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Departed Punta Cana airport today and my wife got flagged for a random security screening
Posted on 10/25/23 at 6:28 pm
Posted on 10/25/23 at 6:28 pm
The Customs agent took us through a door and as we were walking asked if I could tip him, so I put $20 in his hand. He proceeds to lead us to the very front of the security line. Once through, she had to get her hands swabbed for what I assume was to test for drugs. No problems there, though I half expected to get asked for another “tip”. Is getting shaken down by Customs in Punta Cana a normal thing?
10
Posted on 10/25/23 at 6:51 pm to auwaterfowler
My buddy got caught with weed in the cancun airport (vape pen). Customs guy blocked the camera and signaled for him to put cash in the luggage. Let him go without any issues.
That's my big knock against Mexico -- the corruption
That's my big knock against Mexico -- the corruption
Posted on 10/25/23 at 7:00 pm to TheOcean
quote:
That's my big knock against Mexico -- the corruption
Sounds like a pro in this situation and not a knock.
Getting shook down when you did nothing wrong is awful.
Being able to grease a wheel for better service and convenience is awesome. Looking at you, Southeast Asia.
This post was edited on 10/25/23 at 7:01 pm
Posted on 10/25/23 at 8:08 pm to auwaterfowler
Chances are it was a normal random screening. Not a shakedown. Perhaps your $20 got you ahead of some folks. Perhaps not.
No issues when I went to DR. And we looked like we should be the people that would get a “random” screening.
ETA…Why would you “pay-off” a customs agent if you weren’t doing anything illegal? Were you late for the flight?
No issues when I went to DR. And we looked like we should be the people that would get a “random” screening.
ETA…Why would you “pay-off” a customs agent if you weren’t doing anything illegal? Were you late for the flight?
This post was edited on 10/25/23 at 8:13 pm
Posted on 10/25/23 at 8:42 pm to auwaterfowler
PC airport is sketchy imo
Posted on 10/25/23 at 11:41 pm to auwaterfowler
Family and I are flying through PUJ in February. I’ll be sure to have a $20 handy.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 11:50 pm to kciDAtaE
quote:
Why would you “pay-off” a customs agent if you weren’t doing anything illegal? Were you late for the flight?
Not late for a flight. I know that bribes, or “tips”, are very common in the Caribbean in general, and I was a foreigner in their country who wanted to be able to get home as planned, so it was a pretty easy decision for me.
Posted on 10/26/23 at 3:26 am to Teddy Ruxpin
quote:
Sounds like a pro in this situation and not a knock. Getting shook down when you did nothing wrong is awful. Being able to grease a wheel for better service and convenience is awesome.
For sure
Posted on 10/26/23 at 6:52 am to auwaterfowler
Something relatively similar happened to me leaving Punta Cana, but security swabbed my hands and took me to a back room. Pulled my checked luggage to search 
Gate agent from United spoke good English and ended up coming back after about 20 minutes. Once everything was cleared up, basically got taken right through security.
Odd experience. Whatever.
Gate agent from United spoke good English and ended up coming back after about 20 minutes. Once everything was cleared up, basically got taken right through security.
Odd experience. Whatever.
This post was edited on 10/26/23 at 6:53 am
Posted on 10/26/23 at 9:16 am to auwaterfowler
quote:
she had to get her hands swabbed for what I assume was to test for drugs
Explosive chemicals
Posted on 10/26/23 at 9:31 am to auwaterfowler
$20 to skip the line?
I'm in.
The airport offers a VIP experience, basically get a lounge while everyone else goes through security, but its like $100 each way. You got off cheap imo because last trip through PUJ security was a shite show.
I'm in.
The airport offers a VIP experience, basically get a lounge while everyone else goes through security, but its like $100 each way. You got off cheap imo because last trip through PUJ security was a shite show.
This post was edited on 10/26/23 at 9:33 am
Posted on 10/26/23 at 1:53 pm to auwaterfowler
last time I flew out of CUN I tipped a guy 100 bucks and he took us and our bags from the curb all the way thru security and to the gate, basically without stopping
well worth it as I had a pretty good stash in my bag
well worth it as I had a pretty good stash in my bag
Posted on 10/27/23 at 6:30 am to auwaterfowler
Are you sure this was customs and not security? Sounds like you gave him $20 for nothing. The hand swabbing tests for explosive, incendiary chemicals. I used to see farmers set the alarms off all the time due to trace residue from fertilizers and chemicals they frequently come into contact with.
Posted on 10/29/23 at 4:57 pm to auwaterfowler
Just better hope you don't get four S's on your boarding pass. That's the mark of a pain in the arse day.
Posted on 10/30/23 at 7:41 am to Napoleon
She indeed had 4 S’s on her boarding pass.
This post was edited on 10/31/23 at 8:01 am
Posted on 10/30/23 at 8:11 am to Napoleon
quote:
Just better hope you don't get four S's on your boarding pass. That's the mark of a pain in the arse day.
This has happened to me a few times.
Posted on 10/30/23 at 10:47 am to MLU
quote:
The hand swabbing tests for explosive, incendiary chemicals. I used to see farmers set the alarms off all the time due to trace residue from fertilizers and chemicals they frequently come into contact with.
We were flying out of Atlanta to Arizona about 12 years ago, we missed the flight because something in my 10 year old daughter’s makeup stuff triggered positive for some sort of explosives when they scanned her hands
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