jmdombr
Newbie
Reged: 12/08/03
Posts: 32
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I am going to Phoneix this weekend, and plan on taking a trip to mexico. We are driving to Nogales. Has anyone been there? Do you just drive over the border or do you walk?
Is that a good place to go? How is customs there?
thanks!
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Scar
Journeyman
Reged: 05/13/04
Posts: 51
Loc: East Coast
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Park at Ed's and walk across. I lived in Tucson for a year & loved to go shopping in Noglaes. God, how I miss Tucson *sigh*. If you have anymore questions PM me!
Scar
--------------------
"If you have a choice between rich and famous...
choose rich"~~Bill Murray
Edited by Scar (05/17/04 12:15 PM)
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jmdombr
Newbie
Reged: 12/08/03
Posts: 32
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Well, just got back from visiting Mexico. here's my story.
We parked on the US side, walked over no prob.
First i see is a sea of Farmacia's. We looked in a few and asked about Valium and Ativan. I acually have old bottles of Valium and Ativan that i brought with, hoping to get a re-fill. The first pharmacies we went in, i showed them the bottles and they looked around and shook their heads no. This happened for the first 5 we went into. Most would say you need to see Doctor. So we asked where? and they said down the block. So we finally found the doc's place, but he was out till 3 hours later. So we then found ourselves into the town alittle, which was now good. We went in a pharmacy off the path and showed them the bottles and they had no problem pricing me out the meds. They only sold them in Quantites of 90 for Valium and 80 for Ativan, both name brand sealed in boxes. I felt like i wanted to do it legit and see a doc to write a mex presciption, just in case. So we walked in another pharmacy which seemed pretty nice, the lady told me she would sell me and include a script from a doc too. Prices including script 90#Valium 10mg Roche $80, 80 2mg Ativan Wyeth $95. So we did that, she asked for my ID to verify and called the doc, they she broke out a Script pad and filled it out. I felt very safe and she wrote the US Doc's info from my old bottles and we were on our way, We then Tranfered all the pills into my old bottles and proceeded to the border. We had a back pack with the meds in the lower pouch. They asked us at the border if we bought any meds, and i said No. They looked at the vase we bought and we walked right through! No prob. I didnt see them searching anyone and i was very nervous over nothing. I figured if they searched my bag and found meds how could they prove i bought them there?
Nogales highly recomended, just walk off the beaten touristy path and if i had more balls i probably could have found anything. I did see #90 SOMA for $20. 
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azherfer
Stranger
Reged: 01/30/03
Posts: 7
Loc: AZ
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Here is a little tip for those crossing the border back into the US from Mexico:
Always buy a bottle of Kahlua. It is half-price or less than in any US store. Good stuff, too! Always buy a blanket from a store or street ventor for about $5US. A handy item in any home. You might also buy a piece of silver jewelry or two. Prices on some nice jewelry are rather low in the border cities.
When you cross back into the US, either on foot or by car, you will be asked about what you bought. Just say- "Yeah! we got some Kahlua, a blanket and some lovely jewelry!"
The US border guards are so sick of hearing that very same line over and over again all day, that they will just roll their eyes and wave you on through.
Of course it would be a good idea NOT to stink of pot, y'know...
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kobe
Newbie
Reged: 08/27/03
Posts: 28
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Right on - act like a tourist, and they will treat you like one. The tourist buses are a good way to shop south of the border also, your entrance back into the US is expedited somewhat that way.
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RangerGuitar
Stranger
Reged: 07/10/04
Posts: 3
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ok, i think im gonna head down there tomorrow... anyone been there lately? And can anyone refresh me, I know i can bring 50 pills with a script, but what about OTC meds that are controlled here? (xanax, tramadol... etc)... how many can I bring back? thanks
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boylston
Newbie
Reged: 07/23/02
Posts: 32
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Quote:
ok, i think im gonna head down there tomorrow... anyone been there lately? And can anyone refresh me, I know i can bring 50 pills with a script, but what about OTC meds that are controlled here? (xanax, tramadol... etc)... how many can I bring back? thanks
No, the 50-pill law (United States Code, Title 21, Section 956(a) applies when: 1) you've got meds that are controlled substances in the US; and 2) you do not have a US prescription. To take advantage of this, you must meet all three of the following requirements: 1) you must declare the meds; 2) they must be in their original container; and 3) they must be for your own personal use.
In my experience at the Canadian border (pain relievers with a limited amount of codeine are OTC up there), Customs really doesn't like it when people invoke this law, and you're likely to be subjected to a more thorough interrogation and/or search. Do politely stand your ground, though, and they'll eventually let you in with the meds. Just allow yourself some extra time for the possible Customs hassles.
I've never been to Mexico, but my understanding is that meds such as Xanax are not, legally speaking, OTC there. While some pharmacies will illegally sell them OTC, Mexican law requires a script. However, the pharmacy can usually direct you to a doctor (often on-site) who will write the script for a modest fee. You need the Mexican script to protect yourself from getting busted in Mexico, but the Mexican script is not valid in the U.S., so you're still limited to 50 tablets.
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RangerGuitar
Stranger
Reged: 07/10/04
Posts: 3
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hm... ok, I've been reading conflicting things about the 50 pill law... so are you 100% sure you do NOT need a mexican prescription to do this? I'm almost tempted to ask the federales BEFORE i buy the pills heh..... except that might set off some serious red flags... and although a lot of drugs aren't really OTC... isn't stuff like soma and tramadol?
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boylston
Newbie
Reged: 07/23/02
Posts: 32
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Quote:
hm... ok, I've been reading conflicting things about the 50 pill law... so are you 100% sure you do NOT need a mexican prescription to do this? I'm almost tempted to ask the federales BEFORE i buy the pills heh..... except that might set off some serious red flags... and although a lot of drugs aren't really OTC... isn't stuff like soma and tramadol?
If I gave the impression that a Mexican prescription is not required, my apologies for not being clear. You still (probably) need a Mexican script for the following reasons:
1) The 50-pill exception applies only to meds that are "lawfully obtained." For many meds, you'll need a Mexican script to lawfully obtain them. I can't recall ever reading about U.S. Customs asking for the Mexican script to determine whether the meds were "lawfully obtained," but it's best to err on the side of caution.
(As for Tylenol #1 with codeine from Canada, one doesn't need a Canadian script because that medication is OTC there, and hence, it can be "lawfully obtained" with no script.)
2) If the Mexican cops catch you with meds that are controlled in Mexico, and you don't have a Mexican script, you'll be busted and facing six months to a year in a Mexican jail.
* * *
I don't know about Tramadol, but I do know that Soma is not scheduled under US federal law, even though it requires a prescription. (The same applies to penicillin, among many other drugs.) A handful of states have scheduled it, but my understanding is that Customs does not enforce state controlled substance laws. The 50-pill rule applies only to federally scheduled meds. I don't know how non-scheduled meds that nonetheless require a script in the U.S. are handled by U.S. Customs.
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RangerGuitar
Stranger
Reged: 07/10/04
Posts: 3
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hah... ok, here's the lowdown:
I went there yesterday with my Spanish speaking buddy and it was near impossible to find any narcotic-type drug. As soon as we asked one of the "runners" where we could find a doctor, all of a sudden many runners would just come up to us out of the woodworks to "assist" us, which made me quite nervous. All of the farmacia techs were either
A. trying to push the drugs illegally for some insane price.
or
B. Told us that the local police have been seriously cracking down and that it would be extremely hard and expensive to get what we wanted.
I ended up going to a doctor (which was hard to find since it was like 6:30 on a saturday evening), and he misdiagnosed my condition (bilateral carpel tunnel) which I thought was funny, and prescribed me two meds that I've never heard of, and couldn't find a US equivalent, though I believe one is an anti-inflamatory and the other is a muscle-relaxer. I also picked up a bottle of tramadol, and the tech suggested that I just sneak it back to reduce any hassle, which I ended up doing. So yeah... that's my story. Thanks for the input guys.
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heidiho
Journeyman
Reged: 11/05/02
Posts: 59
Loc: AZ, USA
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I've been making the trek to the ville down in Nogales, Mexico now for several years. Things have changed... and yes, there is currently a "crackdown" on drugbuyers. My information is this. Always get a Mexican Dr. (or pharmacist) to write you a prescription. Do not buy off the street and do not use a US prescription. The Mexican law requires a Mexican prescription to buy controlled substances in Mexico. Recently a 64 yr old man spent some time in a Mexican jail for not getting a Mexican prescription for himself--he used his spouses US prescription. You cannot use someone else's prescription there. Other than that it's still a great experience and you can usually find what you need. Some medicines are not manufactured in Mexico and can be difficult or impossible to find, buy an equivalent. Have fun and buy some local crafts. HAPPY TRAILS! .
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heidiho
Journeyman
Reged: 11/05/02
Posts: 59
Loc: AZ, USA
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Just as an addition to my comment yesterday I thought I'd insert a link to the Phoenix, 'New Times', article this week called "Naive gringo pill popped below border". You will find this interesting if you plan to visit Mexico and are unfamiliar with the laws. www.phoenixnewtimes.com
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summit
Journeyman
Reged: 07/16/04
Posts: 73
Loc: twin peaks
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Still a little confused.....
so if you go into Mexico, get a Mexican Doctor to write you an RX, you come back and declare them at US customs, it's fine?
Or do you have to show customs that you have an existing US script for the RX you just purchased in Mexico?
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Arizona
Stranger
Reged: 06/27/04
Posts: 6
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I always walk over the border. There is a McDonalds nearby that you can park at. Don't expect to get any good medicine there though. I went to a Mexican doctor (w/ an interpreter) and they said the pharmacies did not carry any pain medication. I did get a script for Valium. They came in the real box, and looked real, but did not work at all. They must have been fake, because my cousin took some and said the same thing. I would never waste another trip there. I brought my own empty bottles of Oxycodone which I planned on filling, but all the pharmacies said they would charge me $20 per pill. We walked back across the border w/ the Valium in our pockets. I suggest bringing empty pill bottles you can refill though.
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heidiho
Journeyman
Reged: 11/05/02
Posts: 59
Loc: AZ, USA
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I don't know what farmacia you went to, but they were BSing you about not having pain meds. How naive are YOU? Next time shop around. You can get codeine, Nalbuphine, Tramadol, Temgesic and if you are willing to pay an arm and a leg maybe Hydro's and Oxy. Stick with the things that are manufactured in Mexico. (Not Hydro...they get it from US) and Oxy got so popular as a rec. drug that you can't even afford it any more. Just my observation. Also you can get Valium, Soma, Methocarbamol, Xanax, and Qual (a codeine, valium mix). To name a few. Find a pharmacy with an in house Dr. or one that can write prescriptions. Get one for the meds you purchase. Then lay low when you cross the border. What you do not disclose will not come back to bite you in the butt....word to the wise should be sufficient, eh? Buy a blanket or jewelry maybe some tequila etc. and declare that...capesh? The only time I got meds that were no good was when I mistakenly bought off a street vender and the Valium was past date, ie. Not fresh. Stick to the legal farmacia's. If you really want Hydro's get them from the US. Try OL pharms. Park anywhere close in Nogales, AZ and walk across. I never pay to park and never have any probs--been going down for many years. Enjoy your trip.
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