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Teelo

Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Wellington, NZ
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 2:44 am Post subject: I think I'm on terrorist watchlists |
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Flying seoul to sydney with a long layover in tokyo.
First korea security decides to pull everything out of my cabin luggage bag to "search it".
Next, when entering tokyo, I got asked over and over why do I want to enter tokyo for only a couple of hours.
Next, about four steps after walking through the arrivals door out of the immigration gates, a police officer comes up to me and says "I'm a police officer; random search, show me your passport". *
Finally, on my way back into the terminal (and free internets!), security stops me to manually metal scan me more than NZ and Korea ever did. They went so far as to make me take off my shoes to see what the metal inside was (its just a chunk of support).
I've flown quite a few times over the last couple of years, and have rarely had a peep out of anyone.
Not complaining, found it more amusing than anything. Wonder if I'm on some kind of international watchlist?
Also, wonder whats gonna happen tomorrow in sydney
* Sidenote: cue Rush Hour "show me your badge. show it again." |
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PeteJB
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 6:14 am Post subject: |
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Just a run of bad luck. I had a similar experience when travelling to New York. |
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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 6:22 am Post subject: |
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Tell us what you were wearing. Did something trigger all of this? |
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Neil
Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Location: Tokyo
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 6:27 am Post subject: |
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I used to get pulled to one side whenever I entered Japan, in contrast to the indentikit salarymen in line I have long hair so I reckon they assumed I was carrying drugs or whatnot....after the 3rd time I took to wearing a suit whenever I passed though customs, so far no problems. |
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Kikomom

Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Location: them thar hills--Penna, USA--Zippy is my kid, the teacher in ROK. You can call me Kiko
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 11:41 am Post subject: |
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Could be an indication of a security alert in the wind. Too bad airport security is no joke, otherwise I had a bunch of them. |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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Was it a one-way ticket, by any chance? |
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Joe666
Joined: 19 Nov 2008 Location: Jesus it's hot down here!
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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What do you look like. Sorry, had to ask. If you look like Ali Baba, you might draw some attention. Unfortunately, appearance is almost everything in the world. Luckily you are in Korea now, so it does not matter. |
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harlowethrombey

Joined: 17 Mar 2009 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 3:29 pm Post subject: |
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I get searched all the time. Dont know why.
I guess cause I'm usually traveling alone. I was also randomly stopped in Japan (in Kyoto).
Stopped in Bali.
Stopped in Kansai.
Stopped in the U.S.
I just be polite and try and get it over with as quickly as possible. Shrug |
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Juregen
Joined: 30 May 2006
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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When I had long hair (down to my butt), I got stopped every single time, no matter what.
The moment I cut my hair short and wore a suit, not once did anyone stop me ever since.
So now, to board a plane, I wear a suit, my wife is made up and my son is properly dressed.
No one will ever bother us again.
Most cops are xenophobic and make quick profiles on each individual they see (which re-enforces their believes), so just fit yourself in a good box and they will let you be. |
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Big_Bird

Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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Joe666 wrote: |
What do you look like. Sorry, had to ask. If you look like Ali Baba, you might draw some attention. Unfortunately, appearance is almost everything in the world. Luckily you are in Korea now, so it does not matter. |
LOL, was the irony intentional? |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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Do countries other than the US actually have those dumb terrorist watchlists? |
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Teelo

Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Wellington, NZ
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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Kuros wrote: |
Was it a one-way ticket, by any chance? |
Yup. Seoul to Sydney via Tokyo. Had a few hours in Tokyo so decided to immigrate for an hour.
Guy in immi saw "1 hour" on my disembarkation form, laughed, and stamped my passport.  |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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Teelo wrote: |
Kuros wrote: |
Was it a one-way ticket, by any chance? |
Yup. Seoul to Sydney via Tokyo. Had a few hours in Tokyo so decided to immigrate for an hour.
Guy in immi saw "1 hour" on my disembarkation form, laughed, and stamped my passport.  |
Bombers supposedly buy one-way tickets, altho knowing that the officials check, wouldn't a bomber go ahead and buy a round-trip? Anyway, that's probably it. I did a one-way trip once across the U.S. and got searched everytime. |
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mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007 Location: retired
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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You're not on any watchlist. A one-way ticket and one hour "migration" are extremely suspicious behaviour. |
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Young FRANKenstein

Joined: 02 Oct 2006 Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 12:19 am Post subject: |
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harlowethrombey wrote: |
I get searched all the time. Dont know why. |
I do, too, but I chalk it up to profiling. I obviously fit one of their profiles, but they won't admit they use them. Of course not.
In the last 7-8 years, if there is a place where they are set up to do "random" searches, I am ALWAYS (yes, always) randomly chosen. It can't be my name because those doing the search don't know it. Whether this supposedly random search is done at/before the check-in desk, right after going through the security xray, in the causeway between gates when I'm transferring planes, or just outside the plane itself as I board... if it's set up, I get searched (sometime 2-3 times on the SAME leg of the trip). So, over 25-ish roundtrips I've been "randomly" searched around 60 times, I guess, or more.
But they don't profile! |
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