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Ask HN: Did this customs agent attempt to plant contraband on me?

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Ask HN: Did this customs agent attempt to plant contraband on me?

#1
The incident:

I was preparing to board a flight from DFW to China for a 2 week vacation. I scanned my boarding pass and began walking towards the skybridge to board the plane and a customs agent stepped in front of me and asked if I was carrying more than $5,000 in cash on me, to which I responded "no". He then said "okay, we are doing a test today, you get to help us out with this test and can tell your friends about it won't that be cool?" and had me put on a jacket which looked roughly similar to the one I had on. I thought "okay, this is kinda weird but whatever I'll help you guys out".

I should mention this guy had a thick Russian accent/imperfect English, but his uniform looked legit. At no point did he mention participation was optional. He held onto my passport while I put on the jacket (over the jacket I was already wearing) and I proceeded to walk down the skybridge towards the plane, but he almost immediately stopped me and said "walk slowly". At the other end of the skybridge there were about 4 - 8 TSA agents and a sniffer dog. At this point I got skeptical of the situation and started feeling around the jacket expecting to find some sort of contraband, and ended up finding a brick-shaped lump of what I am guessing was either drugs, fake drugs or cash either in the jacket pocket or sewn into the jacket itself. I held up the lump inside the jacket and looked toward the agent with a 'wtf?' look on my face, to which he responded "it is currency".

At this point I became even more skeptical, took off the jacket and returned it to the agent and asked for my passport back. I then proceeded to board the plane without the jacket and the TSA agents reacted with a big "aaaahh man!" as if they really wanted me to board the plane with that jacket on.

This was my first time flying overseas, but I'm guessing this isn't standard procedure.

Has anyone experienced something similar to this? Did these guys attempt to plant drugs on me? What's going on here?

Re: Ask HN: Did this customs agent attempt to plant contraband on me?

#6
post #4
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would they do that with a random traveler and not one of their own employees, though?

Perhaps because the dog would know the agents?

So get a volunteer from non-TSA employees who work at the airport in whatever capacity and clear it with their boss? I agree that this is a bit skeevy.

Re: Ask HN: Did this customs agent attempt to plant contraband on me?

#7
post #6
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps because the dog would know the agents?

So get a volunteer from non-TSA employees who work at the airport in whatever capacity and clear it with their boss? I agree that this is a bit skeevy.

There are all sorts of alternatives. I'm just noting why they might not pick a local staff who has interacted with the dog.

I find the story interesting, but also it seems unlikely these guys are trying some real frame up job with a coat that their target is seen in the airport not wearing, and the security person carrying around. If anything it sounds like some guys goofing around.

Re: Ask HN: Did this customs agent attempt to plant contraband on me?

#8
Government employees don't legitimately recruit civilians without making them sign a mountain of paperwork and lots of tedious travel through the bureaucracy. Anyone who asks you on the spot to do something that makes you vulnerable, or doesn't explain its full purpose, doesn't have your best interests at heart.

Re: Ask HN: Did this customs agent attempt to plant contraband on me?

#9
post #7
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So get a volunteer from non-TSA employees who work at the airport in whatever capacity and clear it with their boss? I agree that this is a bit skeevy.

There are all sorts of alternatives. I'm just noting why they might not pick a local staff who has interacted with the dog. I find the story interesting, but also it seems unlikely these guys are trying some real frame up job with a coat that their target is seen in the airport not wearing, and the security person carrying around. If anything it sounds like some guys goofing around.

The "aaaahh man!" reaction seems way too casual/jokey for a criminal setup that could have serious consequences for everyone involved. If I realized my scam target wasn't playing along, I'd probably nervously pretend that's completely fine and thank them for their time (something like that).
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