A PHUKET expat mother-of-two who set out to do a quick visa run to Bali has told of being stripped in an apparent search for drugs by officials at the Indonesian holiday island's airport.
The woman, an American who prefers to remain anonymous, is described by people who know her as ''the most unlikely drug-runner you could imagine.''
Here's what she says happened after her ''paradise to paradise'' flight to Denpassar in Bali late last month:
''Hi friends,
I just got back from Bali tonight. I thought it would be a lovely break and since Phuket now has a new direct cheap flight, another great option for my visa run destination. I had a bad experience upon arrival in Bali and am very glad to be home.
''Customs pulled me aside after clearing immigration at the 'Nothing to declare' aisle. They became instantly suspicious of me entering solo, for only five days, with little luggage and lots of stamps in my passport from all my various visa runs.
''They ransacked my bag and went thru it all with a fine toothed comb several times, then brought me to a private room to check it all again. Still unconvinced, they then had a lady strip search me in a small, dingy room.
''She kept pushing my stomach over and over and saying 'hard.. whats this?'...convinced I had swallowed pills and was a drug mule.
''She even later again showed and discussed my stomach to one of the customs policemen waiting, still deciding what to do with me. It was awful.
''Even though I knew I was innocent and had nothing to be paranoid over, I was so scared. Realising how powerless I was under their scrutiny and laws, whatever they wanted to do, they could.
''Meanwhile they are showing me the sign overhead 'Death penalty for drug traffickers'. After more than an hour they finally had me sign a paper and told me it said I was 'body searched... clear'.
''I have no idea, it was all in Indonesian. Their bullying tactics scarred my trip, as hard as I tried to let it go. It was rather traumatising.
''I was nervous to depart home today as I didn't know what they had been entering about me in their computer system.
''At immigration the officer stood for a long time reading his computer and kept glancing up at me. I could hear my heart pounding in my head.
''Finally he stamped me out.
''So, just a word of warning to share with you and your friends... if you ever go.
''I even had an empty ziploc bag that had a sliced apple I had eaten on the plane and they kept waving it at me, convinced I had carried drugs in it. I would not even bring prescription medicines or vitamins etc. if you go.
''They ripped apart my eyeglass case, tore my wallet and broke the zipper on my bag.
''An expat who lives there told me they are really cracking down now. They were clearly checking through other passengers' belongings as well.
''I am so relieved to be home and I don't ever want to go back. As much as some places still have appeal, the country has changed a lot and there is definitely a dark side.
''Eat, pray, love ... and get strip searched! What a bunch of hogwash that book is.
Be careful.''
Several people, most of them Australians, are being held in jail and face death after having been caught allegedly trafficking drugs into Bali.
The woman, an American who prefers to remain anonymous, is described by people who know her as ''the most unlikely drug-runner you could imagine.''
Here's what she says happened after her ''paradise to paradise'' flight to Denpassar in Bali late last month:
''Hi friends,
I just got back from Bali tonight. I thought it would be a lovely break and since Phuket now has a new direct cheap flight, another great option for my visa run destination. I had a bad experience upon arrival in Bali and am very glad to be home.
''Customs pulled me aside after clearing immigration at the 'Nothing to declare' aisle. They became instantly suspicious of me entering solo, for only five days, with little luggage and lots of stamps in my passport from all my various visa runs.
''They ransacked my bag and went thru it all with a fine toothed comb several times, then brought me to a private room to check it all again. Still unconvinced, they then had a lady strip search me in a small, dingy room.
''She kept pushing my stomach over and over and saying 'hard.. whats this?'...convinced I had swallowed pills and was a drug mule.
''She even later again showed and discussed my stomach to one of the customs policemen waiting, still deciding what to do with me. It was awful.
''Even though I knew I was innocent and had nothing to be paranoid over, I was so scared. Realising how powerless I was under their scrutiny and laws, whatever they wanted to do, they could.
''Meanwhile they are showing me the sign overhead 'Death penalty for drug traffickers'. After more than an hour they finally had me sign a paper and told me it said I was 'body searched... clear'.
''I have no idea, it was all in Indonesian. Their bullying tactics scarred my trip, as hard as I tried to let it go. It was rather traumatising.
''I was nervous to depart home today as I didn't know what they had been entering about me in their computer system.
''At immigration the officer stood for a long time reading his computer and kept glancing up at me. I could hear my heart pounding in my head.
''Finally he stamped me out.
''So, just a word of warning to share with you and your friends... if you ever go.
''I even had an empty ziploc bag that had a sliced apple I had eaten on the plane and they kept waving it at me, convinced I had carried drugs in it. I would not even bring prescription medicines or vitamins etc. if you go.
''They ripped apart my eyeglass case, tore my wallet and broke the zipper on my bag.
''An expat who lives there told me they are really cracking down now. They were clearly checking through other passengers' belongings as well.
''I am so relieved to be home and I don't ever want to go back. As much as some places still have appeal, the country has changed a lot and there is definitely a dark side.
''Eat, pray, love ... and get strip searched! What a bunch of hogwash that book is.
Be careful.''
Several people, most of them Australians, are being held in jail and face death after having been caught allegedly trafficking drugs into Bali.
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Same happened to myself and GF at xmas...she had a large stain on her brand new case bought the day before in central...apparently the chemical xray said it was cocaine...gf got searched internally and we were detained for 45mins before giving the all clear...when the case arrived in bali the zip was bust and there was a strange sticky substance on case...maybe this is what tested positive...think there is a low accuracy rate with those machines. Scary experience..will not be going back..
Posted by karl. graham on April 2, 2011 16:29