So yesterday I had a really intersting experience going through customs before leaving YYZ.
I was very smily and dressed kinda cute as I approaced the dreaded security check at the airport. It always scares me for some reason, there is just something about all the turnstiles and other crowd control measures that puts me on edge! I do understand how important these security checks are though, and after reading this website about security turnstile here I probably know much more about airport security and turnstiles than the average person! Hence, I was extremely pleasant as I emptied all my gear intot the tray, laptop, shoes, small bottled liquids. I was pretty excited to step into the body scanner. It was my first time flying since this had been implemented a few months ago after the underwear bomber.
No problems with the body scan but as I turned around it seemed a couple security guards were puzzled by something in my suitcase. First thought, they saw my ‘Hitachi massager‘ and they’re gonna give me a hard time, second thought, my corsets with metal boning have them confused.
Neither was the case and as one security guard after another, followed by several police officers went for a look, I began to get scared. WTF are they looking at? I tried to be positive about the whole thing and deffinitley not get emotional. Crying would only make this worse, “keep smiling & don’t look scared” I told myself.
A secutiry guard and police officer begun filling out paper work and the questions started coming. Where do I live, what do I do, where was I going & why.
They could tell I was getting worried and told me to stay calm, so I tried as my hands were getting real sweaty and I can only imagine how red my face was getting.
One of the nice airport security officers then mouthed silently “do you have a lighter?” which was followed by “do you have a gun miss?”. WTF, now I was freaking out. “Did you pack your bag miss the police man asked me? Yes, and I didn’t leave it unattended either. “Do you have anyting that resembles a gun?” I don’t think so.
You’re going to have to come with us miss. I walked, sans shoes or any belongings over to the side area surrounded buy at leats two police and several security guards and airport staff. They surrounded me.
As they began to go through my bag they asked if I had any jewelery, this was when I opened the front zip of my suitcase revealing the object they were looking for … a small metal gun on a necklace.
I was mortified and scared.
They told me that when luggage goes through the x-ray scanner it is magnified which resulted in my tiny metal .038 special snub nose looking like a regular size pistol.
They confiscated it. I loved that gun necklace. I brought it back from NYC on a Porter flight just months ago. YYZ is deff more strict than Porter.
They officers began asking me more questions, height, weight, eye colour, all things they didn’t really need to know. They then asked why I was REALLY going to Florida, so I told them Fetish Factory 15th Annual Memorial Day weekend party. Bless your heart they said, followed by “pictures”.
At this point they are very aware that I do social media for MuchMTV and write a blog and we’re onto making jokes about being Facebook friends and status updates about our little debackle. I would love to know if they look me up. haha
Safe to say I made it through and now I’m in Florida and it’s beautiful out.
Happy Friday friends 🙂
Holy crap haha That’s crazy. Sad that you lost your necklace 🙁 Sounded fab.
Happy everything turned out OK in the end, and that you weren’t held for questions very long.
Hope you enjoy your trip!
Baha that's messed!
I've had more than enough worrysome moments with airport security and customs agents.
They made jokes? I didn't think they were capable! I always assumed they were robots programmed only to intimidate and accuse. I have many immigration horror stories, including one I probably should have made a stink about where I was felt up in a broom closet (only time a metal detector ever caught my nipple rings…)
Why did they have to keep the necklace? That seems unnecessary. Bullies! Glad you and the rest of your things made it through, though! Luckily on the way home the Canadian agents are always infinity times more pleasant!
Gun charm on a necklace, friggin A!
Are you kidding ~ they confiscated your necklace? Wow ~ we are just TOO paranoid now. I would have cried – for sure. And lol at the 'hitachi massager'! At least you kept your humour at the end of it all 🙂
I can't believe they confiscated it? WTF a necklace?
it was suck a dick move. that was my most favorite gun, i could have killed them!
I know! I was like WTF man. It was a huge scene. I loved that gun 🙁