HOW TO AVOID LEGAL DIFFICULTIES
When you are in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws and
are under its protection - not the protection of the U.S. Constitution.
You can be arrested overseas for actions that may be either legal
or considered minor infractions in the United States. Be aware of
what is considered criminal in the country where you are. Consular
Information Sheets include information on unusual patterns of arrests
in various countries when appropriate.
Some of the offenses for which U.S. citizens have been arrested
abroad are:
Drug Violations. More than 1/3 of U.S. citizens incarcerated abroad
are held on drug charges. Some countries do not distinguish between
possession and trafficking; many have mandatory sentences - even
for a small amount of marijuana or cocaine. Although we know of
no U.S. citizens who have been arrested abroad for prescription
drugs purchased in the United States for personal use and carried
in original labeled containers, a number of Americans have been
arrested for possessing prescription drugs, particularly tranquilizers
and amphetamines, that they purchased legally in certain Asian countries
and took to some countries in the Middle East where they are illegal.
Other U.S. citizens have been arrested for purchasing prescription
drugs abroad in quantities that local authorities suspected were
for commercial use. If in doubt about foreign drug laws, ask local
authorities or the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Possession of Firearms. The places where U.S. citizens most often
come into difficulties for illegal possession of firearms are nearby
- Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean. Sentences for possession of
firearms in Mexico can be up to 30 years. In general, firearms,
even those legally registered in the U.S., cannot be brought into
a country unless a permit is first obtained from the embassy or
a consulate of that country. (Note: If you take firearms or ammunition
to another country, you cannot bring them back into the U.S. unless
you register them with U.S. Customs before you leave the U.S.)
Photography. In many countries you can be harassed or detained
for photographing such things as police and military installations,
government buildings, border areas, and transportation facilities.
If in doubt, ask permission before taking photographs.
Purchasing Antiques. Americans have been arrested for purchasing
souvenirs that were, or looked like, antiques and which local customs
authorities believed were national treasures. Some of the countries
where this has happened were Turkey, Egypt, and Mexico. In countries
where antiques are important, document your purchases as reproductions
if that is the case, or if they are authentic, secure the necessary
export permit (usually from the national museum).
Copyright 2005 by Cardinal Points
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