www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Well, I have been red flagged.

I have been traveling a lot lately and the last couple of times, I have been sent to the customs check with a big C on my customs form. The first time when I returned from MDE and then again a week ago from SJO.

I think I was sent the first time when I answered too quickly with a no, when asked if I had any alcohol or tobacco with me when returning from MDE. I also answered with the standard "visiting friends" when asked what I was doing in MDE. On my latest trip from SJO, I had another big C and I went straight to the customs check. Spent an extra 45 minutes, getting my luggage all spread out. They did not say anything when they saw a Doc Johnson vibe in my shaving kit.

What do you guys answer when asked "what were you doing in xxx?" and have you been caught with tools of the mongering trade?

this is why i like to travel in jacket and tie.


I tell them i have been looking at potential investment/real estate sites.

it is always a business trip.

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The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

Don't lie, But don't lay your life out for them. Yes no, i don't know, I use the vibrator on my lady friend.Make up a name if they ask. You cannot remember the address because you never learned it; you just know how to show the cabby.. She comes to your hotel. Don't tell them it is none of their business. When they really start jacking with you they are just looking for you to give them a reason to keep you off your flight. Been there done that.

FYI on something I learned on my last trip chatting with the dude next to me on the plane....

If you have a common name, ie: Fred Johnson, Al Smith, et al...it seems you get lumped all together if one of the other many FJs or ASs either gets flagged or worse.

This guy had a very common name and got yanked out every single time until he made them go through a thorough search of why this was happening. That is what they told him.

I just tell them I am vising a girlfriend. That always explains the lube, condoms and other party favors . When they ask why a gf in CR, I always answer, have you ever been there? They laugh and I am on my merry way.

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In honor of Jimmy V week, "Don't give up, don't ever give up!"

The questions are standard, they are purposely design with the intent to elicit certain information from you while putting you at ease, sort of a friendly conversation. I wrote about my exper. with them in Sept. in the trip report section.
When I was asked about the purpose of my visit ,I said to visit friends, and do some gambling. My carry-on was x-rayed and then emptied, and the 10 bags of coffee counted.
I don't know if how one is dressed makes any difference? Some one posted a response that there's a new "program" called "Twisted Traveller" which targets single males. Who the F*** knows, maybe ICE is looking to tag someone with fines or duty fees or possible worst.
Just never carry anything illegal, and remember they have all the power.
Flaco in Ft. Lauderdale

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Never paying cein

Yep, the best advice that has been given is not to carry anything illegal and just keep the answers simple. On vacation. "what did you do", just relaxed and enjoyed the city. If they ask where you stayed tell them. The big thing to remember is not to get flustered. If you have nothing illegal with you, you have broken no law. Nothing they can do. Well, they can delay you long enough to miss a flight I guess. Don't know, even though I go back and forth, never get many questions.

I was targeted from my trip to MDE last year. They hadn't even seen me yet, but as soon as I got to LAX my name was on a list.

I was pulled aside and told that I had to talk to an officer. About a half hour later one comes out and walks me to a different part of the airport. On the way starts asking me questions, obviously trying to trip me up. I just smiled and laughed. He said, "Well you sure are taking this good". I mentioned that I had done nothing illegal, had nothing illegal, so when he was finished doing his job, I was going home, and to take all the time he wanted. It went much better after that.

When he came upon about 10 rubbers in my luggage he asked me if I had ever been to the Philippines, or Thailand? He said that he had been there in the Marines, and I would probably like it. I handed him my shaving kit and told him he had not searched it. He just said no problem and put it in my bag.

I asked him if I had helped him with his quota of fat, old, white men. He just laughed. He began typing into the computer, and I asked him if he could put me on the "good guy" list now. He said he would. We'll see upon my return from MDE in a couple of weeks.

IMO, keep it light, and things will go much smoother.

Health & happiness to all.............

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It's not the size of the wand that put the rabbit in the hat, it's the magic in it!!!

Just had this happen to me when returning from SJO on Nov. 9 thru Atlanta. I filled out the form stating no merchandise, no liquor, no nothing. The agent asked me the standard questions and I said no to all. He then placed a "C" on my form and then told me to go "over there".

Now was nervous as I had a 3/4 filled bottle of Ciroc vodka that I had bought in the ATL duty free while going down to SJO. Also had left over Victoria Secret panties, lip gloss and perfume as well as 2 vibrators in the original packaging.

Thankfully the agent who was checking me was a man who I guessed was from Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa....something like that. You should have seen the look on his face when he pulled out the 2 vibrators......he looked at them closely from the front and from the back.......never said a word.

When he got to the VS panties, lip gloss and perfume, he asked if these were mine. I said yes and then he asked why do I have them? I said I bought these in the US and took them on my trip to give to "friends" as gifts and I was bringing these back with me as I did not give them all away. He looked closely at the zip-lock bag that had my leftover condoms & lube.......he did not say a word.

He looked at the bottle of Ciroc, which was opened and 3/4 filled and still in the ATL duty free bags.......again did not say anything.

Then he told me.........OK, you can put everything away and proceed to the gate.

Thankfully the agent was a man, that whole scene could have been a lot more difficult/ackward if the agent was a man-hating woman who did not approve of my "vacation".

Good thing I had a 2 hour 20 minute layover as this whole process took about 45 - 50 minutes.

All's well that ends well.

last year when coming back from sosua , I was in miami....I had got in the wrong after getting my bags and I jumped into the next line...I guess it made them look at me and they came over and took me into a different room ...and they started with all the questions....mostly why was I in the D.R.
He got my camera and started looking at my photos.....and said these girls look young...? I said 22 to 27 he said they look a lot younger than that !!!! I stood my ground and ask him to get to the point !!!! once he seen I wasnt worried about his questions ,,,,it seemed to stop ,but like the others have said...they try to trip you up or see if you will crack !!! since we have done nothing wrong ...my guess they can sense it ....

Please advise what airport you were flying into, Whtnot. My experience is that some are "hotter" than others.

In my last trip to SJO flying into IAH, for the VERY first time, there were two agents checking passports BEFORE you even got to the line. They WERE looking for specific people or names and they DID take people straight away to the interrogation rooms. VERY first time I've seen this happen.....ever; and that was IAH. I was not one of the "chosen" and simply went through the lines.

During the early 1980's I was detained each and every time I re-entered the USA, including full body cavity searches. (Port of Entry was always MIA....a couple of times ORD). Fun. I got SICK OF IT. What did I start doing? I took a dump sometime before landing and was ummmm....not particularly hygienic in my clean up. (And, now, thanks to the CRT message board, there are DETAILED instructions as to how to properly wipe your ass which I have printed, carry in my luggage with me, and have distributed the very detailed directions to many, many others....)! When the body cavity search was conducted, needless to say they DID, finally, "...find something....". The duffus, disgusted, had the temerity to exclaim, "That is just FILTHY!!" to which I noted, "What did you expect to find in there? After some 20+ times of searching me, don't you realize you're not going to find anything? I decided you were working so hard, I'd give you something to find.".

The nonsense stopped.

Oh....and to directly answer your question about what you state.....I, being a "little old fat white man" advise "I"m looking for somewhere to retire on my $1300.00 per month pension....".

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"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

I have been through Atlanta about 40 plus times. Only got the "C" bag check once and went to the special room for questions, once.

The guy asked why I was out of the country . I replied, "tourism". He seemed not to like that answer or it was just my day.

They asked me what I do and where I stay in CR. I told them I have a girlfriend there and I keep a cheap apartment there. They were curious I guess because sometimes I've traveled with ZERO luggage, not even a carry on.

They asked if I own or rent the apartment. What kind of work etc. Nothing impolite or unprofessional. I was at my destination so time was not really an issue.

I guess we , USA guys, get bothered quickly because we are not used to having to answer questions in the USA. I have been stopped by the police 4 times in 11 days here in Costa Rica so I am getting used to politely answering their questions with a confident smile knowing no matter what they do, I am going to keep my composure. Most are just punk K*ds with power for the first time.
I think the main thing is not to get angry or seem overly bothered. They are doing their jobs looking for bad guys and "Scarface".

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* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.

I have been through Atlanta about 40 plus times. Only got the "C" bag check once and went to the special room for questions, once.

The guy asked why I was out of the country . I replied, "tourism". He seemed not to like that answer or it was just my day.

They asked me what I do and where I stay in CR. I told them I have a girlfriend there and I keep a cheap apartment there. They were curios I guess becase sometimes I've traveled with ZERO luggage, not even a carry on.

They asked if I own or rent the apartment. What kind of work etc. Nothing impolite or unprofessional. I was at my destination so time was not really an issue.

I guess we , USA guys, get bothered quickly because we are not used to having to answer questions in the USA. I have been stopped by the police 4 times in 11 days here in Costa Rica so I am getting used to politely answering their questions with a confident smile knowing no matter what they do, I am going to keep my composure. Most are just punk K*ds with power for the first time.
I think the main thing is not to get angry or seem overly bothered. They are doing their jobs looking for bad guys and "Scarface".

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* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.

Great question: I have a no shit story that happened to a acquaintance of mine when he returned from a Mongering trip in Panama. He basically told La Migra what he was doing down in Panama was none of their business. WRONG ANSWER. About an hour later, when they had searched his bags and found all the Vitamin V and condoms and made him feel like a real slime-bucket (and flagged him for the future), they let him go. I said to him, "Dude, we did visit the canal, you could have said you did that."

My point is that I always have a story based on the truth; I scuba dive so I am always saying Scuba and luckily I can talk with a certain level of experience on the subject. I actually said, once when asked what I was doing in Costa Rica, said, "Pleasure" To which the agent replied, "did you have fun pleasuring yourself in Costa Rica?"I replied by cracking up and he quickly let me pass; I guess laughing at myself proved I was not under duress.

I think another thing is acting and dressing normally. Just a few thoughts on the matter.

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“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” And we are the guys that keep them in Eggs & Grits

TimBones:

Tell yer buddy to get ready for them body cavity searches.....let him have the pleasure of the first one and then prepare for the 2nd one. Once your number is up.....it's up......trust me. Send lawyers, guns, and money.....

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"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

I know what you mean. This happened to me at JFK one time when we got off the plane. There were 4-5 DHS agents checking passports as we were coming out of the gate. That trip was the only time ever that they checked all my bags. This was about 2am, and there were 50+ agents in customs. They were doing a raid or maybe looking for something specific, because almost everybody was being searched.