It was not meant to be humourous. Many countries have strange rules. In the navy we had briefings prior to going ashore. some said no more than 2 packs of smokes or no more than 20$ american, no carbonated drinks, no weapons or items that would be construed as a weapon no more than 2 days medicatons on you. . then of course that was followed up with the off limits establishments. Many countries are concerned about black market items. In the PI you could not have house hold appliances in your posession off base such as a toaster, unless you lived there. those items are on the contraband lists and their prohibited quantities.
A word to the wise when dealing with any enforcement authority...
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I received the same briefs during my many deployments and port visits during my career in the Navy as well. I remember the 2 pack limit in Naples in the late 90's and early 2000's, among other restrictions there and elsewhere. I get it. But the whole ordeal is humerous, and the whole ordeal could have been avoided by one of the following:
1. The OP being more aware of what he and his wife packed.
2. The OP and his wife not smoking.
I am sorry you can't see the humor in it.
I spent some time in the PI...not sure I can imagine a legitimate scenario where a sailor or marine not stationed there at the time would be sporting a household appliance like a toaster or anything else while out on liberty. I think it would be fair to suspect a sailor or devil dog in a situation like that to be selling stuff they bought at the NEX on the black market with the intent of turning a quick buck.
-Z
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John Bantin
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I've traveled widely from the UK in my job as a diving journalist (now semi-retired). Guess which country I found most troublesome to enter with diving and camera equipment?
drrich2
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I'm glad you posted; I wonder how many people knew of the 10 pack per person limit? I don't smoke so no direct effect on me, but many people either smoke or travel with a smoker.
Your solution (suggesting using the local price) was creative and worked out as well as one might hope under the circumstances. I get you didn't want to pay nearly $400 for 9 packs of cigarettes.
I wonder how many people would've said 'Ok, it is what it is, throw the extra 9 packs in the trash?'
Reminds me of flying out of Grand Cayman once, and being stopped in Security because I had a scuba tool in my carry on. Turns out taking tools onboard aside from checked luggage wasn't allowed. I was a bit incredulous, and wanted to ask if they thought I could take the cockpit apart from inside with a scuba tool, but my choices were give it up, or go back and try to get it in checked, then come back through Security. I just wrote it off...
Richard.
Your solution (suggesting using the local price) was creative and worked out as well as one might hope under the circumstances. I get you didn't want to pay nearly $400 for 9 packs of cigarettes.
I wonder how many people would've said 'Ok, it is what it is, throw the extra 9 packs in the trash?'
Reminds me of flying out of Grand Cayman once, and being stopped in Security because I had a scuba tool in my carry on. Turns out taking tools onboard aside from checked luggage wasn't allowed. I was a bit incredulous, and wanted to ask if they thought I could take the cockpit apart from inside with a scuba tool, but my choices were give it up, or go back and try to get it in checked, then come back through Security. I just wrote it off...
Richard.
A few years ago I had a buddy in Mexico that asked me to bring down some external catheters. He emailed the manufacturer info and I ordered 200 for him(2 cases). Got a great deal for him. Took them out of the boxes and they fit perfectly inside one whole side of our biggest suitcase. Been to Mexico many times, always had the green light. This time we get the red light. We get sent over to the SS tables and I take the two heaviest bags, my wife takes the big bag (lightest bag) that just happens to be the bag with the 200 catheters. I can hear her calling me... I go over and the guy has one in his hand and he looks and me and wants to know - What is this? I say in english - its an external catheter. He doesn't speak english and clearly isn't happy and doesn't understand what it is. I say its for scuba. He still doesn't understand. So I point to my d**k, and now he has a sick look on his face. He gently puts in back in the suitcase and we were free to leave. The look on his face was priceless. 
In regards to the toaster comment you are exactly correct, it was meant to stop black market selling. As the smokes go I do not smoke but it was not an issue of the preticular item that was involved other than it was on a list of prohibited items for that country that many travelers do not know about.. it could have been any item. Yes if they did not smoke they would not have had that exact problem. """ IF """" a lot of things could have put them in the same customs situation. I think we have to many people that are,,,,,in this example,,,,,, anti smokers that would like to blame it on the smokes and not the more complex restrictions of a country which smokes happen to fall into. To blame the smokes would not stop it from happening if they were caught with a 90 day script of pain pills legal in the US but only 30 day would be legal in another country. Whata if in their luggage contained needles even if they were for insulin use.
Whether or not you could take the cockpit apart with your scuba tool is not relevant to the security agent in carrying out his duties and responsibilities. Dealing with airport security is like dealing with a guard at the gate to a military base. These positions are not really decision making positions and the amount of discretion people have in these positions is very limited. They are trained regarding the regulations and procedures they are to enforce and impose. At military bases they are carrying out orders that are set forth by the base commander which are developed based on information and other regulations dictated by higher authority, similar is true for airport security agents and border/customs officers. Arguing with folks in these positions about the efficacy of the rules they are employed to enforce or the processes they are obligated to follow, as some do, is not usually very productive as they didn't decide the rules/procedures and often have very little discretion in the enforcement of laws and policy . The proper redress is with their chain of command, and even then one might find they need to climb a few echelons to find someone in a capacity to reflect on the perceived issue and do anything about it (if anything can and/or should be done).
Ignorance of the rules/laws is not a defense. Just because traveling to a country is as easy as clicking a link to purchase a flight and packing a bag, it is incumbent on the traveler to research and be aware of any laws, customs, etc. that might impact them during their travel...that rings true for the place they are traveling to and their return to their place of origin.
Usually the amount of discretion a customs/border agent has the latitude to work with is giving a warning for the infraction or a reduction of the fine. This will usually require (but not always) forfeiture of the contraband property....my money is that any discussion/argument about why it is necessary to give up that property will just frustrate the situation and that discretionary window begins to close rather rapidly.
The folks in these positions don't want to be in your face any more than you want to be in theirs. Your issue is preventing them from moving on with easier and more routine tasks and may cause them to be caught up in pain in the arse paperwork...couple that with having to deal with language barriers and personalities and that just becomes a minefield for them to navigate...I can assure you that they would prefer a situation where you can just move along smartly....but that requires the traveler to know the laws/regulations for entering that country, and it is not necessarily in the scope of a border agent's or security agent's position to specifically educate the thousands of people that pass their checkpoint on a daily basis as they are primarily there in an enforcement capacity.
My travels have taken me around the world quite a few times. I have been to more countries than I can name off the top of my head, in fact it would be far easier for me to tell what countries I have not been in than the ones I have. In all my travel the only time I ever had a problem was a few years ago departing Senegal where the x-ray of my carry-on showed I had a nail clipper with a little pointy file. The security agent gave me the option to toss the nail clipper in the trash or have him snap off the pointy nail file...there was no discussion, just a nod of my head and he snapped the file off, tossed it back in my bag and I was on my way. Had it been something more substantial and had it been confiscated the onus would have been entirely on me and I would consider it a tax on my ignorance/stupidity for not being better informed/prepared.
Travel far and travel safe.
-Z
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