Strange thing happened to a souvenir after my flight

0verblood · 26-12-2010 04:05PM #1

I had a big wooden souvenir in my checked baggage for my flight, and when I collected it on the other side there were holes drilled into it, it looks like **** now, I've just noticed them. What the hell could it be? Were they looking for drugs or something? It's just a wooden mask about 50cm tall and 2cm thick. Can I get compensated or what? I don't know where to post this. There's no airline forum.

squod · 26-12-2010 04:07PM

0verblood wrote: »

I had a big wooden souvenir in my checked baggage for my flight, and when I collected it on the other side there were holes drilled into it, it looks like **** now, I've just noticed them. What the hell could it be? Were they looking for drugs or something? It's just a wooden mask about 50cm tall and 2cm thick. Can I get compensated or what? I don't know where to post this. There's no airline forum.

Stick it up on e-bay as ''Aerodynamicly improved wooden souvenir''

Snowc · 26-12-2010 04:08PM

They where probably taking samples of the wood to test for diseases.

Biggins · 26-12-2010 04:09PM

Probably were testing for drugs, etc but they should have at least notified you of their intention to do so!
If it was a very dear work of art, you can bet a gallery would be suing their ass off!

If your item was expensive, a trip to a good solicitor would be advised.

Jagle · 26-12-2010 04:09PM

common practise possibly checking for drugs yes, and i dont think youll get compensated for it, dunnno who you would ask about compo

Mr. Manager · 26-12-2010 04:10PM

You probably should have brought it to the attention of the staff once you noticed it no

Snowc · 26-12-2010 04:12PM

Was it worth much?

Son Of A Vidic · 26-12-2010 04:13PM

It's hard to believe security would drill holes to check for drugs or explosives. They must have had no sniffer dog available, or perhaps they're just incredibly stupid.

CorkMan · 26-12-2010 04:18PM

I was thinking of putting my dog through luggage but realised they'd have to search him too.

Biggins · 26-12-2010 04:19PM

If it was in your checked baggage, did you have a lock on the case anyway?
(And if not, why not!)
And if it was locked, how did they get to it? Did you get a case with a broken lock subsequently?

AntiMatter · 26-12-2010 04:20PM

I doubt if the Customs would have drilled it, without letting you know.

Larianne · 26-12-2010 04:23PM

I thought American security can break locks to check peoples bags?

Sounds like they were checking for drugs or insects/diseases in wood. Surprised they didn't contact you about it or at least have a sticker in it saying it had been touched by customs.

Where were you flying to?

Sacred_git · 26-12-2010 04:24PM

AntiMatter wrote: »

I doubt if the Customs would have drilled it, without letting you know.

Normal practice, looking for drugs!! They do notify you, maybe posiblly by post!

AntiMatter · 26-12-2010 04:26PM

Sacred_git wrote: »

Normal practice, looking for drugs!! They do notify you, maybe posiblly by post!

If they pulled his bag to search, they must have had some indication, or reason to suspect, he was carrying drugs. They would have pulled him, and given him a drilling.

inforfun · 26-12-2010 04:27PM

They should use the same drill method on those "mules" who carry their drugs in their stomach.

Sacred_git · 26-12-2010 04:30PM

AntiMatter wrote: »

If they pulled his bag to search, they must have had some indication, or reason to suspect, he was carrying drugs. They would have pulled him, and given him a drilling.

not in OZ anyway, they pull bags they suspect have a chance of drugs in em and start drilling them because they dont know who owns the bags so they then put the bag back on the rail and then nick the owner!!

Whippersnapper · 26-12-2010 04:31PM

Last time they opened my case they left a large chalk X on the inside lid of the case, whatever that meant. More recently they opened the case and ripped open a plastic bag only to find our dirty laundry from the trip.

AntiMatter · 26-12-2010 04:39PM

Sacred_git wrote: »

not in OZ anyway, they pull bags they suspect have a chance of drugs in em and start drilling them because they dont know who owns the bags so they then put the bag back on the rail and then nick the owner!!

They pulled me in Dublin last year, flying from Bombay via Turkey.

I had been smoking dope in India, and the sniffer dog in Dublin picked it up from the clothes in my bag. (the woman searching me told me this)

In my luggage I had a type of brick used in building, that I was carrying back to Ireland for analysis.

The customs got really excited on seeing it. They x-rayed it, swabbed it, searched it for openings, and carefully examined it for indications of nefariosity.

I offered to let them smash the brick open, if it expedited my exit, but they were insistent on keeping it intact, as they didn't want to be disrupting passengers unnecessarily, they told me.

Gran Hermano · 26-12-2010 04:43PM

Sounds like the plane was infested with woodworm.

galwayrush · 26-12-2010 04:46PM

The customs can be right boring bastards,

Ficheall · 26-12-2010 05:12PM

0verblood wrote: »

I had a big wooden souvenir in my checked baggage for my flight, and when I collected it on the other side there were holes drilled into it, it looks like **** now, I've just noticed them.

Are you sure the holes weren't there when you bought it?

ejmaztec · 26-12-2010 05:18PM

Ficheall wrote: »

Are you sure the holes weren't there when you bought it?

It could be a holey relic that some priest would cough up big bucks for.

Rockn · 26-12-2010 05:50PM

I often wondered when watching those Border Patrol type shows what happens when they destroy peoples luggage and don't find anything. Oh sorry we cut the soles off your shoes and sliced open the lining of your briefcase. Unlucky.

Longboard · 26-12-2010 06:01PM

It was probably the result of a midget shootout in the aircraft hold.

jetsonx · 26-12-2010 06:05PM

0verblood wrote: »

I had a big wooden souvenir in my checked baggage for my flight, and when I collected it on the other side there were holes drilled into it, it looks like **** now

That is blatant damage to your property OP. They obviously got a Black and Decker to it looking for "illicit substances". A customs officer just trying to clock up a few brownie points in front of the boss before Christmas. They did not even show you courtesy or respect by informing you of the damage incurred.

Keep all travel documentation. Dig out the receipt of this purchase, if you still have it. Make a phone call the head of Customs and Excise in whatever Airport you've arrive through and seek compensation. Document the damage and get contact number and names of everyone you speak to.

Public servants are paid for by your taxes and that sort of behavior by them is totally unacceptable. Follow this issue up until next June if you have to, but not let them get away with it.

El Horseboxo · 26-12-2010 06:09PM

In a lot of countries where the movement of drugs is a problem they use this narrow device to puncture holes in your suitcase or backpack and then sample the end of it for drugs. The holes are in random spots and are normally quite narrow. I was traveling with 2 people in Colombia that ended up with holes in the bags and one of them went through a statue. I asked one of the security guards and he told me about them using this thing to check for drugs. If you don't lock it they will just open it.

Lumen · 26-12-2010 06:46PM

Aaargh. I just learned something in After Hours.

Stop it, people. This is no place for enlightenment!

mloc123 · 26-12-2010 07:00PM

As anyone who has seen 'border control' on discovery will know this is common enough. AFAIK they will xray it first and if it looks suss they will drill it and take samples to test.

i57dwun4yb1pt8 · 26-12-2010 07:09PM

these same dimwits stopped a tooth whitening kit from the states for us recently , and told us they would consider whether to let it go or not as a lot of young people were being scammed by foreign purchases ( i kid you not - these were their words )

bought a new one from a uk company instead , ( less powerful but whatever )

guess what - no customs this time .

stupid t0ssers.

Steyr · 26-12-2010 07:50PM

Hi OP, it almost certainely sounds like it was x-rayed, x-ray revealed dense substance so they went drilling for powder. The return from the x-ray could have been sap etc but if Customs have a reason to look further then they will and they can.

Steyr · 26-12-2010 07:54PM

jetsonx wrote: »

That is blatant damage to your property OP. They obviously got a Black and Decker to it looking for "illicit substances". A customs officer just trying to clock up a few brownie points in front of the boss before Christmas.

:pac: Obviously not a fan of all things Legal, it is their job, they dont get "brownie points" and they can and will search anything that looks suspect.

Strange thing happened to a souvenir after my flight

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