World of Leion

Today is supposed to be a happy day for me for I am leaving Sydney for home.
However, I have an unknown ordeal awaiting me at the airport. My flight is 1130 in the morning. Me and my colleagues P and CK reached Sydney international airport and checked in our luggage by 1015. The boarding pass stated that we can start boarding at 1030.

We made our way towards the boarding area. Before that, we need to fill up an exit form, which we filled in and made our way to the customs counter. There were many counters open. P and CK went and join 2 queues. I was at the back and saw at the far corner, there was an empty queue. I walked over and handed my passport, together with my boarding pass to the lady.

The lady scanned my passport and waited, and waited and waited for her computer screen to say ok. I think it said not ok and she told me I had to follow her. We went to a room where she asked me to relax and be seated. Staying outside the room, she used a walkie-talkie and asked someone to come over.

3 customs policemen came over and took over. The custom lady left. I was asked to empty my pocket and my bag. They took all my cards, be it credit cards or driving license, all of them. My portable hard disk as well as my DS R4 cartridge, and my 2 mobile phones were not spared. They explained to me that this is an random search. They need to check all my cards and my mobile phone to ensure they are not fake. One of the policemen stayed with me all the while, asking me questions. Not sure if he was just trying to make me feel more at ease or was that part of their investigation. Questions include where I stay in Sydney, why was I there, how long how many times I went Sydne, did I talked to anyone onboard the flight when I was traveling alone to Sydney, do I know a Raymond and many other questions.

At some point, there was a customs police woman who came over I asked her why was I there, she replied everyone on board the plane is searched. They asked for my colleagues’ names. I gave them the names but they never do find them.

I was body searched by a male customs policeman. Before that, one of the policemen asked why do I look tensed. I told him of course! (who wouldn’t be? if they know they are going to be molested) They asked for my phone password and explained to me that they need to copy my phone data. I was thinking why do they need my contacts or my sms messages.

2 men in black (MIB) appeared out of nowhere and asked if I am ok with the body search. I replied ya… Time was running out and I have a plane to catch. I asked if I will be missing my flight. The policeman realised it, finally and decided to get my things back. I checked through and told them my cartridge and my hard disk cable were not returned to me. They insisted that they have returned me everything. I repeated that my things are not fully returned to me at least 2 more times that they return me all my things.

One MIB appeared again and thank me for my cooperation and I FORGOT to ask him WHY was I chosen in the first place. Time was running out and I had to run to the boarding gate. My 2 colleagues were there waiting for me. By then, a few of my other colleagues had known I have trouble coming home. I have quite a few sms asking about it.

Finally I made it to the plane and got home safely. I refuse to believe I look like a terrorist and rather believe that there was someone on the same flight as me when I flew to Sydney in August who is of interest to the police.