In Reply to: Customs in Oz, on the return. posted by Bob Bali on Wednesday, 20. April 2005 at 13:28 Bali Time:
after going thru immigration having declared everything I had including excess cigarettes, bringing home for an indonesian friend.
I was getting a baggage trolley and could see my luggage on the carousel so was hurrying to grab it before I had to wait for it to go around again when a woman approached me and asked to see my passport.
I gave it to her and went to grab my luggage. On my return I was given the third degree as to why I travelled so frequently to Bali.
I said I go for a holiday. She then proceeded to ask me if I was travelling alone. I replied yes, but had met up with friends from interstate over there, as we do each year. She then said something along the lines of .."are you doing business over there?" I said, no I told you I go for a holiday. Again I got..."You go over there frequently and spend quite a lot of time there, you must have a good job, where do you work?" I answered her questions regarding my employment and reiterated that I go for holidays, which is 100% true.
I cant even be bothered with the hassle of thinking about doing business over there. After a few more pointed questions she said well you will have to go thru the red line, to which I replied yes I know, I have wooden items and food to declare.
Customs was a whole new ball game and for the 5th time I had to list the items I had to declare, showing them all and all being cleared even the additional cigarettes I had. Then came the kicker. I was asked to open my largest bag which had only contained one item to declare which I had placed in a side pocket, had shown and was ok.
The customs woman very seriously asked me to identify the bag as being mine, had I packed it, was I aware of the contents. I felt absolutely sick to the stomach and said "is there a problem here?"
She replied just open the bag please which I did and she started to rummage thru the contents. After asking me what certain items were she said ok you can zip it up now. I again asked what the problem had been and she replied just that the bag was marked as something being seen on the x-ray but agreed that it must have been the wooden platter which I had already declared and shown her.
She wasnt rude but by god after the first woman asking me a lot of questions I wondered what the hell was going on. I said I delare everything which I am required to I have nothing to hide.
Anyway, maybe this will be the standard frequent travellers to Bali can come to expect from now on.
I also know of another lone female traveller who has been given the 3rd degree regarding her frequent visits to bali. I understand they are just doing a job, but had the customs officer told me the reason for her search I would have felt much easier as I knew there was nothing 'illegal' I had packed in my bags. cheers