ammo is there and sign it.
I did so, all my stuff was returned minus the ammo and off we go.
Things we spoke of while this was happening :
Was I a police man - my answer - No. We are allowed to own guns in the US.
I asked the Federal policeman what he is using and found he carried a .40 caliber. We then spoke about how accurate certain guns were.
Really did happen. Who would make up something like this? geesh..
Anyways, I made the post because I knew that in this section on this board everyone had at least had a chance to go through their security. I find them to be very good at what they do.
You perhaps need to realize that everyone is not always treated the same and that my experience may vary as yours will.
Are you fluent in Spanish? Do you sound like an American trying to speak Spanish? Do you talk as if you are someone? All of these things weigh in as factors on how anything from getting gas or rental cars to dealing with officials will be handled.
If, by some off chance, you are in Cozumel and in a position of "power", go to the airport and verify my story. Then you can come post here and let everyone know how you seem to jump to conclusions when you do not know what you speak of.
ggunn
July 12th, 2009, 12:36 PM
I don't know what your purpose is for this thread...
A bit of chest pounding, perhaps? :D
psychocabbage
July 12th, 2009, 12:44 PM
Its not hard to figure out. Billindenver and tk trekers both understood the idea behind this thread.
A few of you seem be suffering some post dive narcosis.
ggunn
July 12th, 2009, 12:58 PM
Its not hard to figure out. Billindenver and tk trekers both understood the idea behind this thread.
A few of you seem be suffering some post dive narcosis.
...and a few others seem to be suffering from testosterone poisoning. ;)
billindenver
July 12th, 2009, 02:29 PM
Wow, what is with the board today and all the insulting posts. Relax guys...he posted something you didn't enjoy reading...click the back button and move on. No need to act like this....
ggunn
July 12th, 2009, 03:12 PM
Wow, what is with the board today and all the insulting posts. Relax guys...he posted something you didn't enjoy reading...click the back button and move on. No need to act like this....Who are you talking about? I enjoyed it thoroughly! :D
firstdive2005
July 12th, 2009, 04:56 PM
I managed a big bottle of Habinaro suace out in my carryon. That stuff would layout most people. Officially the size was too big. I dont know why they let it through. They saw it.
DennisS
July 12th, 2009, 05:24 PM
2 times we have been stopped and had items that had made it past security in the US confiscated by security in Cozumel.
The first time was last December when the wife had a couple of keychain tools taken away (one is a knife with a 1" blade).
This week, they got a couple of live 9mm rounds from me and an empty cartridge. hehe.
I had no idea what they were looking for since I had my laptop in the bag but once they pulled out the live ammo, I was able to see how it got there. I was using my range bag as my carryon. Simple signing of why I had the ammo and away I go onto my flight.
Have you had anything taken up that made it past your airports security?
Sometimes you just get Lucky
Title Two of the Federal Law of Firearms allows possession and carrying of handguns in a calibers of .380 or less, although some calibers are excluded, most notably .357 magnum and 9mm parabellum.
Mexican law provides penalties of at least five to as many as 30 years in prison for tourists who attempt to bring a firearm, or even a single round of ammunition, into Mexico without prior permission. In the past, the law was enforced stringently, even in cases where the violation was accidental. In December 1998, however, the Mexican Congress enacted legislation relaxing the law for first-time, unintentional violations involving only a single gun. Now, first-timers will be fined $1,000, but not imprisoned. The exemption does not apply for military weapons or calibers - which by Mexican law means any handgun above .380 in caliber, as well as a wide variety of rifles.
ReefHound
July 12th, 2009, 05:50 PM
I've seen many stories of Texans crossing the border and ending up with long jail sentences and tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees all because they forgot they had a gun or ammo in their vehicle. Maybe these incidents are why the law was relaxed. And maybe it is handled more harshly in places like Nuevo Laredo and Juarez than a touristy area. Also, cabbage was leaving the country not entering.
As for the general point, think of all the different crap people jam into their bags in various arrangements, and a person looking at a scanner has about 3 to 5 seconds to look at an image of it. It's not surprising to me that so much stuff gets through. Cozumel is a little less busy than Denver or Houston as well.
DocIndyDiver
July 12th, 2009, 07:15 PM
Had a dive buddy years ago who managed to accidentally take a knife on the plane in her carry-on. It was attached to the back of her console of her reg. The gauges must of obscured it in the x-ray machine. I told her don't try that on the way home. I agree it seems foreign security is tighter than TSA in the USA. By the way, space shuttle just canceled for weather.
ggunn
July 12th, 2009, 10:57 PM
Two possible contributory reasons why security may seem tighter at the Cozumel airport than it does in the US:
They handle far fewer planes than the typical U.S. airport, so they can give each plane more attention.
They have less money for electronic equipment, so a lot of their inspection must be done by hand.
judydivescoz
July 13th, 2009, 09:11 AM
Security was so tight in Cozumel that the confiscated the Chicken Tenderloin dog treats that I was bringing a friend. The security team told me that even though it is OK to bring in chicken treats from the US, the package I had was made in CANADA and not allowed. I did not have to sign any papers and the military was not called.
driftin' by
July 13th, 2009, 12:17 PM
In Coz last week, they wouldn't let me through with my water. :crying: Other than that, no real problems for me. Then again, I don't try or attempt stupidly obvious things like dive knives, live rounds or sticks of dynamite. Especially, not in my range bag or my shoes. :wink:
What does interest me in Coz when boarding is the physical hand search of my carry on bags after being x-rayed. Does that x-ray machine not work? No worries, I'm happy to subject myself for whatever as long as it makes flying safer.
lmorin
July 13th, 2009, 02:33 PM
Not long after the ban on liquids was put in place, my wife and I went to the Keys. Our departure airport is on Long Island and the TSA agents always hand search my carry-on with regs, camera, lights, etc. This time, I had forgotten to pack the sunscreen in my checked luggage. The TSA agent inspected my carry-on and, to get to the bottom she had to lift stuff off the top. First thing to lift---the 2 bottles of sunscreen which she conveniently held in her right hand while finishing the inspection with her left. Then, not finding anything, she re-packed my carry-on, putting the bottles of sunscreen in last. I held my breath until she zipped it closed. Then said thanks and departed.
jpomerantz
July 13th, 2009, 05:21 PM
Who are you talking about? I enjoyed it thoroughly! :D
I actually hope he tries it again. maybe that time they will enforce the law and we won't have to read all of these inane posts for a while.
chrisc
July 13th, 2009, 06:39 PM
I can say that the Mexican Gov. has a beautiful Browning Belguim Pigion Gr3 over/under shotgun and $4000 in USD. We were traveling to dove hunt in Mexico 2 years ago and 1 (one) 12g shell was under the egg crate foam. TSA missed it, I don't know if they let it slide because it was a firearm or what. As we were clearing customs and all our import documentation was checked agains the SN's of the shotguns being brought in, he was pulled to the side when they found the round, he spent 1 1/2 days in jail until the fine could be paid, and the gun was considered "contraband". He is an attourney and the ranch we were hunting with was also owned by several Mexican attourney's. The US Embassy could do little, except offer to help in expediting transfer of funds from the US to pay the fine.
