By telling us your country of residence we are able to provide you with the most relevant travel insurance information.
Please note that not all content is translated or available to residents of all countries. Contact us for full details.
Shares
It was December 2010 and I had concluded my postgraduate studies in Aberdeen, Scotland and was hoping to secure a job back home in Nigeria before I moved back. On the 19th, my father called to informed me that I was scheduled for an interview in Nigeria on the 22nd. I then quickly bought the only ticket I could find which cost over £2,000 which my father paid for (God rest his soul). I arrived Nigeria uneventfully on the 21st, attended the interview on the 22nd and got ready to return to the UK on the 23rd. Ordinarily, I would have been happy to spend the 25th in Nigeria but I had left my sister at my flat in Aberdeen and did not want her alone at Christmas. I then set out for the UK, conscious of the 15 hour wait I was going to endure at Amsterdam before proceeding to Aberdeen. At Amsterdam, I slept for some hours in a little room I paid for at the airport and thereafter joined the check in line. I then noticed that my stomach felt mildly funny. By the time the flight took off, the pains had intensified. Before the plane touched down in Aberdeen, I had vomited at least 10 times. I was then dramatically taken to the hospital in an ambulance right from the airport. At the hospital I was given medication and after what seemed like an eternity I started to feel better. It was only then that I noticed that a police officer had strolled past my room door several times. Even when he entered my room and asked if I was feeling better, I thought nothing of his questions until he asked why my trip to Nigeria was so short and why I had over £4000 in my handbag. I wondered how he knew this since I thought my bag had never left my side right from the aircraft. I then gave him a summary of the reason for my trip and mentioned that the money was pocket money from my dad for my sister and I. Even at this point I had no clue about the motive behind his questions. It was only after I had had a stomach scan done (which I thought was the hospital's way of making sure I was really fine) that he told me that based on the strangeness of my short trip to Nigeria (at Christmas time) and my symptoms, I had been suspected of being a 'drug mule'. I laughed out loud and was too shocked to be offended. He further explained that there were certain persons who make short trips like mine in a bid to have illegal drugs put in them before returning to their final destinations. According to him, sometimes the drugs burst in the stomachs of the carriers which could lead to the symptoms I had on the flight and that the scan was done to ensure my wellbeing and to also dispel the suspicion that I was carrying drugs. He then apologised for any inconvenience caused, wished me well and and further shocked me by saying I could pick up my passport from the airport whenever I was ready. I still wonder at what point my bag was searched and my passport taken during the entire episode. I also wonder whether it was the food I ate at a certain restaurant in Nigeria, on the flight from Nigeria to Amsterdam or at Amsterdam airport that caused the stomach discomfort (or would I say food poisoning) or whether it was the combination. I was eventually discharged after ensuring that the pains were truly gone and had a lovely Christmas celebration with my sister. I also later picked up my passport. On an additional positive note, I was also successful at the job interview. There is no time however that the name of the airline crops up that I do not recall the above experience. Interestingly, it was my first time flying with them and although I have made a couple of trips outside Nigeria since then, I have not used them again. Intentional or not, I cannot say and will let you be the judge.