Holes in suitcases?

fugdis says on Feb 6, 2006, 12:30:

holes yes my brand new hard suitcase had three small holes made in it about 3mm big last time i came back from cali via madrid.Very annoying!
They look more like punctured holes than drilled holes.

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nat718 says on Feb 6, 2006, 12:45:

re: holes On a recent trip returning from Colombia, one of my pieces of hard luggage was punctured after being scanned. The guard withdrew the puncture tool and took a taste of what was on the end of it. When unpacking the the suitcases at home, nothing was broken except for a plate inside the punctured bag. I hope he likes the taste of pottery. I believe he was testing for cocaine in the molded form of an ordinary object.

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 6, 2006, 12:56:

ok, thanks Since this seems to be happening I might not want to buy new luggage but take my old crappy bags to Colombia instead...thanks guys for answering my question.

Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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Wastelandlive says on Feb 6, 2006, 13:05:

I used to use a great big Pelican dry box... ... to carry goods from the US to Colombia.

They did it to me. It is a dry box no more.

Wasteland

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mrgizmo says on Feb 6, 2006, 14:19:

Don't lock the suitcases I don't lock my suicases when I fly to Colombia and I haven't had any problems or lost anything.

Behind every successful man, there's a nagging woman

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 6, 2006, 14:24:

yes, mrgizmo that was the other thing I had on my mind. I was wondering if it made any difference if I didn't lock my suitcases. Then I thought that if they were wanted to check if my suitcase had a double bottom or something between the lining and the case they might still puncture it.
Cheers,
Desi


Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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Gomezman5 says on Feb 6, 2006, 14:34:

Hey Desi,,,,, You know what Desi? You might want to find out exactly why they are doing that. Is it because the scanning equiptment kind pick something up with a certain kind of material, or ...who knows. Because if that is the case, you should only by suit cases that would not be subject to that degree of a search.

I know one thing. I find that whole inexcusable. Fine luggage can be very expensive. (Tumi and others) It's hard enough trying to keep your luggage intact by virtue of it just having it be subject to the every day wear and tear travel problems. But this would infuriate me.There is no reason, none what so ever, if these guys feel that they have to check something from within, that they can't meerly ask you to open the luggage at the time of inspection. I am sure of one thing, nobody in US customs would ever be pokikng holes into peoples luggage---cheap ones or otherwise.....

Well...you guys just keep making my case again and again. If you don't think that experiences of this nature is not enough to keep people from returning to Colombia, you guys are really fooling (or lieing) to yourselves. But I know the way you guys think, you just dismiss it off as "oh well".

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nat718 says on Feb 6, 2006, 14:35:

plastic wrap At JFK and BOG you can have your bags wrapped in wide plastic tape for a fee. Maybe it helps to protect against thieving airport employees, but not much else.

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juanalejo says on Feb 6, 2006, 15:13:

Suitcases Desi, I have only the hard type Samsonites, and never have I had a problem with holes in them. Most people with soft types do tend to find holes in them once in a while. And G5, Miami customs, at least that I know, does make holes in suitcases, sometimes larger than a pen size.

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juancegomez says on Feb 6, 2006, 15:41:

... I have also had some tiny holes made in the suitcases of one of my relatives by the U.S. customs personnel in Miami, especially when they were locked suitcases (I suppose the authorities didn't want to waste time with the lock), so it appears that such incidents aren't only restricted to Colombian customs.

Of course, most of the real drug trade is hardly affected by such measures, but whatever...

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Sr Tertius says on Feb 6, 2006, 15:53:

"I am sure of one thing, nobody in US customs would ever be pokikng holes into peoples luggage---cheap ones or otherwise....."

Oh, believe me, THEY DO! (at least in Miami).

"When the finger points to the moon, the fool looks at the finger" (Chinese proverb)

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thur says on Feb 7, 2006, 02:19:

No holes... ... our Samsonite suitcases (hard case) weren't punctured, but both were opened. They were locked, but I guess they have a masterkey or something similar to open the numberlock. The suitcases were locked when we got them, but with a security sticker half inside/ half outside of Air France.
I did witness security personell in Bogotá airport (and before that in Caracas several years ago) puncture shoes.
Greetings,

- update: www.pbase.com/thur

- pbase.com/thur

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crazi4cali says on Feb 7, 2006, 02:19:

Happend to me in December! I was grilled in Cali upon my return to Miami. Had the new wife there & mother-in-law. They pulled me off to the side, ransacked my two suitcases. Sent my stuff through x-rays & searched again. A customs police officer then drilled 4 holes in my new suitcase - I was not amused to say the least. They opened all of my new & in the box, food products. I was so pissed - I was about a half step away from going to jail... not good when I had been married for only a week! To add insult to injury, they pulled me out of the gangway/walkway to the plane and asked me (like I had a choice) to consent to having my abdomen & stomach x-rayed. DO I LOOK LIKE A CARTEL GUY OR SOMETHING? = )

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 7, 2006, 02:30:

oh dear! Ok, that does it! I'm not buying the nice pink Samsonite I saw at the store yesterday. Or the royal-blue Cavalet! It's going to be a cheapo hard-case (keeping my fingers crossed so that the handle won't fall off) at the airport.

Crazi, I don't know if you look like a cartel guy. What do you think yourself? Do you fit the profile?¨

Does a blue-haired old lady traveling with a pink hard-case Samsonite from Stockholm fit the profile?

Cheers,
Desi


Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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crazi4cali says on Feb 7, 2006, 03:00:

My advice to you... Desi, Some people don't need the cutesy pink or royal blue suitcases to radiate CLASSINESS! I say, "leave the fancy stuff at home" and just throw everything into a hefty lawn trash bag. I bet they never poke holes in those damn things!

I don't think I fit the mold but, I wouldn't know a cartel guy if he stuck a straw in my nose & told me to sniff. = )

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miamimike says on Feb 7, 2006, 04:42:

This is simply unacceptable Here in the USA, after 9/11, they Advised passengers NOT to lock their luggage unless it had the New Type security locks(you can tell if its the new type if has the little red/white Logo by the luggage lock). USA Airport customs and security have master keys to open and close the new locks. You can, as I did, buy a new type lock on this 2 inch wide strap which are pretty cheap($9-$15. I bought a new wide Neon green strap with the new type lock so I now don't lock the old factory lock but the new type security lock on the strap. It makes spotting my Suitcase on the baggage merry go round. A lot easier also as not many passengers have a Large bright, neon strap on their suitcase; Works perfect. In the US, if they need to open your suitcase, they simply Pop the lock but never drill the suitcase and ruin the luggage. This is a crazy, archaic idea/method and you need to protest this one vigorously. If they need to access your bag in Col, they should pop the lock only and re-secure the Bag with a tie-wrap or tape. That is what is usually done. Better yet, just buy the new type lock like I did or travel only with carry-ons, which I do most of the time. They sell these New locks at Target, Brookstone.com, sharperimage.com or any luggage travel store. They sell 'em on eBay also. I bought mine in the Brookstone store at Bayside in Miami and it cost around $13.

Avatar Legend: Bush "If any of you Reporters are wondering, it was a Size 10"

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juanalejo says on Feb 7, 2006, 05:21:

Miamimike This archaic method has nothing to do with opening or not of your suitcase. It has to do with methods drug smugglers use to hide cocaine inside the frames or covers of the bags. Nothng could be achieved by simply opening and looking at it, as the drugs are acutally inside the material that the bag is made of, that is why they puncture it. This is done in both underdeveloped Bogota and developed Miami on a constant basis.

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 7, 2006, 05:46:

LOL It's not that I need to radiate classiness, my preference for the cutsey colors is simply practical: when there are two thousand black, silver and dark blue pieces of luggage rolling along on the merry-go-round it's easy to see a bright red or orange one amidst them. Anyway, I just bought my orange-red hard samsonite with combination lock and I'll take my chances with the drills and chuzos at the customs. A couple of holes in brand-new suitcase would be totally infuriating; having a cheap Chinese hard-plastic imitation break a handle or a lock would be bigger trouble for me.

Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 7, 2006, 06:11:

good idea, gringo but unfortunately too late the ferrari of the suitcases is already standing in my hall:)

Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 7, 2006, 06:49:

One of my suitcase is a Samsonite and I have never found little holes in it, But with my other suitcases I've had noticed that they had been open but nothing stolen.

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Atrevido (☼Travelguide writer) says on Feb 7, 2006, 07:07:

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 7, 2006, 07:50:

I would hate to see that, atrevido. I suppose they don't fix the ventilation in all the luggage, however and my luck holds out. I'll be expecting the worst and hoping for the best.

Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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rjstuff says on Feb 7, 2006, 09:18:

Don't carry suitcases! I stopped using suitcases about 7 or 8 years ago - I don't like to carry that extra weight around (or pull it around either.) So! I use duffle bags (from REI) - very light but sturdy - I don't lock them and I have not had any holes drilled in them (yet!) Ah - and yes you can pack a lot of crap in them. And Desi can buy them in blue or Red or orange colors! Good Luck

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Miguel says on Feb 7, 2006, 10:53:

Desi wrote.. "I'll be expecting the worst and hoping for the best."

That should be included in Peter's welcoming statement/preamble on the splash page of PBH. Buen dicho Desi, como siempre.

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miamimike says on Feb 7, 2006, 10:59:

Randomly punching holes in a Suitcase makes no sense from a security/detection standpoint. For this method to be effective they would have to punch a hole in every square inch--electronic detection/analysis is the only modern viable method.Or drug sniffing dogs. This Hole puching is something out of the Fred Flintstone Era and about as effective. Hard to beleive a country such as Col still does this in the year 2000 and 6!

Avatar Legend: Bush "If any of you Reporters are wondering, it was a Size 10"

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COLDK says on Feb 7, 2006, 12:03:

"...nobody in US customs would ever be pokikng holes into peoples luggage---cheap ones or otherwise....."

I have heard stpories that they DO that in Miami.
And have heard stories of people traveling BAQ-MIA carrying "queso costeño" and all the holes made by the US customs in front of their faces ... I would prefere the holes in the suitcase ;-).

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 7, 2006, 12:35:

LOL, gringo That might be a good business idea...for people traveling to either to Colombia or MIAMI:)

With a plastic lining so clothes inside wouldn't get wet if it happened to rain on the suitcase.

Cheers,
Desi


Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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nat718 says on Feb 7, 2006, 13:21:

And without zippers for easy access for customs and airport employees.

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harocha says on Feb 7, 2006, 14:38:

Delsey Meridian Hard Case Suitcase in Panama Last december I went to Panama leaving from Barranquilla Int. Airport and found out that my brand new *Orange-RED* suitcase arrived with some holes on it just like the ones you guys are describing, however my large suitcase had about 12 or more of them, so I complainted to the Airline who I traveled with and they told me that they knew some airports did it so they asked me to open my suitcase and make sure the holes went through the hard case to the inside because that is the only way the insurance will pay for, and went i open it it did went trough so they paid me for a brand new suitcase, same model, same brand.

I am still using my same old suitcase with the holes on it so I don't get the newone damage again.

So it is not just Colombia and Miami Airports who do this, Panama does it too.

PS: about not locking your suitcase to go to Colombia???? I think that is not a very smart thing to do, AVIANCA and AA told me that normally people in Colombia still things from suitcases because they don't get pay on time... I know it is very nonsense, but this is what they say. They advise you to lock it.
About plastic wrapping... It is a 2006 new law that prohibit the wrapping plastic system over the suitcase to go into USA land.

Have a goodone!!!

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 7, 2006, 15:10:

Oh but, gringo I'm not leaving quite yet, my trip is on the 20th. I haven't even started packing yet:) I just wanted to hear about the holes in the suitcases. Besides, I'm not working now, I'm on my sabbatical:) have plenty of time for PBH and a lot of other things.

Oh, did you mean that you guys are getting bored of me? You'll get a break soon, I promise : )

Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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Tinto (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 7, 2006, 15:18:

Just curious... I thought your sabbatical was for six months but your trip (I think) is from late Feb to late May?

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 7, 2006, 15:50:

tinto, gringo... You're absolutely right, tinto. I have a six-month sabbatical, but I had to spend some time with my family in Finland first. The trip got delayed also because I wasn't able to reach an agreement with my renters to vacate the house until a week ago and I had to give them a month to move out. In June I'm expected in Finland again to help resolve a family situation there. So, it'll be just three months in Colombia this time.
I'll be back to work (don't even want to think about it) in August, after my summer vacations.

Gringo, I was just comparing my new suitcase to a ferrari testarosso :) I can take just 20 kg with me and that'll be just one suitcase plus the carry-on (10kg). Wish I had a Ferrari full of suitcases when I'll be leaving.

Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 7, 2006, 15:59:

You got it, tinto all of the above, plus I want to throw in a trip to Cartagena, Bogotá and Parque del Café into my busy schedule. I think I'll skip the Chippy Chappy part, though.
Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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harocha says on Feb 7, 2006, 16:56:

Desi if you are going to the coast you maybe interested on metting a Colombian retirated guy who lives in a small town nearby. He used to live for half of his life in Estocolmo, you may know him, his name is Ricardo Bonett, he is a nice nice person, very into cultural growing and with a big history from family and great stories about how the coast becomed coast. He is working in helping the comunity and recovering a lot of wasted areas, and he loves Golpe de Tamboras (Costena/Afrocolombian music)

If you are interested on metting him let me know, it seems like you like to learn about every single life style and culture so you might like to meet him and his family.

If this does not interest you for what every reason I understand, =) then have a safe and fun trip.

Have a goodone!

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Gomezman5 says on Feb 7, 2006, 18:26:

Juanalejo......you're learning !! "This is done in both underdeveloped Bogota and developed Miami on a constant basis."

Juanalejo, it took a lot for you to come up with the above statement. I don't know how you did it. Clearly, I will have to be more tolerant in the future.....Good Job

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Gomezman5 says on Feb 7, 2006, 18:31:

OK Guys, Now I understand everything Maybe it's just you guys. I don't know what Crazy and all the rest of you guys look like but when it comes to the G5, not only do they not punch whole in my cases, but I have NEVER been pulled aside by customs for any question, nor have they ever asked me to open any of my luggage,

SO, what can I say. I must be you guys. The way you look? The baggage?Attitude? Who knows. You guys just need to be carrying yourself like the G5 and you will sail on through without incident. No holes. No questions.....and that's that.

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 8, 2006, 14:22:

harocha, I had totally forgotten to answer you. Sorry. Sure, I'd love to meet this guy providing I'll have the opportunity and time enough. I just might make a weekend trip to Cartagena with a friend and if he doesn't live too far from Cartagena I'm definitely interested. The name doesn't ring a bell, but then again, I don't hang out a lot with Colombians in Stockholm any longer. Yes, you're right, I'm interested in cultural and antropological aspects of Colombia and have never been on the Atlantic coast. PM me with contact info, if you don't mind.

Cheers,
Desi


Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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arthur brode (☼Travelguide writer) says on Feb 8, 2006, 19:39:

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 23, 2006, 08:48:

no holes coming, we'll have to see what happens on the way home. Also, the suitcase arrived on the same flight and I didn't have to go through the customs at all...my suitcased was ticketed all the way to Cali, didn't have to claim it in Bogotá and I didn't see anybody at the customs in Cali so I just walked through with my suitcase.

Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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