Big news in Austrailia is that a young woman was convicted (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050527/wl_nm/crime_indonesia_corby_dc) of drug smuggling in Bali and sentenced to 20 years in prison. She could have been sentenced to death. 9 pounds of marijuana was found in a bodyboard bag. There is evidence of an airport based drug running ring in Australia where the drugs may have been planted in the unlocked luggage. On the other hand, she might have been planning to party a lot when she got there.

Here in the states, and I imagine in much of the world, baggage is required to be checked in at the terminal unlocked. We have to trust the baggage screeners and handlers to handle the bags properly. I've opened my bags a couple of times to find notes from the TSA that my bags have been searched. No harm done. But there have been a lot of reports of increased theft from bags, so we know that they are not consistently handled correctly.

So, here's the deal. Many popular destination spots - places where many of us go to have fun or do business - have severe penalties for drug possession. If smugglers on the other side of airport security are using our bags for transport, our vulnerability is pretty darn scary.

Try to enjoy your next vacation in a land far, far away.

LOL right never leave the good old USA ever!

I love Asia and go there all the time never had a problem ever! spoke to many very nice customs people (even let me thru with 10 times my allowence! in cigarettes) even had lifts while drunk back to the hotel from the cops.

dont let theses stories put you off until you have seen the some of these places you have never lived!

So what's God got to do with all of this? :confused:

What that famous Latin phrase that means "who guards the guards?" Seems apropos here.

Just shows you have to be careful and attentive everywhere you go. It's a shame too.

Just a few months ago,we went on a cruise (Jamaica, Cayman, Cozumel). The cruise director told us a story before we stopped in Jamaica. Just a couple of cruises before us, some HS kid was being pestered by a guy to buy some weed. The kid kept saying no and finally got away from him. Then right before he was to get on the ship, the local PD was there (based on an anonymous tip) and searched his bag.

Yep - found some weed. They arrested him, etc.

The cruise director said everyone knew the kid was innocent. Parents got policitians involved, etc, - bail got paid and they flew him out on a private jet.

So what's God got to do with all of this? :confused:

"There but for the grace of God go I".

So what's God got to do with all of this? :confused:
Paging you-know-who. I'm sure he'll explain it in fascinating detail.

"There but for the grace of God go I".
I knew what you were referring to. I just find it odd that you used that quote when topics of religion, or the mere mention of anything religious, could get a thread closed or deleted quick, fast, and in a hurry. ;)

Paging you-know-who. I'm sure he'll explain it in fascinating detail.
Quick, turn off the lights. Maybe he'll think we're not home. :D

I don't know why the Australlians are up in arms over this?

If I was a judge and having tried many drug cases, I'm sure I have heard the excuse, "I don't know how the drugs got there, must have been planted" hundreds of times. BTW someone educate me how these drug rings work. So apparently they plant the drugs in an unsecure bag, but how do you get it back? Seems rather dubious excuse to me.


Personally I think there is prejudice working here. Australians look down on other Asians and basically can't accept that perhaps this person is guilty. For many years they harp on other Asian countries to respect rule-of-law, but in case where pretty Australlian women are concerns, the law is not applicable. Sounds like a throw back to colonial times. The judge seems to have compromised and let her off with 20 years, when the penalty is either death or life imprisonment.

Asian countries are pretty explicit (in English) in telling you what the penalties for possession of drugs.

I don't know why the Australlians are up in arms over this?

If I was a judge and having tried many drug cases, I'm sure I have heard the excuse, "I don't know how the drugs got there, must have been planted" hundreds of times. BTW someone educate me how these drug rings work. So apparently they plant the drugs in an unsecure bag, but how do you get it back? Seems rather dubious excuse to me.


Personally I think there is prejudice working here. Australians look down on other Asians and basically can't accept that perhaps this person is guilty. For many years they harp on other Asian countries to respect rule-of-law, but in case where pretty Australlian women are concerns, the law is not applicable. Sounds like a throw back to colonial times. The judge seems to have compromised and let her off with 20 years, when the penalty is either death or life imprisonment.

Asian countries are pretty explicit (in English) in telling you what the penalties for possession of drugs.

I haven't heard the evidence and she may be entirely guilty. Further, guilty or not the Aussies are going to spin it their way. I'd like to see the Aussies produce the alleged smugglers to corroberate their story. Still, I don't like the fact that my bags are unlocked when I check them in, and I feel a real sense of vulnerability.

That girl is guilty. Have you seen videos of her as they were searching her baggage?


I applaud the judicial system which doesn't allow a person's celebrity status to get them any lesser a sentence than the commoner. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. :mad:

That girl is guilty. Have you seen videos of her as they were searching her baggage?


I applaud the judicial system which doesn't allow a person's celebrity status to get them any lesser a sentence than the commoner. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. :mad:
What vid Raz? I haven't seen one. Also, is she famous or something? What the hell is a beauty therapist?