100 year ban??

[Beetofaneediot]

I realize this may be a controversial post, but there isn't much I can do about that.

Must say it is a nice touch having a weed forum, for reasons you will soon see.

Back in my youth, I was a bit of a <deleted>. Now if I'd stayed in my own country,

I could have outgrown this condition, without a heap of extra hassle. In my mid

20s, I was at the tail end of a decently long run of addiction. My tipple, was ye

olde diacetylmorphine, otherwise known as heroin. Anyway, to cut a horribly long

story short, I was busted with a decent amount ganja and a tiny amount of heroin.

I didn't have enough heroin, to actually use, it was basically a few wee bags with 

traces, a used spoon and a handful of used syringes. I probably should have been

an <deleted> and just dumped them somewhere, but I tended to keep them and then

drop them in a hazards bin at the hospital nearby.

 

Anyways, I was caught, keptinside on remand for a couple of months, then found

guilty and fined a bunch. As I'd been inside, rather than on bail, my fine was being

paid off so much every day and it ended up covering the majority of the fine. Once

the case was over, I was delivered to the IDC and after a couple of weeks, I was

deported, then flown home.

 

Since this happened, I have been back to the LOS a bunch of times. It only involved

changing my name and getting a new passport. I haven't been back in a few years

and since the new biometrics and fingerprint gear at airports and land borders(?)

It has me wondering what sort of chance, there would be, that the sirens and red

lights would go off, as my picture or fingerprints would trigger something in the

computer used? I was pinched in the late 90s and the last time I was back, was 5 or

6 years ago.

 

I realize there will be people, who aren't happy with my post and fair dues to them.

There really isn't anything I can say in my defense, though the aforementioned

episode, did contribute to my eventual sobriety in a big way. While I probably

shouldn't be a massive fan of the draconian way Thailand treats, or perhaps treated

folks with drug problems, it really was wonderful coming back, knowing that I really

would have to go out of my way, to find a way to relapse.

 

While I have had a couple of hiccups on my travels since then, I've been able to stay

clean, off the really horrible stuff at least, all the times I've been to Thailand since then.

 

Like allot of people, I was shocked when I learned that weed was being decriminalized.

I do enjoy the odd dodgy cigar, so it would be a blast to be able to have a wee schmoke

over your way, without worrying about getting locked up and deported again.

 

Oh yeah, the reason for my post. Does anyone know, or have an idea how far back

fingerprint records go, in the immigration system? My fingerprints were only ever taken 

in the old fashioned way, but it has me wondering if they could, or would have been

digitized since then? The first couple of times, I went back, was overland from Malaysia,

though since then I have flown in and out of Thailand without any problems (first time

almost gave me a stroke though, as I was about as nervous as I think I've ever been.)

 

So, to sum up, is there anyone, with any actual knowledge, of how far back there are

digitized, fingerprint and/or biometric records, that have been converted from ye olde

paper records? I am considering having a crack at trying an overland crossing, but I'd

be allot happier about the prospect, if being knocked back, meant simply turning around

and going back to Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar or Laos?

 

I have read the odd story about folks in my situation, being nabbed by the fingerprint

biometric machines, but I don't think I've ever read any details about how much time

had gone by between being pinched and deported and then coming back? Also, when

all of this stuff was happening, I kept on hearing about 100 year stamps. Is there actually

a 100 year ban for cases like mine? I wish I'd kept hold of the passport with the stamp in it

but it managed to do a disappearing act on me. I had it kept somewhere I thought was

safe, but when we were last moving house, it up and disappeared on me. I'd have been

happy to scan the stamp and share it on here otherwise.

 

 

 

Apologies to anyone who is offended by my post, or myself, so by all means fire away kids.

It really would be great if I could get some decent opinions on the reason for my post.

 

Cheers, and I hope the new year is treating you well.

[pedro01]

Cliff notes anyone?

[LOWERCASEGUY]

11 hours ago, pedro01 said:

Cliff notes anyone?

Even his “to sum up” is four paragraphs.  

[mikebike]

I cannot say for 100% sure, but it is almost inconceivable that they have gone back years, yet alone decades, and fastidiously started scanning everything. 

[bamnutsak]

Not really cannabis related, so this should probably be moved to a Visa & Imm forum?

 

This topic, exact same circumstances although the criminal acts involved have varied, has come a few times here over the years, and a search would likely yield informative responses.

 

As Cannabis has been decriminalized, and all people in remand, including those caught with tons, have been freed, I'd say the odds of being turned away at arriving immigration are slim. That, along with the new name and passport. I'm inferring that the OP was found guilty on Cannabis possession/distribution charges, and not heroin, but his narrative is quite disjointed. Can the OP share more details? Which crimes were charged? What was the sentence? What were you told when you were deported? Can you share any paperwork you signed?

 

 

[wombat]

On 1/9/2023 at 7:00 AM, bamnutsak said:

Not really cannabis related, so this should probably be moved to a Visa & Imm forum

I agree...SFA to do with weed.

[SuperSilverHaze]

These windups always posters with < 3 posts

[Beetofaneediot]

Apologies for putting this in the weed section of the forum. Posts like this, that are related to drugs, usually aren't welcome in the main section of expat forums. 

 

I was found guilty of use/possess weed and heroin. From memory I was fined around 10,000 baht, but as I'd been on remand, I had earnt just over 7000 in credit and I only had to pay the balance. 

 

No need to move it to the other section of the forum, happy to have it disappear if you like.

[mstevens]

I imagine you will be able to get back in to Thailand, no problem. I simply cannot imagine that they have gone back and digitised the millions of records they have on file of people's fingerprints and liked it to the Immigration computer system.

 

If you're really concerned, fly in to a neighbouring country and try and enter Thailand by land - that way, if you're denied entry you can simply return to and enjoy the neighbouring country and not have to face a long flight back to wherever you just flew in from.

[Dogmatix]

On 1/9/2023 at 6:14 AM, mikebike said:

I cannot say for 100% sure, but it is almost inconceivable that they have gone back years, yet alone decades, and fastidiously started scanning everything. 

I am pretty sure they scanned the fingerprints database. I seem to remember reading about that somewhere.  Just give it a try. I think it is possible to get in. It wasn't an offence that led to imprisonment and he doesn't mention that he was ordered blacklisted by the court.

[Beetofaneediot]

I need to find my old passport, as when I went through immigration on the way out, there was a large stamp, that pretty much filled a whole page. There was a number that looked like a Thai year which I just assumed was 100 years from when I was booted.

 

Also, any idea what happens if you try to enter LOS at a land border, but you get knocked back? Do you just get turned around and go back to the country you were trying to enter from? Obviously if you try to enter through an airport and you're told you're not welcome, you're likely to be locked up until you can make arrangement to go back home. However, isn't it an offence to try and come back to Thailand if you are on a ban? I seem to remember reading about some people who were caught out in some sort of Immigration sweep, though I can't remember the specifics. I do remember that some, if not all had been banned quite recently, so it would make sense if they were caught out by fingerprint records?

[QballQ]

On 1/9/2023 at 6:14 AM, mikebike said:

I cannot say for 100% sure, but it is almost inconceivable that they have gone back years, yet alone decades, and fastidiously started scanning everything. 

Those inactve posts all these policemen get moved must need to have something to do. Which could well be scanning old documents.

[BritManToo]

On 1/8/2023 at 5:04 PM, Beetofaneediot said:

the new biometrics and fingerprint gear at airports and land borders(?)

It has me wondering what sort of chance, there would be, that the sirens and red

lights would go off, as my picture or fingerprints would trigger something in the

computer used? I was pinched in the late 90s and the last time I was back, was 5 or

6 years ago.

The biometrics only compare the name in your current passport with your fingerprints for that passport. There is no other search, it's just to stop different people using the one passport.

 

It can't find any details used in a previous passport in a different name.

It doesn't search a national fingerprint database.

[Pouatchee]

Had enough after 1 paragraph. Sorry I might have missed this, but where do you actually clearly mention that you were arrested in Thailand. If you want approval you're in the wrong place. One question: You got in serious trouble here, so why want to come back and be tempted again? 

 

You sound like trouble to me even if you try to discuss your situation with velvet gloves.

[proton]

Mai pen rai, even a govt minister did time for heroin smuggling ????

[FritsSikkink]

14 hours ago, BritManToo said:

The biometrics only compare the name in your current passport with your fingerprints for that passport. There is no other search, it's just to stop different people using the one passport.

 

No,it is used to find people changing their name and get a new passport.

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

No,it is used to find people changing their name and get a new passport.

Total rubbish.

The FBI and the London Met take at least 2hrs for a fingerprint search using the latest technology if the search is their No.1 priority (normal non-urgent search results are 2-3 days). Yet you believe the Thai Immigration services using a pirate version of windows 3.1 on an old PC can do it in seconds.

[FritsSikkink]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Total rubbish.

The FBI and the London Met take at least 2hrs for a fingerprint search using the latest technology if the search is their No.1 priority (normal non-urgent search results are 2-3 days). Yet you believe the Thai Immigration services using a pirate version of windows 3.1 on an old PC can do it in seconds.

You have no clue about what IT immigration is using and are completely ignoring that people already have been caught this way.

[BritManToo]

22 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

You have no clue about what IT immigration is using and are completely ignoring that people already have been caught this way.

They buy metal detectors that don't detect, submarines without engines, aircraft carriers without aircraft.

And yet, you expect them to have fingerprint computers better than the FBI and the London Met.

 

[FritsSikkink]

28 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

They buy metal detectors that don't detect, submarines without engines, aircraft carriers without aircraft.

And yet, you expect them to have fingerprint computers better than the FBI and the London Met.

 

Did it ever cross your mind that countries use the same software for certain functionalities and that they don't reinvent the wheel all the time?

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, FritsSikkink said:

Did it ever cross your mind that countries use the same software for certain functionalities and that they don't reinvent the wheel all the time?

You're completely right as always.

[rabas]

Some info on fingerprints and databases.

 

Putting fingerprints into computers goes way back and is trivial. They manually mark each point where a raised ridge stops or bifurcates. That produces pairs of numbers like (88, 102) that are used to search. I would assume Thailand has had computerized fingerprints all along.

 

The time to find a print with a computer depends on database size. If Thailand is only looking for people who have been banned in the past it would be instantaneous (on an old PC).

 

The fastest current search methods using an Intel CPU exceeds 1 billion prints per second.

 

I would not assume Thailand can't easily find prints from the 1990s especially for a small important group of people.

[Boomer6969]

On 1/8/2023 at 5:04 PM, Beetofaneediot said:

Apologies to anyone who is offended by my post, or myself, so by all means fire away kids.

Dunno if I am offended but, I just hope they'll catch you. 

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, rabas said:

I would not assume Thailand can't easily find prints from the 1990s especially for a small important group of people.

I always assume Thailand couldn't find it's own bum using both hands and a mirror.

But I'm probably wrong. 

 

One of my pals was a heroin/gold smuggler in the 1990s.

Got caught and spent a year in the Bangkok Hilton.

Deported back to the UK where he got a new passport, then flew right back here.

[GroveHillWanderer]

On 1/14/2023 at 2:50 AM, Beetofaneediot said:

I need to find my old passport, as when I went through immigration on the way out, there was a large stamp, that pretty much filled a whole page. There was a number that looked like a Thai year which I just assumed was 100 years from when I was booted.

If you do find it, post a picture of the stamp on here. There are people who can translate it and tell you exactly what it says.

[NextG]

On 2/20/2023 at 11:14 AM, Boomer6969 said:

Dunno if I am offended but, I just hope they'll catch you. 

Why? Have you not ever made a mistake in your life that didn’t hurt anyone else? If so, would you be happy to be punished for that (relatively minor) mistake for the rest of your life?

What makes you so hateful?

[Boomer6969]

4 minutes ago, NextG said:

Why? Have you not ever made a mistake in your life that didn’t hurt anyone else? If so, would you be happy to be punished for that (relatively minor) mistake for the rest of your life?

What makes you so hateful?

Hateful? I am only saying that Thailand doesn't need to import drug addicts. If the "imports" get caught Thai law  must be applied to it's dullest extent. What's wrong with that?

[NextG]

1 minute ago, Boomer6969 said:

Hateful? I am only saying that Thailand doesn't need to import drug addicts. If the "imports" get caught Thai law  must be applied to it's dullest extent. What's wrong with that?

Where does it state that he is a drug addict? Seems you are whipping yourself up into a froth over nothing. 
He served his punishment. Your behaviour is akin to stating that anyone who drinks alcohol does only that all day. 
What if he has skills useful to society?

Save your hopes for something good.