How Not to Get Locked Up Abroad
We first heard about Locked up Abroad while travelling in Jamaica. Our travel mates were chatting about all the different ways that clueless tourists manage to get themselves thrown in jail. I couldn’t believe the stories and just had to see this TV series for myself. When we returned home, we caught a few episodes and found them to be very entertaining. It’a amazing to see what people think they can get away with in other countries around the world.
If you aren’t allowed to do it at home, chances are it’s illegal in other parts of the world as well people!
When National Geographic Channel asked us if we wanted to review an episode and give some of our own tips to our readers about “How Not to Get Locked up Abroad” we just had to take part. Besides, I was itching for some English TV and couldn’t wait for them to send me over the link.
The latest episode tells the tale of Dwight Worker, an American who attempts to smuggle cocaine out of Peru and into the US by hiding it in a shoulder cast. He nearly makes it out but is stopped at the Mexican border where he’s thrown into the terrifying Black Prison of Mexico. Life becomes a living hell for Dwight and after surviving a stabbing, a hunger strike and a stint in the psychiatric ward, he concocts an elaborate plan to escape.
Only one other person has ever escaped the Black Prison and that was Pancho Villa.
Will Dwight’s plan succeed? Tune in to National Geographic Channel on Wednesday, May 23, at 10pm ET/PT for Locked Up Abroad: Black Palace of Horrors.
I was on the edge of my seat during this episode. I have to admit in the opening scene, while the real Dwight Worker uttered the words, “I went to Peru to smuggle cocaine” I channeled the movie Jerry McGuire and thought “you had me at cocaine!”
After Watching the Episode while riding a bus in Spain, I decided that I should give my fellow travellers some trip advice. People need to be informed of all the strange laws in those off the beaten path destinations so that they can remain free and happy during their own around the world adventures.
Laws from Around the World
1. Don’t Kill Sasquatch – In British Columbia, Canada it is against the law to kill a Sasquatch. So if you find yourselves out in the woods and sasquatch comes into your camp, you can scream and you can hide, you can have a cup of tea with him, but don’t ever pull a gun on it. Only in Canada eh?
2. Don’t kill a cow in India – Cows are sacred in India and if you kill one, even by accident, you are going to jail. How do you kill a cow by accident you ask? Well, if you hit it with a car, bus or train, you’re in trouble. If you feel sorry for one and decide to feed it some leftover food and it chokes and dies, you’re in big trouble.
3. In Thailand, do not insult the King. I remember an incident where a man peed on the King’s statue and was arrested. Thailand’s King is revered and you will not have a lot of sympathy from anyone if you do something against him. Even the slightest insult could put you in jail.
4. Do Not Buy Alcohol in Sudan. Sudan is a dry country and if you buy alcohol, you’ll end up in jail. Keep your binging at bay and buy some in Ethiopia once you cross the border. Kids will be eagerly waiting for you to sell you a bucket full. They know that travellers can’t stand to be without beer for long.
5. Don’t eat in public during Ramadan in the United Arab Emirates. You may find yourself in the big house. I know that two tourists have seen jail time for doing that exact thing in the past, so don’t do it when you go.
6. Don’t overstay your Visa – especially in Central Asia. When we were driving in the Mongol Rally, a participant landed in jail for overstaying his visa in Tajikistan. This can be a very big no no in many countries and if you don’t pay attention, you could spend quite a while behind bars.
7. Don’t pee in the ocean in Portugal – Flipper doesn’t pee on your lawn, so don’t pee on his or you’ll find yourself having a run in with the law.
8. Don’t smuggle cocaine anywhere – I know it’s totally weird right? I mean, who would have thought that smuggling drugs would land you in jail? Oh, I know the thousands of tourists who are in jail right now for smuggling cocaine.
So the moral of this story is, do your research before you travel, know the laws of the country you visit and if you think that you may be doing something against the law, chances are you are probably right.
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How do they police the no peeing in the ocean??
That is a very good question, you should get yourself to Portugal and test it out for us
I think they have thermal sensors of some sort, if they see in their scanners that the water around you are turning red, means that you are releasing something hot from your body, then you are busted. lol
Ha ha ha! I was thinking the same thing when I read “7. Don’t pee in the ocean in Portugal”. I guess they have cameras watching the facial expressions of tourists or something
Haha, your comment made me laugh out loud. I can just picture the faces of tourists peeing in the water while caught on camera. It’s that old deer stuck in the headlights look as you gaze off trying to look discreet:)
Yeah, I’m totally going to Portugal and breaking the pee law!
Did you know they decriminalized drugs there? So hard drugs won’t get you prison time, but peeing in the ocean might…
Ha! That is awesome. Sometimes we really have our priorities messed up eh?
I love this show! Scares the heck out of me, but I love it nonetheless.
Ha Andi. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. The episodes I’ve seen have been pretty cut and dry. The people made a bad decision and lived to regret it. I do get paranoid whenever I cross a border though. I always feel guilty even though I haven’t done anything wrong.
Very interesting. Though this could be a good place to address some other tourist actions that are more likely than killing a Sasquatch? For example, what about recreational drug use? Littering? I’ve definitely heard those can be a big no no in SEA.
Hi Dave, thanks for the comment. This is a tongue in cheek post, but great points. Drug use and littering are sort of common sense though. Recreational drug use is illegal in most places and if caught can get you in to trouble in most parts of the world. And littering is illegal in most parts of the world too. As I said in the post, if it is illegal in your own country, chances are it’s illegal where you are visiting, so don’t do it.
I had no idea it was illegal to kill Sasquatch in BC. No wonder why the creature is so elusive.
Haha, I know eh. I wonder who made up that rule?
It’s amazing what people will try to get away with when they’re not at home!
I know, we were just talking about that today. It seems that many people leave their brains at home when they travel.
Good list. I would add, do not bring alcohol or chewing gum into Singapore. We were almost forbidden entry at the border when we realized (or they realized) we had a bottle of beer in our luggage we had brought from Malaysia…So ensure you do not buy any duty free cigs, alcohol, gum or other items before landing as it may cost you harshly.
Thanks Martin. I remember when chewing gum was banned too. We’ve been traveling with someone from Singapore at the moment and they assure me that it has been lifted. He has informed me that you can now chew gum in Singapore. Too funny that you can’t buy duty free stuff before you land. I have wondered though about bringing alcohol from one country to another when I’m not a resident. At least now I know I can’t do it in Singapore:)
Dwight was one of my professor at Indiana University! He was also one of my favories. He wrote a book entitled “Escape” and is re-releasing it. I’d highly recommend the book, and he has a million other stories just as crazy as his prison escape! I read the book while I was taking his class, which was a pretty surreal experience. He taught Information Security and I fondly remember him doing things like picking a lock on a computer case (blindfolded) and then hacking into the machine…
Hey Josh, that is amazing! I really enjoyed this episode and his story. It is an absolutely captivating story and I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire show. I am definitely going to look for his book and yes I agree, that must have been the most surreal experience to be taking his class and reading his story. wow!
What? You can’t pee in the ocean?? I bet scuba divers ignore that rule all the time, lol.
We (accidentally!) overstayed our visa in Thailand by more than a month, but (luckily?) we just had to pay a $500+ fine instead of going to jail.
Haha, I think you are right about the scuba divers.
I guess I should hide that Sasquatch I’ve got mounted in the den.
Great post!
Uh-Oh, you’re in trouble now:) Just be sure to hide it whenever the feds come over.
Don’t pee in the ocean in Portugal is hilarious. It is kind of scary the things some people get locked up for while in other countries. Some laws are obvious or easy to find out about, but others seem more obscure.
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That’s information for me. You said it right an informed traveler would be a happy one.
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Don’t kill a cow in Nepal too. Nepal being one of the most visited country of natural scenery, cultural lifestyle and architectural heritage, you might visit one day and Killing Cow is a crime in Nepal, as Cow is a national Animal declared.
Thanks Hemanta, always good to know. When we go back to Nepal, we’ll make sure to stay away from killing this sacred animal.
You would think that this post and the advice within were completely unnecessary, but judging by the number of travelers locked up abroad, maybe we should print it or something like it inside the front cover of every passport. I am so often amazed at the stories I hear of people thinking as a visitor they are above the local laws. Yes, some laws may freely be broken, such as anti-smoking regulations in pretty much any country in Asia, but if the locals aren’t freely ignoring a law, you shouldn’t either.
Well said Daniel. That’s our rule too. If locals can’t do it, neither can we. Cheers.
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Loved your article. Locked up Abroad is one entertaining show, just because it’s so ridiculous. Most people just don’t use common sense.
So true, I can’t believe what people think they can get away with. Especially when they’re traveling. for some reason people leave all their common sense at home.
Here’s an odd one to add. It’s illegal to die in Svalbard! Your family will suffer the consequences if you do.
What! That is by far the whackiest. I’m heading over to look that one up. I do need more information on this one. I wonder what kind of consequences your family suffers?