News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Backpacker stripped of tech gear at Auckland Airport. Parent comment

Re:Backpacker stripped of tech gear at Auckland Airport by entropy_ on Thursday December 12, 2013 @03:54AM (#6893510)
From my experience crossing the Syrian border many many times, it's resolved with (at most) a 20$ bill(or the equivalent in Syrian pounds).

Same goes for traffic violations or pretty much anything that deals with the police or customs in any way.

I'm guessing that this wouldn't be the case for someone whose name is on a list somewhere or someone actually caught smuggling something(might work but would definitely set you back more). But at least in my(and friends') experience, it's never been a problem specifically because of the corruption. Police and customs people are not robots following orders from on high, they're robots who'll bother you to no end until you pay them and will leave you alone and might invite you over to a cup of coffee once you do.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Backpacker stripped of tech gear at Auckland Airport by mnw21cam on Thursday December 12, 2013 @06:23AM (#6893895)
When I lived in Kenya, I was stopped for speeding. In a battered old Peugeot 305 estate. Up a steep hill on a main route. At 8000 feet altitude where the already underpowered engine was suffering greatly from lack of air. The policeman was looking for a bribe, but got laughed at instead.
[ Parent | on HN ]