'Are you carrying any human body parts?' The strangest questions travellers have been asked when crossing a border revealed

  •  Thousands of travellers took to a forum to share their border experiences
  •  A cyclist in Finland was discouraged from going to 'dangerous Russia'
  •  A professional violinist had to play a song to prove she was really a musician

Whether you’re travelling by plane, car or even bicycle, crossing an international border can be a harrowing experience.

Border agents may deliberately level bizarre and inane questions at you, just to ensure that you are passing through legitimately.

As such, thousands of travellers have taken to an online forum to reveal the strangest questions they have been asked at a country’s border, including whether they’re a secret agent, can play a song and or have any human body parts hidden in their luggage. Read on for some of the highlights.

It is apparently common for holidaymakers to the Soloman Islands to steal skulls and human body parts from traditional burial sites, reported one Quora user after he was questioned at the border over the contents of his case

It is apparently common for holidaymakers to the Soloman Islands to steal skulls and human body parts from traditional burial sites, reported one Quora user after he was questioned at the border over the contents of his case

Are you carrying a bomb or human body parts?

Answering the Quora post, entrepreneur and amateur historian Bryan Cockel shared that he was leaving the Soloman Islands when he was confronted with a question of whether he had stashed any explosives as souvenirs.

He explained: ‘Live ordnance is still all over the place in the Solomons and more than one yahoo has picked up unexploded mortar rounds, cannon shells, even land mines as "souvenirs", trying to stash these now highly unstable explosives in their luggage in an apparent attempt to self-remove themselves from the gene pool.’

He added that it is apparently also common for holidaymakers to steal skulls and human body parts from traditional burial sites on the island and so it is a question you may be asked when departing the destination.

Are you a spy?

An Anglican priest who said he works with victims of child trafficking in eastern Europe explained how his religious outfit and extensive travels baffled a Kiev airport immigration agent who didn’t seem to believe his vocation.

Bill Haymaker claimed that firstly an immigration official held up his British passport and asked him if he was American before looking through every single page of the document.

He shared: ‘She now demanded “Show me guns!” And I responded quickly this time. “No guns!” I retorted. And I added “Priest,” pointing to my collar.

‘The woman half laughed, half sneered at me. Again, she thumbed through my passport. She looked up at me and with pointed eyes, half whispering, half demanding with emphasis asked “CIA?”'

She then proceeded to ask whether he was an MI6 agent or from the Security Service of Moldova.

After much frustration he told her he was 'OAF - Old and Fat' which he reported seemed to do the trick and she eventually let him in. 

What are you hiding with those air fresheners?

While travelling across the US-Canadian border with her roommate, Thang Tran encountered a border control officer who was concerned by how many car fresheners hung under the car’s rear view mirror.

She said: ‘The officer was suspecting that we were hiding marijuana in the car. I'm not sure about other countries but in the US, a lot of car fresheners have a tree-like shape. My roommate has never removed any one of them over the past three years and the result is that he has a forest of tree fresheners there.’

They had to wait for almost four hours in -34 °C before being agents confirmed they were not carrying anything illegal in the car and let them in.

Can you play us a song?

A border patrol agent told one traveller she'd have to serenade them with a song for them to believe she was a real musician

A border patrol agent told one traveller she'd have to serenade them with a song for them to believe she was a real musician

A professional violist was travelling on an orchestra tour through Europe by bus.

While crossing into Serbia, Smilyana Lozanova revealed she had to wait for half an hour while officials investigated their bus. 

The orchestra were told to 'get up and open their instruments.' 

She explained: 'The border patrols said they'd let us go only after they get a serenade. That way they'll know for sure we are real musicians.’

The musician said they had to improvise a Serbian tune but the border patrol team let them through. 

Do you want to be my friend?

Luke Nathaniel Sims claimed that when he was travelling through Bangladesh with his wife a border official asked for his number. 

He then repeatedly called him for weeks inviting him out in the hopes that they could become friends.

Are you really sure you want to go to Russia?

A cyclist in Finland was discouraged by the border agent from going to 'dangerous Russia'

A cyclist in Finland was discouraged by the border agent from going to 'dangerous Russia'

Phil Dundas who has travelled through 70 countries by bicycle shared an amusing incident at a Finnish border as he tried to depart the country for Russia.

The official said: ‘Are you sure you really wish to do this? Finland is a very nice place … why don't you stay here and ride your bicycle around here instead?’

After explaining he wanted to cycle around Russia and Albania, the agent reportedly called Mr Dundas ‘crazy’ claiming that Russia is a ‘very bad place with lots of dangerous people.’

The agent pleaded with him that he ‘may not survive’ his planned trip.

After asking him several times if he really wanted to go, the agent eventually capitulated, shaking his head. 

He said: ‘Maybe I will read about you in the news.’

 

 

 

 

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