Drug Check Inconveniences Traveler

February 20, 2016

in Airport Stories

I was travelling from Oslo, Norway to Frankfurt (I had taken a domestic flight from Tromso to Oslo just a few hours before). While going through Immigration (where they had to X-ray our hand carry bags), I was stopped by the officers for a drug check. I presume it was because I had a hoodie that said “BERKELEY” where I did my student exchange a couple of years back.

So I complied, and they asked me to lift up my top in full view of the public to swab my stomach. Obviously there were no traces of drugs on me. But at the corner of my eye, I saw those officers that stopped me pointing at me and giggling. WTF?

Then after that, the Immigration officers asked me what liquids were in my bag. I said I had none, but they insisted I had liquids. So they opened up my bags and dumped everything out. They didn’t find any liquids, but decided to do a drug swab on all my belongings, which is ridiculous! Obviously the swabs turned out negative, but I had to repack all the items into my bags. Thank God I had a lot of time for that connecting flight!

I would like to say that despite that experience, Norway is a wonderful country with beautiful scenery and lovely people. My friends and I enjoyed ourselves there.

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

aaron February 20, 2016 at 8:15 pm

At least they were doing their job. You made your flight right? You had plenty of time right?

Reply

patsytp February 25, 2016 at 4:03 am

not sure what having a college sweatshirt on has to do with anything… maybe you came across as pretentious or they just presumed you would be by wearing one? Is Berkeley renowned worldwide and particularly in Norway for being drug-riddled?? I am actually asking seriously… thinking of the amount of people that wear "Oxford University" jumpers which they bought as tourists but never attended, from around the world….

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Norwegian May 24, 2016 at 11:24 am

My then 3 year old son was once picked by the computer for a search, thankfully he is a sport and with me watching over, the guards did a quick pat down and checked his small carry-on containing toys, drawing books and pens 😀

Reply

Nothanks June 7, 2018 at 5:00 pm

I wouldn't trust any security guards that I saw laughing and pointing at people like toddlers, instead of watching out for terrorist attacks.

Reply

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