Suitcase with drugs: see how to prevent scams on flights – 04/11/2023 – Tourism

The case of the Brazilian women who were arrested in Germany after changing their bags aroused fear in many people who plan to travel abroad by plane.

On March 5, businesswoman Kátyna Baía, 44, and her wife, Jeanne Paolini, 40, were arrested at Frankfurt airport, accused of carrying 40 kg of cocaine in checked luggage. But, according to the Brazilian Federal Police, the suitcase did not belong to the couple.

An investigation found that a gang was exchanging luggage tags at Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo. Criminals removed identification from any bag and put it in another, with drugs. In the last week, the PF arrested six suspected members of the group. The Brazilians spent more than a month in prison, and, this Tuesday (11), a request for their release was made by the German Public Ministry.

To minimize the risk of experiencing the situation, it is worth taking extra care with your bags, especially when traveling internationally. But there’s no need to panic, reinforces delegate Fernanda Herbella, from Deatur (Specialized Tourist Service Police Station). “Baggage is dispatched inside a security area, which is almost always protected by filming, internal circuits and inspections. In this case, there was a failure, but it is something exceptional.”

It is important to be aware of different possibilities of scams related to luggage, such as theft or even the introduction of drugs or other illicit items. “At the airport, the bandits watch people and choose those who are most distracted”, says Marcus Almeida, an airport security specialist, who has already coordinated the area at Galeão airport, in Rio, and at CCR Aeroportos.

Therefore, he says, passengers should not neglect their luggage for even a minute. The recommendation is never to accept help from strangers to carry the bags or to look at them when going to the bathroom, for example. Nor should you, under any circumstances, accept carrying a bag that is not yours.

Another point that can cause problems abroad is the transport of medicines, since some substances can be considered drugs depending on the country. Thus, it is essential to research the restrictions of the destination and always carry the prescription with you, advises Luiz Trigo, professor of the leisure and tourism course at USP (University of São Paulo).

Below, see the main recommendations of the three experts to prevent luggage-related scams and also gather evidence in case it is necessary to present it to the authorities.

Pay attention to the labels
At the time of dispatch, the airline employee labels the luggage and gives the passenger a receipt. This paper contains the identification code, the number of items dispatched and the weight of each one. Therefore, it is essential to keep this document and, if possible, to photograph it.

In the case of Brazilian tourists, one of the evidences that the suitcase with drugs was not theirs was the weight of the luggage registered at check-in: one weighed 16 kg and the other 17 kg, values ​​lower than the 20 kg of cocaine found by the police in each b.

Another tip is to observe whether the number of labels that the airline employee printed at check-in is compatible with the amount of packages being dispatched — and whether all identifications were actually placed on the bags. This is because there have already been situations in which criminals used tags issued too many times to identify luggage with drugs, says Marcus Almeida, who supported a PF operation against this type of crime in Galeão.

Identify and photograph the volumes
Use labels with your data to identify the bag. Outside, the ideal is to hang at least two of them, because one of them can break when handled at the airport. It is also worth putting an identification inside the suitcase, because, in case there is any doubt about who owns it, it can be opened. But there is no need to exaggerate the information: just write the name, surname and telephone number (don’t forget the country code and area code).

Also, try to differentiate your suitcase from the others. Use colored tape, stickers or other visual aids that can be captured by airport cameras. The more different the luggage, the easier it will be to identify that there has been an exchange. Take photos or videos of the bag, preferably at the time it is being checked out.

Protect luggage well
Closing the suitcase with a padlock is mandatory to increase security, but it is not always enough. It is often possible to open the zipper with the help of a pen and then close it again. So, a tip is, in addition to the padlock, to secure the zipper closures with a seal on the luggage handle. This makes it difficult for the zipper to be closed again, inhibiting this type of practice.

There is no foolproof protection, but in general, criminals look for bags that can be broken into faster without anyone seeing. Therefore, it is worth using all kinds of resources to complicate the action of the bandits: protective covers, straps with code or plastic wrapping, for example.

Another option is to insert trackers inside the luggage, whose location is shared with the owner through a smartphone. Apple’s tool, AirTag, costs from R$ 369 on the brand’s website. Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag appears unavailable on the company’s website, but in other online stores it is priced between R$180 and R$350.

When picking up the suitcase from the conveyor belt, if you notice that there is something different with it, check on the spot if any belongings are missing or if any different objects have been introduced. Then report it to the authorities immediately.

Give preference to the hand model
On faster trips, an alternative is not to check the suitcase. Passengers have the right to carry a backpack or bag in the cabin to be stored under the seat in front of them and a carry-on bag of up to 10 kg and within the permitted dimensions (55 cm in height, 35 cm in length and 25 cm in width). .

In this case, it is essential to keep an eye on your belongings at all times, including inside the plane. Carry documents, money and other valuables next to your body or, at most, in the bag that will stay under your feet.

Position your carry-on bag in the overhead bin as close to your seat as possible so you can see if someone opens it. Close the luggage with a padlock and place the zipper side facing the bottom of the compartment. Thus, it will be more difficult for a malicious person to be able to violate it.

And remember: if the cabin compartment is already full, the airline may request, at the time of boarding, that your bag be checked in, at no additional cost. Therefore, always be prepared for this possibility, taking the same precautions when delivering luggage (identify, protect and photograph the volume).