US man detained in Thailand over bullet in luggage

[josephbloggs]

3 hours ago, ThomasThBKK said:

I remember reading a case like this weeks ago, does someone else have a link? same case? 

 

 

definitely going downhill here, i don't believe that guy had anything todo with this ezcept beeing a victim. and what chance has it that its exactly 1 bullet and nothing else... 

It is possible that the Manila scam has arrived here.  But it is also possible that he had ammo in his luggage.  Let's not forget he is from Ohio where open carry is possible without a permit.  There is a culture of guns there.   It is possible that he used he same bag elsewhere and just forgot.  If he did that would be a harsh penalty to serve, but it is not out of the realms of possibility.

 

If a traveller from the UK got found with a bullet it would be a lot more clear cut that it was a scam.  Or if we started to see a lot more reports of this happening (as we did in Manila).

 

Apparently the guy has been given a legal bail (not a bribe) and will appear in court. If it were a scam then money would have changed hands and he'd be on his way home. As it is he is waiting for a court date. 

 

If he had an accidental single bullet he'll get his case dropped or go to court and get a fine and be sent home. Much like the HK journalist who got arrested for a bullet proof jacket. 

 

I am not convinced this is a scam. 

Edited December 30, 2019 by josephbloggs

[moontang]

Being an African American from one of the most violent cities in the US does not add to his credibility.  Let's see where the bullet came from...

[Tounge Thaied]

One bullet. Scam or no scam... do the "authorities" really need to detain him, hold him, and make him go to court? Answer: No. This is BS. One bullet is not a threat. 

[moontang]

10 minutes ago, Tounge Thaied said:

One bullet. Scam or no scam... do the "authorities" really need to detain him, hold him, and make him go to court? Answer: No. This is BS. One bullet is not a threat. 

Neither was the .02 grams of powder on that model..was it 15 years?

[PingRoundTheWorld]

12 minutes ago, Tounge Thaied said:

One bullet. Scam or no scam... do the "authorities" really need to detain him, hold him, and make him go to court? Answer: No. This is BS. One bullet is not a threat. 

Exactly. I don't know if it's a scam or not, but arresting him and having him stay in the country for months awaiting trial is just ridiculous, and all these horror stories are a big part of why tourism is going down. Give him a fine and let him go.

 

There does seem to be more scams around though, like the case with the French guy. Probably due to the economy and less tourists = less "revenue" for the rogue guys so they're getting "creative". Not a good situation as more scams bring less tourists, and less tourists bring more scams...

 

And a scary thought: not to give them ideas, but any woman who's <deleted> off at you enough could easily <deleted> up your life by planting a bullet or something else in your suitcase. Be careful who you let near it before traveling. Would not be surprised if this is what happened here - jealous or otherwise <deleted> off "vacation girlfriend" might've been angry that he's leaving or that he didn't pay up, and boom - the guy is <deleted>.

Edited December 30, 2019 by PingRoundTheWorld

[moontang]

1 minute ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Exactly. I don't know if it's a scam or not, but arresting him and having him stay in the country for months awaiting trial is just ridiculous, and all these horror stories are a big part of why tourism is going down. Give him a fine and let him go.

 

There does seem to be more scams around though, like the case with the French guy. Probably due to the economy and less tourists = less "revenue" for the rogue guys so they're getting "creative". Not a good situation as more scams bring less tourists, and less tourists bring more scams...

I do agree with the prominence of the scams...kind of like how they raise prices, when business is down.

[dcnx]

56 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

It is possible that the Manila scam has arrived here.  But it is also possible that he had ammo in his luggage.  Let's not forget he is from Ohio where open carry is possible without a permit.  There is a culture of guns there.   It is possible that he used he same bag elsewhere and just forgot.  If he did that would be a harsh penalty to serve, but it is not out of the realms of possibility.

 

If a traveller from the UK got found with a bullet it would be a lot more clear cut that it was a scam.  Or if we started to see a lot more reports of this happening (as we did in Manila).

 

Apparently the guy has been given a legal bail (not a bribe) and will appear in court. If it were a scam then money would have changed hands and he'd be on his way home. As it is he is waiting for a court date. 

 

If he had an accidental single bullet he'll get his case dropped or go to court and get a fine and be sent home. Much like the HK journalist who got arrested for a bullet proof jacket. 

 

I am not convinced this is a scam. 

He would have never made it past USA airport security with ammo in his bag. They are ungodly strict. Not to mention he obviously connected somewhere, probably Japan or Taiwan, also security there and a full check. These are all first world counties with modern equipment and strict rules, especially Japan and Taiwan.

But the only people who found it are the Thais on the way out of the country? Right. 
 

Even if he comes out and says it is his I wouldn’t believe it and know it’s a forced confession to reduce the charges. There’s NO WAY the other countries (at least two of them) would have missed a bullet. Possibly even another strict airport in the US if his original departure location was Ohio. 

Edited December 30, 2019 by dcnx

[richard_smith237]

It seems there could / should be a ‘go to’ Judge who can apply a ‘fast track’ common sense approach to these issues. 

 

I’m not sure it was a scam: its the first I’ve heard of that being a scam in Thailand, also given where the guy is from etc it would be easy enough to forget a bullet in his bag. 

 

‘A common sense’ judge could recognize this, use his discretion and say bad boy, be careful next time. 

If it were 10 bullets that’s different, but being treated so harshly for a single bullet just stinks of ‘faux outrage’ and typical over-reaction. 

 

News such as this damages Thailands reputation far more than a couple getting it on, on the beach at night. 

[dcnx]

38 minutes ago, moontang said:

Being an African American from one of the most violent cities in the US does not add to his credibility.  Let's see where the bullet came from...

Do you honestly think he flew out of the USA and through a connecting country in Asia (probably Japan or Taiwan, maybe even China) with this bullet and no one found it until he just happened to leave Thailand?

 

Do you guys even think before you post? 
 

There’s flat out no way he made it all the way to Thailand with a bullet in his bag. 
 

Did he buy a single bullet in Thailand? Perhaps. I don’t know where or why he would, but considering this is a scam that’s been going on in Manila for years, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck.

 

 

[dcnx]

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

It seems there could / should be a ‘go to’ Judge who can apply a ‘fast track’ common sense approach to these issues. 

 

I’m not sure it was a scam: its the first I’ve heard of that being a scam in Thailand, also given where the guy is from etc it would be easy enough to forget a bullet in his bag. 

 

‘A common sense’ judge could recognize this, use his discretion and say bad boy, be careful next time. 

If it were 10 bullets that’s different, but being treated so harshly for a single bullet just stinks of ‘faux outrage’ and typical over-reaction. 

 

News such as this damages Thailands reputation far more than a couple getting it on, on the beach at night. 

What ever happened to the tourist court at the airport? That lasted about a week. 

[Maestro]

Removed two off-topic posts and replies to them.

 

This topic is about a foreign tourist arrested for allegedly trying to take a bullet out of Thailand, not bringing it in.

[Andrew65]

4 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

I don't think you are correct.  Prince Andrew gave his interview absolutely free from pressure or obligation, and it had nothing to do with the US.

What I mean is, this story broke in the US where the British gvt has no jurisdiction.

 

If whatever is alleged to have happened, happened solely within the UK, I think it would've been covered up.

 

When Andrew gave his interview the story had already broken.

 

After saying that, what he is alleged to have done in the UK was with a girl who was of age.

[thaibeachlovers]

19 hours ago, lemonjelly said:

Looks like that old scam is back again 

I assume that is the case, but what I don't understand is how they know which people to scam. Had it been me I could not have paid up as don't have that sort of spare cash lying around, and no one else is going to give it for me.

If they scammed people like me the jails would be full of farangs generating bad publicity for LOS.

[Somtamnication]

Fingerprints on the bullet? 

[Xaos]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninoy_Aquino_International_Airport_bullet_planting_scandal

[ChipButty]

9 hours ago, ThomasThBKK said:

I remember reading a case like this weeks ago, does someone else have a link? same case? 

 

 

definitely going downhill here, i don't believe that guy had anything todo with this ezcept beeing a victim. and what chance has it that its exactly 1 bullet and nothing else... 

This is the second one in a month

[Xaos]

 

 

https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2019/12/26/american-men-suvarnabhumi-airport-respected-michael-jones-morra-ohio-pennsylvania-bullet-luggage/

 

[IAMHERE]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I assume that is the case, but what I don't understand is how they know which people to scam. Had it been me I could not have paid up as don't have that sort of spare cash lying around, and no one else is going to give it for me.

If they scammed people like me the jails would be full of farangs generating bad publicity for LOS.

Got ahold of his FICO score somehow ?  Checked the rating of the credit card used to buy the ticket ?  Just figured any African-American that visits Thailand must have money?

[Enzian]

It's not just a single bullet to be careful about. What is one were to handle ammo or a recently fired gun the day of or day before a flight, and then got one of those swab tests at the airport, of one's person or luggage? 

[Oziex1]

3 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Fingerprints on the bullet? 

You think too much.

[ChrisY1]

15 hours ago, Nakmuay887 said:

I agree with this but what is the kid going to do with it? Build a gun out of Airplane food and utensils and then take over the entire airplane with his plastic homemade gun and single bullet? 

Not going to build a gun...this is a scam amongst so many other that are slammed on foreigners by Thai authorities

[ChrisY1]

2 hours ago, IAMHERE said:

Got ahold of his FICO score somehow ?  Checked the rating of the credit card used to buy the ticket ?  Just figured any African-American that visits Thailand must have money?

Check-in chicks

[josephbloggs]

9 hours ago, dcnx said:

He would have never made it past USA airport security with ammo in his bag. They are ungodly strict. Not to mention he obviously connected somewhere, probably Japan or Taiwan, also security there and a full check. These are all first world counties with modern equipment and strict rules, especially Japan and Taiwan.

But the only people who found it are the Thais on the way out of the country? Right. 
 

Even if he comes out and says it is his I wouldn’t believe it and know it’s a forced confession to reduce the charges. There’s NO WAY the other countries (at least two of them) would have missed a bullet. Possibly even another strict airport in the US if his original departure location was Ohio. 

Quote

Do you honestly think he flew out of the USA and through a connecting country in Asia (probably Japan or Taiwan, maybe even China) with this bullet and no one found it until he just happened to leave Thailand?

 

Do you guys even think before you post? 

Your unshakable belief that Western countries are amazing, incorruptible, perfect, secure is quite something to behold.  Not sure if you genuinely believe that or if it is just part of a general superiority complex.

I remember reading this year of a passenger who got all the way to Tokyo with a loaded gun on her.  She got all the way through security screening in Atlanta with nobody noticing, and it only came to prominence because she realised it herself and alerted the crew.  https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/us/delta-passenger-gun.html

Then there was the guy who got arrested on arrival in Haiti with three boxes of guns and ammo in his checked baggage including Uzis which are illegal in the States.  This was last month.  He'd checked in to this international flight in Miami.

 

I believe Miami and Atlanta are major airports with "ungoldly strict" security.  They are also in America, one of your hailed "first world" countries. 

I don't know where this guy's bullet came from (no one does yet), but it really isn't inconceivable that a single bullet made it's way here from there, not inconceivable at all, and you are extremely naive to state it's outright impossible I have to say.  

Plenty of other articles out there about security lapses at US airports, about people committed of serious terrorist crimes working at US airports (after the crimes by the way, not before).

Edited December 31, 2019 by josephbloggs

[josephbloggs]

57 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

Not going to build a gun...this is a scam amongst so many other that are slammed on foreigners by Thai authorities

From what I can tell from the article he hasn't been scammed - he has paid an official bail amount so he is not in jail.  He is in a hotel.  And he is awaiting a court date.  At that court hearing he will almost certainly be fined and sent home.

If it was a scam then the money paid would have been a bribe, he would have been released and on his way already.  So please explain the scam to me.  If this is a scam it's a pretty dumb one as nobody has asked for any money - they really must try harder.

[yogi100]

1 hour ago, josephbloggs said:

Your unshakable belief that Western countries are amazing, incorruptible, perfect, secure is quite something to behold.  Not sure if you genuinely believe that or if it is just part of a general superiority complex.

I remember reading this year of a passenger who got all the way to Tokyo with a loaded gun on her.  She got all the way through security screening in Atlanta with nobody noticing, and it only came to prominence because she realised it herself and alerted the crew.  https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/us/delta-passenger-gun.html

Then there was the guy who got arrested on arrival in Haiti with three boxes of guns and ammo in his checked baggage including Uzis which are illegal in the States.  This was last month.  He'd checked in to this international flight in Miami.

 

I believe Miami and Atlanta are major airports with "ungoldly strict" security.  They are also in America, one of your hailed "first world" countries. 

I don't know where this guy's bullet came from (no one does yet), but it really isn't inconceivable that a single bullet made it's way here from there, not inconceivable at all, and you are extremely naive to state it's outright impossible I have to say.  

Plenty of other articles out there about security lapses at US airports, about people committed of serious terrorist crimes working at US airports (after the crimes by the way, not before).

Take a look at the staff who more or less run London's Heathrow. You won't believe it.

[dcnx]

2 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Your unshakable belief that Western countries are amazing, incorruptible, perfect, secure is quite something to behold. 

Japan, Taiwan, and China are not western countries for your information. All of them are incredibly strict when it comes to airport security.

 

US airport security is really good when it comes to finding contraband. Flying through multiple US airports increases the odds that it would have been found. Sure, things can skip though, but it’s not slipping through multiple US airports and another first world airport in Asia, only to have the Thais find it. They would have flagged him in Japan or whenever he passed through if he slipped through the US.

 

This is also the SECOND bullet found the same at the same airport within a few weeks. Since you didn’t know Japan, Taiwan, and China are not in the west., “second” means there have been two people. One came before the other, a few weeks apart. A “week” is 7 days. 

No one says the west isn’t corruptible. You said that. But they function and are quite amazing. That’s why you can’t afford to live there.

[dcnx]

2 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

I remember reading this year of a passenger who got all the way to Tokyo with a loaded gun on her.  She got all the way through security screening in Atlanta with nobody noticing, and it only came to prominence because she realised it herself and alerted the crew.  https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/us/delta-passenger-gun.html

Then there was the guy who got arrested on arrival in Haiti with three boxes of guns and ammo in his checked baggage including Uzis which are illegal in the States.  This was last month.  He'd checked in to this international flight in Miami.

And again, both of those examples passed ONE security point, Atlanta and Miami are international hubs. 
 

Tokyo picked up one and Haiti picked up the other, nabbed at the 2nd security. 
 

The guy just arrested would have passed through probably 2 in the US and 1 more in Asia, then another scan entering Thailand. So let’s say 3 - 4 security scans. But it was only caught on the way out and a couple of weeks after they pulled the same stunt with someone else? Is your head really that deep in the sand?

[ThomasThBKK]

12 minutes ago, dcnx said:

And again, both of those examples passed ONE security point, Atlanta and Miami are international hubs. 
 

Tokyo picked up one and Haiti picked up the other, nabbed at the 2nd security. 
 

The guy just arrested would have passed through probably 2 in the US and 1 more in Asia, then another scan entering Thailand. So let’s say 3 - 4 security scans. But it was only caught on the way out and a couple of weeks after they pulled the same stunt with someone else? Is your head really that deep in the sand?

At the same airport that kidnapped a woman last year: https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/least-one-police-officer-involved-kidnapping-chinese-woman-suvarnabhumi-airport/

 

 

there was also airport stuff involved, how hard is it really to believe they planted this.... 

 

Edited December 31, 2019 by ThomasThBKK

[SteveK]

1 hour ago, yogi100 said:

Take a look at the staff who more or less run London's Heathrow. You won't believe it.

Last time I was at Heathrow I was quite surprised to see that every single member of staff appeared to come from the Indian sub-continent.

 

But this is so obviously a scam on the part of the Thais that it just looks like a joke. The guy obviously had no bullets when he arrived, and would not have been able to buy one whilst here. Even if he could buy a bullet, why would he? The whole thing stinks and just serves to show Thailand in an even more negative light to the international community. Well done Thailand.

 

Airport scams, jet ski scams, bill padding, drink spikings, murders, rapes and police extortion - eventually the only people coming to Thailand will be those who didn't have 5 minutes to check the internet first.

Edited December 31, 2019 by SteveK

[josephbloggs]

1 hour ago, dcnx said:

Japan, Taiwan, and China are not western countries for your information. All of them are incredibly strict when it comes to airport security.

 

US airport security is really good when it comes to finding contraband. Flying through multiple US airports increases the odds that it would have been found. Sure, things can skip though, but it’s not slipping through multiple US airports and another first world airport in Asia, only to have the Thais find it. They would have flagged him in Japan or whenever he passed through if he slipped through the US.

 

This is also the SECOND bullet found the same at the same airport within a few weeks. Since you didn’t know Japan, Taiwan, and China are not in the west., “second” means there have been two people. One came before the other, a few weeks apart. A “week” is 7 days. 

 

Quote

And again, both of those examples passed ONE security point, Atlanta and Miami are international hubs. 
 

Tokyo picked up one and Haiti picked up the other, nabbed at the 2nd security. 
 

The guy just arrested would have passed through probably 2 in the US and 1 more in Asia, then another scan entering Thailand. So let’s say 3 - 4 security scans. But it was only caught on the way out and a couple of weeks after they pulled the same stunt with someone else? Is your head really that deep in the sand?

•  

Did you not see the link in the other thread about the lady who came here from America, forgot she had a bullet in her bag, then got caught here?  It was her bullet, she knew it was and admitted it was. It had made it all the way from America and passed all your first world airports.  So yes, it can and does happen.  Only your blind faith in first worldness believes that it couldn't.

And if you read my posts instead of skimming them you will see I said this could be the arrival of the Manila scam.  But as of yet I am not convinced, although I certainly believe it could happen here.  As I said, if this happens to a Brit or an Aussie or someone who doesn't come from a gun culture country then it's clearly a scam.  But this guy comes from Ohio which is one of the most gun happy states in the US.  So, not convinced yet.  You guys need very little to yell "scam" as your prejudices are set up that way to automatically see things here in a negative light, and to always see things in the west in a positive light ("couldn't happen").  I am waiting for evidence of the scam then I'll freely admit it's a scam.  I don't automatically draw conclusions one way or the other.

Now answer me this.  What kind of scam doesn't involve the asking of a bribe to make the trouble go away?  In the article it says they paid bail money and he was released but can't leave the country pending a court appearance.   That, by definition, is legitimate police action, not a scam.  A scam would involve the threat of police action but pay the money and it'll go away - that didn't happen.  So, explain the scam that involves no money changing hands.

 

Quote

No one says the west isn’t corruptible. You said that. But they function and are quite amazing. That’s why you can’t afford to live there.

It really doesn't help your case when you resort to low, baseless, childish insults like that.  You know absolutely nothing about me, my job, my salary, my financial circumstances.  I can afford to live very comfortably wherever I chose -thank you for your patronising rubbish.