plotinus
Enthusiast
Reged: 09/16/03
Posts: 273
Loc: California
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Good advice, potatoboy99 - what the f' does this handle relate to? - I have carried all manner of questionable materials leveraging existing Rx bottles. E.g. bootleg ambien or zopiclone goes in a old ambien Rx bottle. IOP Rivotril goes in an old Ativan bottle. Dilute GBL went into a Listerine bottle, appropriately coloured with food dye, and OP Rx hydro went in the bottle from the OP. Put them all in a toiletry kit -- I'm an old fart, so I also had legit Lipitor and BP meds. Keeps quantity low - if you're only carrying 20-30 pills, Singapore or Taiwan will not be so inclined to hang you.
Going to europe, in 100+ trips, I've never been challenged in customs usually CDG or LHR. Frequently transfer baggage straight to connecting flight in Marseille or Barcelona, where they don't even have customs on duty late in evening when I arrive.
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"War on ...." is the wrong metaphor!
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padmakara
Member
Reged: 09/16/03
Posts: 136
Loc: Chiang Mai
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A particularly paranoid person or a person going to a dangerous country may try this technique:
Purchase some type of herbs at the health food store that are cheap and come in size 0 capsules (well, if you just need something small like oxycontin, you can probably use 00 size.) Make sure its a really full bottle, if not, add more to it so that the capsules can't move around a whole lot. You could just stuff cotton in there too. Empty out the bottle. Take 20 or so capsules, carefully twist open while wearing latex or vinyl or whatnot gloves, dump out the herbs into a small folded piece of paper, insert as many pharmaceutical pills as can fit (you could probably get five oxy's in a 00 or one, maybe two watson 10/325's in a size 0), then fill in around them with the herb you dumped out. Close up and insure it is full enough that shaking it will not reveal the pharmaceuticals in the middle. Put these twenty pills in the bottom of the bottle and fill in the other 80 or more on top. There's also the potential to carefully remove the original foil wrapper and glue it back in place. Very difficult though. Anyway, I've never found this necessary, as I have never had any pill bottle with me opened flying in asia and back to the US several times. I had like 10 different bottles, many different prescriptions and herbs... never questioned on any of it. I guess the bottles could have been full of anything. But if you're paranoid, try the above method.
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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I wrote a post on this in a different thread, but thought to let my experience be known...
I've flown into the following international airports for varying length of stays between 3-21 days and most of them multiple times:
Reykjavik, Iceland
Glasgow, Scotland
London Heathrow
London Gatwick
Dublin, Ireland
Paris, France
Without exception, I was carrying a minimum of 1400 - 3000 mgs of methadone (yes, I did have a prescription) in my carry-on luggage when I went through Customs. I have arrived early morning and as late as midnight. Always, in these airports, Customs was fully on duty.
The first time I went through international Customs in London with my medication, I declared it. I also carried with me a letter from my doctor which stated my need and prescription. They did phone my doctor's office (at a charge of about $20 to me) to verify it and they also did a quick search of my luggage. They told me I need not declare my methadone in the future.
I never was nervous about it again, and safely passed through Customs without declaring my meds (or my purchases/cigarettes--I always exceeded the limit allowed when I would stay longer than a week--/food products--sorry, I love Alpin cereal and Scottish smoked salmon!) and passed through their agricultural dogs, drug dogs, etc. without incident--even during the Foot & Mouth crisis and Mad Cow disease periods. In fact, Customs is far more scary and stringent coming back into the US than it is going into the countries I have visited.
I'd only be worried if you were trying to carry in an illicit drug or lots of cash!
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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crazyjeyesy
Newbie
Reged: 07/04/02
Posts: 27
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I`m in the UK and have travelled from London Stansted to Luxembourg, Dublin and Milan (and back of course!) with a bag of Xanax in my pocket and no prescription. I need them to fly with, especially, but also on the hoilday itself on an `as needed` basis (which is why I took a lot as I didn`t know how many I`d need). No more than 100 though. I was never stopped but could I have got in trouble if I was? I had a leaflet that explains what they are....and let`s face it, no international drug smuggler is gonna carry his stash in his pocket! What do you think?
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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As long as you had a valid prescription, then there wouldn't have been any problem. Normally, it's good to travel with drugs in their original dispensed container. And Customs won't search you unless you draw their attention in some way. I never had any trouble with foreign customs, ever.
Also, drug dogs (as far as I know) are not trained to sniff out prescription drugs. Just make sure you don't wear clothing that has ever contained any illicit drug or lots of money as that stuff leaves a scent forever and can alert a drug dog.
It's been my experience that European customs are far more concerned about bombs than drugs.
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
Edited by night_shade (02/25/04 12:32 PM)
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crazyjeyesy
Newbie
Reged: 07/04/02
Posts: 27
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Cheers! I wish every country was more concerned about bombs than drugs! Some guy came into London recently (can`t remember where from) with a load of live bullets in his pocket! How the F. did HE get through customs?
I know who I`d rather sit next to on a plane - a guy with a bomb in his pocket or a guy with his chill pills!
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Tred
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/18/03
Posts: 261
Loc: USA
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I just got back from my trip to Brazil and everything was perfectly fine. No troubles at customs, not even a twitch of an eye.. Anyway, thanks to all that gave me good info and comfort with the legalities of meds and travel.
Remember, it's a prescription, not some kilo.. lol.
Also, remember to only deal with reputable pharmacies.. this will tie all loose ends of any potential troubles.
Tred =) ( and I have a tan now! =)
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Entertainment Specialist!
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Trampy
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/02/02
Posts: 1222
Loc: Southwest U.S.
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Post deleted by Trampy
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Your mileage may vary ...
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crazyjeyesy
Newbie
Reged: 07/04/02
Posts: 27
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Chill-out mate! Anyone could think of that (or a number of other ways). And I doubt an international drug smuggler`s gonna come on here looking for tips anyway!
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qbird
material girl
Reged: 09/02/02
Posts: 826
Loc: USA
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We recently had problems in local airports. They rummaged through my purse and made my kids take off socks and shoes and searched them too. It was unnerving especially since I am flying in July. I do have original bottles. So will I be ok?
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Tred
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/18/03
Posts: 261
Loc: USA
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I think it comes down to this.. If you have a valid US prescription from a real doctor and medical records to go with the medication at hand... Then I don't see what the problem is???
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Entertainment Specialist!
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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Here's my advice for INTERNATIONAL travelers who are bringing scheduled meds along.
1) Keep all prescription drugs in your carry-on baggage
2) Keep all prescription drugs in their original dispensed container (with your name on it, name of prescribing doctor and the pharmacy Rx number, etc. DO NOT ALTER LABELS!)
3) If it is a highly regulated drug such as OxyContin, methadone or morphine (etc.), carry a letter from your physician stating that your are prescribed this drug for pain control. The letter should state what your medical condition is, how much and how often you require the medication and that if you are denied your medication for any reason, you will become sick and/or have increased pain. (This letter will become especially important in the event you become ill or your condition worsens while you are traveling and need to seek the care of a physician in the country you are visiting.)
4) Keep the names, addresses and phone numbers of your doctor and pharmacy written down and with your travel documents as Customs sometimes will call and verify your prescriptions. (This has happened to me one time.)
5) DO NOT DECLARE YOUR MEDICATIONS TO CUSTOMS! There is no need and you are not legally required to do so--with the exception of most Middle Eastern or predominantly Islamic countries.
6) Remember that you are not doing anything wrong by bringing your meds with you on your visit. Don't act suspicious or nervous, look the immigration/Customs official in the eye when you answer their questions and be prepared for any line of questioning including questions such as:
How much cash do you have with you? Or what is the limit on your Visa card?
What is the address of the hotel you will be staying at?
Do you know anyone living in this country?
Why did you come to xxxxxxx for your holiday?
Basically, they can ask you anything--personal questions included.
Just relax, and remember, even if they search your bags or your person, you are still just there for a vacation/business trip/whatever and having valid prescription medications with you is not a crime!
ALWAYS check the laws of middle eastern/Islamic countries before traveling there with your medications! In some countries, possession of an opioid medication is illegal and may actually warrant a death penalty!
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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misspiggy
Journeyman
Reged: 02/02/04
Posts: 80
Loc: North Idaho
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I agree with taking your meds in your carry on or purse. I have known several people that have had stuff stolen from thier luggage, meds included. And btw, they never got their stuff back!
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qbird
material girl
Reged: 09/02/02
Posts: 826
Loc: USA
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Well the problem is that I use a US OP. I have the St Pete's bottle with the dea number on it and everything. It is just Xanax, I don't use hydro or any pain meds. I have had my purse searched before, and don't want a problem.
To the other poster it is a trip in the US, customs isn't an issue.
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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QBIRD-
The US OP bottle has your name on it, right? If so, I wouldn't spend even one second worrying about it. International or domestic travel--if your name is on the bottle, it's a valid prescription. I don't think any airport/customs official would even know it WAS from an OP unless you told them. If they should ask why it is that you live in a state other than the one where the prescription was filled, just say it's cheaper for you to fill your doctor's prescriptions by mail order rather than using a local pharmacy. People do it all the time (and it is legal.)
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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patient2all
Enthusiast
Reged: 05/16/02
Posts: 293
Loc: usa
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Don't worry, even with hydrocodone medication from my OP, it's never gotten a second glance (and that includes international flights). I carry my wife's Valium from an OP with me too (since I'm holding the carry-on bag). I can see where the search your family received would have been unnerving, but they pick out every 'nth' person for extra scrutiny and they weren't looking for prescriptions, just going through the motions to dissuade terrorists.
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patient2all
It's a sad world, getting sadder by the day....
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crazyjeyesy
Newbie
Reged: 07/04/02
Posts: 27
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Just want to thank everyone for their input in this thread. Very interesting and a worthwhile discussion...and it`s certainly put my mind at rest.
One last thing - would it look suspicious if you`re from the UK but your prescription was from a pharmacy in say Thailand? Or could you get away with the "it`s just cheaper that way" line?
Oh, and something else (slightly off topic but not much), what are the general rules about taking alcohol abroad. Obviously it`s ok because of buying duty free stuff, but must it be in your hand luggage? If I was, for example, bringing back an exotic wine as a present for my parents, would it have to be hand luggage and would I have to declare such a small amount?
Cheers.
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Tred
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/18/03
Posts: 261
Loc: USA
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You would start having problems I think if you brought back alcohol.. One reason is that they suggest you claim any at Customs (if I recall, not positive).. Tbis is fine and dandy, but it would only make it that much more likely for you to have more issues.
Don't know about the UK/ Thiland thing. I would personally think it wouldn't be a good idea.
Tred
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Entertainment Specialist!
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zengaboyFB
Newbie
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 29
Loc: NYC, LA, Bucks Co. PA
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When you come into the US, in theory, you have to declare everything. I think you are allowed 2 quarts of booze in the US, 2 cartons of cigs and 20 cigars. Something like that. I cant remember how much wine you are allowed. I went through customs with a case of wine from Australia a couple of years ago, they said nothing. After that you have to pay taxes. They just raised the amount of stuff you are allowed to bring in. It used to be $400.00 worth of stuff. Now I think it is around $1200.00.
I personally have never had a problem with meds. Last wednesday I got the Gestapo search at the airport. I had no reservation, I just called about 3 hours before the flight and bought the ticket, one-way, so they really hosed me at security. I had 4 pill bottles, they did not even look at the labels. I have NEVER been questioned about meds, including dozens of national flight security checks post 9/11 and dozens of international flights.
I mentioned this on another thread, the only time I have ever had a problem with customs, my wife and I had a shop till you drop long weekend in Italy. We declared a fraction of what we bought, my wife bought a full length shearling from Ferragamo, among many other things....We just had to pony up a few hundred bucks for duty.
I flew in from Nairobi last summer and brought back dihydrocodiene and rohypnol. Someone on this site seemed convinced that I was very lucky; that they would throw my in the clink if they caught me, I had about a dozen rohypnols. So I called BOTH the DEA and Customs and explained the situation. "I was in a foreign country went into a pharmacy and asked for a sleep aid for ther plane. I was sold the Rohypnol, for about 3 bucks". It listed the generic name on the blister pack, not "Rohypnol" According to the press offices at the DEA and Customs the worst that would happened is that they would have taken the rohypnol and tossed it. They affirmed the fact that you can bring in a specific amount of meds (50 doses? Cant remember exactly). They were far more concerned about the questionable quality of meds bought overseas than what I had brought in. They did say that the quality of meds in England and in Western Europe are fine.
Personally, for me, as a goofy, upper middle class white guy from the US who travels frequently and all over the world, I never worry about meds. Z.
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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You'd have to look at your State Department's website to determine the legal limit of importing alcohol and the same is true of exporting.
I always bring back several bottles of good Scotch from Scotland and European wine when I travel, but I have never brought any alcohol into a foreign country. I guess there is no reason to bring it IN when you can just buy some when you get there.
I know for sure that it is illegal to drink alcohol ON BOARD the flight that was brought onto the plane by any passenger including yourself. In the USA you could face federal charges if you were caught, but it is more likely they;d just deport you if it was a 1st offense (being you are a UK citizen.)
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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crazyjeyesy
Newbie
Reged: 07/04/02
Posts: 27
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Thanks, that`s what I thought. It`s probably coz they want to fleece you by selling you their own alcohol on the flight!
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