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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Taking white powder through customs

27 replies

DuelingFanjo · 11/04/2015 00:32

We have been asked to take arrowroot over with u when we go on holiday to Spain.

It's arrived from the internet as a white powder in a clear tub. Aibu to wonder if this may get us into some trouble / cause delays?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 11/04/2015 00:35

Can't you buy some from the Chemist?

Admittedly I haven't bought any for about 20 years but it was a little box that was clearly labelled.

Original poster
DuelingFanjo · 11/04/2015 00:37

DH has bought it already. I think it's for cooking?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 11/04/2015 00:39

Oh, I've only ever known it to stop kids having the shits Blush

Patapouf · 11/04/2015 01:01

They'll probably take it away and test a sample at security, might delay you a bit. Email the airline to check.

MrsTerryPratchett · 11/04/2015 01:11

I wouldn't. I once stopped some poor bugger bringing brown powder from Fiji to LA. He had been convinced that a mind-altering substance (kava) in an unmarked bag would cause him no problems.

Jenny70 · 11/04/2015 01:34

If it's packed in hold luggage, I doubt it will raise any problems... won't show up on xray as suspicious and won't have trace drugs test or sniffer dogs interested either.

Not sure that UK to Spain is a major drug route, so overall just pack it in hold and I wouldn't think you'll have any problems at all.

IggyStrop · 11/04/2015 01:47

It should be fine. I travel with all sorts of white powdery substances that I can't get where I live as I am a keen baker. Cream of tartar, cornflour being two. sniffer dogs ignore me.

IggyStrop · 11/04/2015 01:48

I've also travelled with dried kava!

MrsTerryPratchett · 11/04/2015 01:52

How funny. You obviously look innocent!

IggyStrop · 11/04/2015 02:02

It was packaged as a tourist novelty thing, I think it was probably legit.

maras2 · 11/04/2015 03:22

Anyone who takes unidentified white powder through customs deserves all the grief that they get.Don't be so bloody silly.

AggressiveBunting · 11/04/2015 04:01

My friend brought a wrapped gift back from Thailand on behalf of a friend. It was opened at UK customs and it was a decorated box jammed full of plastic straws of white powder. He literally (and yes I'm using literally correctly here) shat himself , thinking his friend had stitched him up. It was actually sugar, which is a traditional Thai gift for a specific occasion. So, to paraphrase Shawshank "Duelling, do you trust your friend?"

AggressiveBunting · 11/04/2015 04:03

Sorry- misread OP- I thought the friend had had it delivered to your house direct rather than your DH buying it.

sashh · 11/04/2015 05:13

How about contacting customs and asking? I know that's a novel idea but they would probably prefer to help rather than stopping you.

DrankSangriaInThePark · 11/04/2015 06:06

I also frequently travel with baking powder etc.

You're probably not going to be stopped anyway, it's not coke, so I really wouldn't overthink here.

Coyoacan · 11/04/2015 06:52

I thought people just rubbed a bit on their gums to find out or have I been watching to much telly?

Mistigri · 11/04/2015 07:33

Fine in hold luggage. In an unmarked container I probably wouldn't put it in hand luggage - would most likely be fine as it's not going to look suspicious on x-ray but if you did get searched it could cause delays. If you're going to carry it in hand luggage then buy a sealed tub from the supermarket which says what it is!

rachyconks · 11/04/2015 07:35

It's a thickening agent like cornflour.

You can by it in the supermarket in the baking aisle.

Put it in your hold luggage and it will be fine.

Aussiemum78 · 11/04/2015 07:36

I travelled with powdered kava too, wrapped in paper. Looked like a brick of heroin!

I thought customs would check it, but I said I've got a kg of kava, and he went ok, go through....

Aridane · 11/04/2015 07:37

Hold luggage should be fine

Original poster
DuelingFanjo · 11/04/2015 10:53

Thanks for the responses, even the strange rude ones.

Closer inspection shows it is labeled.
I don't want to be delayed at 11pm with a four year old. That's all.

DH has decided to send it over in the post.

OP posts:
Feelingworriednow · 11/04/2015 11:17

Well just because it is labelled doent mean they won't stop you. My 75yo DM had to have her baby powder tested which meant we were quite close to missing the plane! It was in a well known branded container with all labels etc. When I asked her what on earth was she doing with it in her hand luggage, she said she liked to be "fresh" on a long flight! I have to frisk her hand luggage now!

Dr0pThePirate · 11/04/2015 11:26

Anyone who takes unidentified white powder through customs deserves all the grief that they get Shock Grin

Yeah OP you'll get whats coming to you! How dare you recklessly carry thickening agents within the EU?!?

I was once stopped with a paperweight in my hand luggage that was wrapped as a present for my friend. It was a pink glass diamond thing about the size of my fist. Horrible but she liked that sort of thing. The look on the security mans face when it showed up on the luggage x-ray was priceless! He made me open it and swabbed it for drugs! Maybe he thought I was an international jewel thief (flying Bristol to Glasgow). He colleague came over and exclaimed "Bloody hell! It's the Pink Panther" before laughing and handing it back to me.

Probably best to send it in the post OP Smile

Marmitelover55 · 11/04/2015 11:35

I have to carry bicarbonate of soda with me when I go away. It's in a small unmarked pot and I've never had any problems with it in the hold or hand luggage.

elementofsurprise · 11/04/2015 11:38

Wasn't there something like this on the Bangkok Airprot documentary? (aka "Why Idiots Shoudn't Travel" :D)
There was a guy with a load of flour, they x-rayed it to check. Apparently organic substances show up a different colour from processed drugs...