Are there any serving, or recently retired military personnel on this site?

Question

I am writing a University report on how antiquities are often smuggled back from warzones for profitable and illegal sale in allied countries (by fleeing refugees rather than service-people, I add hastily).

As a postscript, however, I would like to write about how easy it would be for a soldier /sailor/ aircrew to do the same; when you come home from active service, how hard would it be to smuggle back a small artefact (tennis ball size), or even something threatening like a plundered hand gun or camcorder?

I know lots of WW2 troops brough back 'souvenirs' like Lugers and kettle-top helmets and wondered if this would still be possible today, or is base security too high- what is the basic procedure for tropps returning home?

Note I am interested in the practised security, NOT what is written in the book (if the two differ). Thanks for any help.

I am sorry if have cause offence to anybody here, it is a genuine question for an assignment.

Thanks!

Answer 1

When I left Iraq to return home on leave and when I left Iraq when my tour ended, the customs inspections were _very_ through.

It would be very difficult and risky to try to smuggle contraband out of Iraq - and if caught the penalties are very harsh.

Answer 2

You will have a difficult time having anyone answer this question.
In recent times, a majority of troops are shuttled by commercial aircraft which charter their services. The same security measures are in effect as with regular passengers. The only other way to send something would be UPS, FedX, US Postal, etc. and they are subject to search and review.
In my time, we were shipped on C130 transport planes, and mostly searched for drugs coming back, but a lot of contraband was discovered as well. Surprisingly, I knew several soldiers who mailed some heavy drugs (heroin, LSD, etc.) by regular mail and it got to their home untouched.
I would like to insert that I was NOT one of them- never did drugs then nor ever.
I would suspect that a private contractor over there who has access to private charters or corporate jets would be able to smuggle out all kinds of contraband though. There are a lot of pieces missing from the Iraqi National Museum.
Hope this helps you some.

Answer 3

To the best of my knowledge, it is near-impossible to "smuggle" stuff out of country. We get multiple briefings on all the things we are not allowed to take (ANYTHING!) and they check all mail that we send to ensure there aren't any unauthorized items in them.

I suppose that when you leave, you could try to bring something, but it would more than likely be caught by airport security, depending on what it is.

Taking artifacts and such carries a heavy penalty for troops and it's not something I want to risk (even though I would love to take souveniers home). You can get approval to take/keep items, but it has to be approved all the way up your chain of command and it is very unlikely. Most items, if they're of any interest or value, will end up in a military museum or a unit's display case.

Answer 4

The security checks carried out by the British forces are very strict, I'm not going to detail them here in a public forum, suffice to say that whilst it is not impossible to smuggle items out of an active theatre the punishments out weigh the profits.

Answer 5

I'm in Iraq now and my job is a custom agent. So I check the things. The only way a soldier can bring something back is if he has a written letter from his command saying he is authorize to have this material. Other than that, the other answers are correct.

Answer 6

I can address your questions with a certain amount of direct experience. I was assigned as a Customs Inspector for the US Army in Saudi Arabia in the 1991 Gulf War. As an active duty Military Policeman I was trained by the US Customs for this duty.
Every Soldier, Marine, and Sailor, that left the combat zone was physically inspected for possession of weapons and military memorabilia. The things we found were amazing. Live grenades, automatic weapons, gold, jewelery, etc.
Despite the search of every bag and every person, large amounts of materials were mailed home by service members who utilized the free postage and the liberal customs inspection being done by the APO. I myself mailed home enemy uniform items and such non lethal items as license plates and small objects from the battlefield.
Since the vast majority of troops were transported by air, the inspection of them and their bags was pretty thorough, but there were many ways around the system.

Answer 7

I think it depends which branch of the services you belong to and which theatre of war.I dare say Iraq is difficult but when units like mine and I am not going to name that pulled out all sorts could be hidden in the equipment we used.By the way in WWII I remember one group of Army who smuggled German staff cars home in navy landing craft.

Answer 8

No - your average squaddie is searched before you go on leave.
But like most things in Life its not what you know its who you know.
Ive heard rumours about things being given to the locals, sent to Bahrain and then shipped to UK or Germany but as far as I am aware its a criminal offence and its not worth a dishonourable discharge.

Answer 9

I am about to leave Iraq.

War trophies are not authorized. We are not allowed to bring back anything, NOT EVEN SAND.

They go through everything of ours on our way out. At 3 different stops. Its nearly impossible to get anything out of this country.

You would have to smuggle it out, but that is difficult and you face charges if caught obviously.

We cant even bring back SAND!!!!

That should answer your question.

Answer 10

Trust me it can be done.

But if you think i'm going to tell you how you've gotta be crazy sounds like a very odd thing to write a report on?

Are you wearing your Royal Military police Red cap right now?