We as humans have a tendency to jump to conclusions when we do not have all the facts. Let me try and explain the DEA'S (Drug Enforcement Agency) policy on drug smuglers on board our trains. This had nothing to do with race. Anytime a passenger, no matter if they are white, brown, or black purchase a ticket at the last moment with cash to make a long trip on board any of our trains it throws up a red flag to the DEA. This is how all of the drug smuglers buy their tickets because they never know exactly when the drugs are coming across the border. When they have the drugs in their possesion they want to get on the train immeadately and get them to there destination. The drug bosses give the smugler's cash and say GO. You will never see a smugler purchase a ticket with a credit card. It's traceable. Fake ID's are used when paying with cash. They usely want to buy a sleeper so they can keep a close eye on their goods. The sleepers are expensive but they still pay with cash money. How many people do you know who decide at the last minute to jump on a train from the Bay Area headed for Chicago with $3000 cash in their pocket. Our ticket agents are trained to RED FLAG any passengers who do buy last minute tickets with cash and are paying from $1000 to $1500 for the ticket. Let me ask you a question. Do you carry that much cash with you on your trips? Much less pay for your ticket with cash. This is how the DEA catches a lot of smuglers. I have witnessed it myself in the bust of 5 pounds of cocaine, 5 pounds of methanphedamine, and 2 1/2 pounds of pot. The gentleman being a Doctor was apparently legit. Sometimes they are OK but I can promise you that 95% of the time they are carrying durgs. I'm sure the DEA were so sure these two guys were carrying that they thought they had good reason to search them again in Omaha thinking they must have missed it the first time.

Thanks for the explanations. The cash-payment "flag" is interesting. On airlines, even if you use a credit card, a last minuite-one way trip will raise a flag.

I don't know if you would call this lucky or not, but for two years in a row now, the sleeper I was traveling in had a drug offender. In Albuquerque (ABQ), the DEA gets on and searches the alleged offenders room and luggage. It seems that there might even be plain clothes DEA offices on the train that snoop out any offender and take them off at ABQ. It is interesting when the DEA searches the offender. One time a K9 was used!

I agree that the DEA should get the offenders, but it always seems they take too long doing it, hurting the schedule of the Chief. And if you leave ABQ late, the whole remaining westbound journey might as well be late. It seems there are no really good places, other than Williams, near Barstow, and after Fullerton where the train can make up time.

[This message has been edited by Southwest Chief (edited 02-18-2004).]

It's not because I'm a minority. Indeed, I'm your average white boy, born and bred in the Windy City. I'm crazy about the Chicago Cubs but I can hold my own in an artsy-fartsy conversation, as well.

The point is, despite my lilly-white, middle class roots, I seem to get hassled as much, if not more, than the next person. I don't pay cash for my tickets, I don't buy one-way tickets, I probably don't meet much in the way of a profile.

Yet despite that, from the moment I became a college student to the present day, I seem to arouse the suspicion of every uniformed person who crosses my path.

I'm not complaining, mind you. Some of my best friends wear uniforms in one capacity or another. Nevertheless, I am constantly interrogated, searched and my luggage is thoroughly examined.

As I said, I'm not complaining in the least bit. If nothing else, such experiences have taught me to travel light and to be polite.

The point is, in this day and age, we are all potential suspects. The more mainstream we may look, the more suspicions we most likely evoke.

I'm tired of listening to people bitch and moan about security checks. If you've got nothing to hide, you won't have a problem.

I'm not a lawyer, but my understanding of the law is that *when you're on the road* (or the rails), you don't have much in the way of rights when it comes to being searched.

[This message has been edited by traveler (edited 02-21-2004).]