Friday, January 6, 2012

Federali Checkpoint

When we pulled out of a toll booth yesterday there was a Federal Police checkpoint set up. There were a dozen or so heavily armed police waving most vehicles through as they exited the toll booth. When he saw us, he waved me over to the side. He walked up to the window, greeted me in Spanish and shook my hand. He was very polite as he asked for our documentation. I handed him our passports and he checked the photos and entry stamps very carefully.

He then politely asked if he would be permitted to look inside. I said "Si, no problema" and Norma opened the side door. He cleaned his boots and came in. First he stomped heavily on the floor in a couple of places and then he hit the ceiling hard with his fist listening for hollow sounds. Satisfied he thanked us, shook our hands again and told us we were free to go.

He was very professional and very thorough. We were very near the State border of Veracruz where they are having a lot of drug cartel activity as one cartel tries to take the area from another. There was a recent case where an American couple had their motorhome tip over on a flat section of highway. When police investigated, they found two metric tonnes of drugs in a false ceiling in the motorhome. We have these idiots to thank for the extra attention us RVers are getting! Anyway, it is no problem and we enjoy meeting the young men and women who work so hard to keep us safe in Mexico.

6 comments:

  1. We were checked like that last winter. I have to say I am impressed that he cleaned his boots.

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  2. Same for us, as I posted the other day, they stopped us just to ask us about where to get a used awning for the commandante's motorhome. :)

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  3. I don't really like the idea of the bad guys using a motor home. That then sets us up not only for increased scrutiny from the police (which isn't bad), but also could draw attention from a rival gang if there is one in the area. Then again, it may help provide indirect value when considering risks from petty criminals.

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  4. Does it bother you that there are so fecking many reports of dumbarse Canadians bumbling witlessly about latin america? That so many idiotic clueless Canucks constantly and without exception prove to be utter morons when they leave Canada? Invariably the problem for people from the United States of America is that Mexicans and Mexican authorities don't distinguish between Americans and Canadians, and bumbling stupid Canadians are the biggest problem. Obviously you are aware of this you Canadian dimwit.

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  5. Don't you just love those "Anonymous" comments? (;

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  6. No worries about the Anonymous just shows their IQ :-)

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