Are you bringing a plastic bag? World customs, where you may unexpectedly find yourself a criminal

We had two bags of coffee, 75 chewing gums, 5 top-end smartphones, a mountain of plastic bags of all colors and several replica Swiss watches. The only thing that bothered me was the sand. There is no more immoral person than the one who carries sand with him

All sensible people know that it is better not to go to customs with weapons and drugs. Many countries have restrictions on the transport of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, animals, and antiques. There are also quite extravagant, one might even say, unique prohibitions. Let's talk about them.

A prison term of two to eight years, as well as a fine of up to 10 thousand euros in addition - such a harvest can be reaped if, upon entering Switzerland, replica Swiss watches are found in your bag. Formally, the law adopted in 2008 provides for liability for the import of even one copy, but border guards, of course, are unlikely to look at every wrist. But if they find a whole batch... This was done so that the good name of Swiss brands remains good.

Kenya, the most popular African country among tourists, cares for a healthy environmental situation. A few months ago, local authorities introduced a law under which importers of plastic bags could face a fine of up to $38,000 or four years behind bars. Whether such punishment threatens mere mortals who came for a safari and wrapped something in bags is not really explained. But formally, the police have the right to detain anyone for this violation.

With Kenya it’s clear: bags take God knows how many years to decompose and pollute the environment. But why Jamaican legislators decided to establish a moratorium on the import of coffee is unclear. After all, coffee is the country’s national pride; Jamaicans drink it from morning to evening. Who will buy foreign coffee if they have their own, cheaper and at the same time very high quality? However, the fact remains: you should not fly to Jamaica with coffee beans in your luggage.

Singapore has more prohibitions than square kilometers. The calling card of local customs is fines of up to S$100,000 for guests found in possession of chewing gum. They are ready to make an exception only if you manage to prove the medical necessity of the gum (for example, some people are treated with it for nicotine addiction and have a corresponding certificate from a doctor).

Australians guard their national identity even more zealously than Kenyans. Without special permission, it is prohibited to bring meat, seeds, fresh fruits and vegetables, raw fish, dairy products, and eggs to the Green Continent. And also earth and sand. So, Australian soil must remain Australian. Those who disagree pay between AU$250 and AU$1,800.

Contrary to popular belief, almost anyone can come to the DPRK. To do this, you need to contact a North Korean travel agency. By the way, a branch has opened in Russia. True, a guide will hang around with you all the time and make sure that you only go where you’re supposed to. And your phone and other gadgets will have to be declared at customs (not so long ago they were left at the airport for storage). If law enforcement agencies (including the guide) notice a violation, deportation is guaranteed.