Nogales border northbound (out) interesting tidbit

[Barbilou_and_Fu]

Came north Tuesday, just the car, 2 days for doctor appointments. At the border, we of course were in the slowest line. Turned out our border agent was very thorough. Had us pop the trunk, and she was back there forever. She comes back to say "You know you HAVE to declare controlled substances when I ask 'Are you bringing anything back?' even if the prescriptions are in your own name."

My husband had a bottle of Vicodin, with all his other medications in his toiletry bag.

He apologized, said he didn't know, and she waved us through. She was stern, unsmiling, unfriendly. And when we arrived at the hotel, we found the contents of our toiletry bags spilled out all over.

Just a heads-up.

[werwin48]

For seven years , we travel, in the States , with its own fiver. We are, very often, entered, the United States, from Mexico or Canada. I have very early learned, never make a discussion with a US Border - Officer and only answer to his questions . At the Border Line , they have the absolute power and siting, right next to the " Lord" ... We are sure we mostly just explain legal things but we never got lucky, the officer found, always foods that were illegal. Last time was our refrigerator was empty , but he found an avocado forgotten, but with the seed , which is absolutely illegal.
Well, I'm sure I 'll never " No" or " Yes " to say if the agent ask me again , The answer will be : "I do not know! "
O.K. they just do the work, but there are different personalitys. Eventually, you'll get frustrated officer to meet after you cross the demarcation line , you will feel like screwed up.... Because he / she has done his job accurately according to established rules .

An examples that we saw coming across the border from Canada into the United States from Alaska. The refrigerator was filled with halibut and salmon, caught with a fishing license in Alaska. The Border - Office let us go only after we showed the CC Control Bill, the Agent, would, show our license in Alaska. Because we would have to catch the fish illegally in Alaska. At this point, we feel really, screwed.

[clarlk]

We are trying to stop all the illegal drugs but More folks die from prescription drugs in the US. What a crazy system..

[bighatnohorse]

navegator wrote:

For all of you that carry perscription medicine, make a list of all and have a list printed, when you get to the border hand it to the agents and tell them that is the "DRUGS" that you have on board, thats what we do with the wifes "DRUGS".

navegator

Thank you for that one. I've got Vicodine on board but assumed that because it was prescription that it was fine. Never thought about declaring it.

[qtla9111]

clarlk wrote:
Every few years they enforce a couple of the rules, that are hidden in the books... they are doing there job..


They deal with hundreds if not thousands of folks a day.. how many of them are rude to them ?? Smile be nice.. I sure would not want there Job.

Yes they are just following orders and even though the war on drugs. Is a failed policy.. which they must know.. (They are searching for green bud which is sold in two sates now with the rest to follow..)

If they would only Search everyone going south as good and keep some of the weapons out of Mexico. we would all be safer down here.

X2

[navegator]

You probablly encountered a new agent "proby" they act real tough and nasty, after the year and a half of probation and are permanent they start to mellow out and yes Nogales is one of the hardest hit crossings for cartel smugling, with some of the States legalizing mariguana, the cartels now are switching to methanfetamines, you can not imagine how many persons of all ages are crosing them at Nogales.

For all of you that carry perscription medicine, make a list of all and have a list printed, when you get to the border hand it to the agents and tell them that is the "DRUGS" that you have on board, thats what we do with the wifes "DRUGS".

navegator

[clarlk]

Every few years they enforce a couple of the rules, that are hidden in the books... they are doing there job..


They deal with hundreds if not thousands of folks a day.. how many of them are rude to them ?? Smile be nice.. I sure would not want there Job.

Yes they are just following orders and even though the war on drugs. Is a failed policy.. which they must know.. (They are searching for green bud which is sold in two sates now with the rest to follow..)

If they would only Search everyone going south as good and keep some of the weapons out of Mexico. we would all be safer down here.

[Barbilou_and_Fu]

I was not looking for sympathy. I only wanted to warn people to declare their controlled substances: she was not happy that we hadn't. Forgive my presumption that anyone here might care. And thanks for reminding me, Texas Shadow, why I don't read this forum any more.

[briansue]

I had no idea I was required to declare my prescriptions filled in the US and carried throughout Mexico and then returning to the US with them. Why would I have to declare them? Is there a rule or list somewhere that tells us what to declare. No one ever asked us anything like that. We have crossed the US border many times and gone through customs many times - Mexico, Canada, flying from various other countries. Always have prescriptions - never been asked. They have looked through our bags and never said anything. Is this new? Please - no more rude remarks.

[2oldman]

moisheh wrote:
Smelled the rear of my truck and before you know I was in secondary. They asked me to open the hood and give them the keys.

More drug war nonsense. I don't think what you endured was 'necessary' at all.

[qtla9111]

It sure would put a different face on the U.S. if the agents at all ports of entry were polite. Being nice goes a long way and can make for good relations.

[moisheh]

Barb: Surely you did not think you would get any sympathy from an internet forum? It is like twitter. Real easy to make all kinds of comments when it is not face to face. Usually Nogales is an OK crossing but this year they seem a little edgy. I crossed going North in December. They had a new dog and he was acting strange. Smelled the rear of my truck and before you know I was in secondary. They asked me to open the hood and give them the keys. Then I got the usual banter: Did you leave your truck anywhere, Did anyone give you something to take to the USA, Do you have any drugs? Do you use an y drugs? Do you have over $10,000 in cash? Then he escorted me to a building where I was told to be seated and wait. There were 3 Mexican families in the room. One of them was an older woman and she asked for directions to the bathroom. A rude officer told her to sit down and she could use the bathroom after the inspection. I was in the room for 30 minutes. A young fellow came and accompanied me to my truck. Asked me all those dumb questions again. I told him that I have a FAST card and that up until 4 years ago I had security clearance in Canada up to top security . His response was that Canada is not the USA and that clearance was meaningless. When I got to my truck they had forced open the lid on my cap and bent the rods. I was pissed but just got the hell out of there. One of them must have been under my truck and then sat in the seat and got dirt all over the vehicle.. The contents of my bag were all over the truck. Yes it is a terrible job. Yes it is a necessary job. NO, they do not have to be rude or obnoxious. The irony is that while they were giving me and others a hard time 100's of Mexican aliens were crossing within 2 or 3 miles of us carrying: drugs,cash, illegal merchandise and more! Up until this season the border personnel were friendly and efficient. I get the feeling that with the new crossing being almost complete the senior "bosses" are being hard on the employees. Unhappy people make poor employees. Texas Shadow: You are not Barb's father and have no right to tell her or anyone else to"get over it" Just who do you think you are? Very rude!


Moisheh

[TexasShadow]

People often forget to declare a prescription drug they've been taking for a long time and carry around with them all the time.
So you forgot to declare it and you got scolded for it. Get over it and move on down the road 🙂

[Talleyho69]

Yes. I was out of line, because we are normally the ones that say, "their jobs are to protect us and our country," and they do their best to do that. A tough job, and one that neither of us would be willing to do.
We always do our best to be non confrontational and legal.

[Tom_N]

I'm happy our border guards take their jobs seriously and know and follow the US laws and regulations.

-Tom