Border Crossing??

[shard]

Has anyone crossed the border lately? Recently some friends and I walked to Tiajana. On our return, we encountered some newly implimented security (increased personnel, id checks for everyone) -- including metal detectors. We were surprised by this, not having been to Mexico since before 9/11. My friend was carrying a Spyderco (Calipso i think -- perfectly legal in Cali) which he was afraid would be lost. He put it through the x-ray machine in the tray with his change. It wasn't taken, he wasn't even asked about it... Good. However, now i am left with some questions. Was the x-ray attendant just sleeping on the job? What are they checking for with these metal detectors? Could my friend have had his knife confiscated? What are the rules for returning to the US with a knife (or any weapon?)

 

[SIFU1A]

dont know about tiajuana BUT knives (even pen knives, SAK, etc) are illegal in nuevo laredo and all of the mex border towns along the tx border - i have seen news reports of US citizens arrested in mex for small knives - i would not/do not carry knives into mex

that said i have been to nuevo laredo about 6 times since 9/11 (went the following saturday, one of my old buds lives there, recently had a son, and i visit often, and usually go get liquor/cigs when i visit) and although they do check for ID's in some sort of database, they dont have metal detectors - for a few wks they did have customs officers in cammies/web gear/w/CAR15 rifles watching people southbound into mex, looking for people of middle eastern descent i would think, but the last few times they have not had anyone watching southbound - i dont have a clue why they would be having you walk thru a metal detector, maybe it was a radiation detector??

i think ya have to declarea gun/ammo, but i know of no rule stating ya have to w/a knife


sifu

 

[Mike Hull]

Both folders and fixed blade knives are illegal in Mexico, including Baja. They certainly dont enforce it on their own citizens, plus you see all kinds of knives being sold,which leads me to believe that it is only enforced on tourists as a means of leveraging more bribery if the situation/opportunity presents itself. Be very careful down there.BTW, any firearm or even a loose .22LR round forgotten in your glove box, if found by Mexican authorities will guarantee that you are never seen again by your loved ones here.

 

[Scott Dog]

I went to T.J. this past weekend and I am aware of the metal detectors and such. I leave my Sebenza in the car to minimize hassle. However, I believe that the detectors are manned by U. S. Customs agents and I see no reason that they would confiscate your knives as long as they are not switchblades. I think that relatively small folders are low on the priority list of things that they are looking for. They will run your divers license number to see if you have any warrants outstanding. But to play it safe I leave my Sebenza and my micra in the car. I have found the border people to be quite friendly.

 

[mtnbkr]

When my wife and I went to Mexico (Playa del Carmen) for our honeymoon this summer (late august), I carried a small SAK onto the plane, through Mex customs, around Mexico, back onto the plane, and through US Customs. Nobody paid any attention to it. I used it once or twice in plain site.

Chris

 

[bgenlvtex]

Looks to me like going to Mexico (or anywhere else for that matter) without a blade would be like going to the glass factory without shoes,........just another reason to stay in the United States of Texas.

 

[SIFU1A]

again, i would not carry them into mex, i used to w/no probs BUT have been told by people who live there dont - it is a tourist thing for sure - ya might run into a mex cop who has rent due, or a coke prob, needs $$, and if HE sees the knife, he is gonna extort you for every penny ya have on ya believe me - BUT $$ cures all in mex, ya can really do as ya please w/enuff of it - ie - drug dealers w/AKM rifles, they dont seem to have a prob - best rule for mex imho? any prob can be solved w/enuff $$ thrown at it i honestly think ya can (and people do) get away w/murder there, people need to remember it is another country,w/much diff laws and culture, i see many people who treat it like a large theme park, which it certainly is not - i would not worry about clearing customs w/knives as long as not autos, i wonder what they are checking for, nothing like that here on the tx border - one of my buds bro in laws is USBP in the tx valley, i will ask him, if its not top secret that is lol

sifu

PS - as far as safety in mex, i feel safer there than many places in US, tourism is big biz for them, and they dont like it when someone robs/assaults/rapes etc an american tourist (of course unless the robber/rapist/extortionist is w/the mex PD lol)i go down there all the time, never a prob, never seen a prob, unless drugs involved anyway...........