The mile High club: Japanese style

From the BBC news "Cannabis blunder at Tokyo airport"

"An unwitting passenger arriving at Japan's Narita airport has received 142g of cannabis after a customs test went awry, officials say. A customs officer hid a package of the banned substance in a side pocket of a randomly chosen suitcase in order to test airport security."

"Sniffer dogs failed to detect the cannabis and the officer could not remember which bag he had put it in. Anyone finding the package has been asked to contact customs officials."

""This case was extremely regrettable. I would like to deeply apologise," said Narita International Airport's customs head Manpei Tanaka."

Pretty funny stuff. Can you imagine the passenger's face as they unpack especially if they are a stoner? Hey wow man, Banzei !

On the other hand, I just hope that passenger is not on route to Singapore and gets pulled up by customs.

"But, But But...that isn't mine". "No, you bad man. They all say that. You go to changi prison and get hanged".

Speaking of substances and instransit, pay attention to Dubai airport. From a previous BBC article :

"Travellers to the United Arab Emirates are being warned about its severe drug laws which have seen dozens detained for apparently minor offences. Fair Trials International said arrests were being made over tiny quantities of drugs and over-the-counter medicines."

"British tourist Keith Brown was sentenced to four years in prison after Dubai customs officers found a 0.003g trace of cannabis stuck to his shoe."

"Possession of painkillers like codeine and some cold and flu medication could result in a mandatory four-year prison sentence, Fair Trials International said. In one of the most extreme cases, it reported a man being held after poppy seeds from a bread roll were found on his clothes."

My advice if going to Dubai, just don't try smuggling cannabis in a teddy bear . If you do make sure the Teddy is called something innocuous like 'Eric'. Otherwise you'll REALLY be in trouble.

Phileas Fogg,
Houston, Memorial day 2008