If he'd handed them his documents with a wad of cash discreetly inserted within, he'd have avoided having his vehicle taken apart. Loads of Europeans experience unnecessary problems with police and border guards in Morocco, when a nice little "gift" would avoid so much trouble. I found this out the hard way myself - the problem being that most Westerners are too naive to understand what is expected of them when approached by someone in uniform, so the whole thing ends up going to far; and the whole time you are professing your innocence, the meter is running and the cost of smoothing the whole thing over is going up.
True that. Saying that I gave some dodgy translator bloke in Hong Kong £200 and never saw the **** again.
I got caught leaving Thailand with 5000 10mg diazepam tablets, thought I was shafted but paid peanuts (can't remember how much now) and he doffed his cap and moved me on Not good for the nerves though.
They're legal to buy over the counter there though, I wouldn't fancy my luck with 5000 morphine sulphate tablets, or a suitcase of weed.
Never been to Asia, but I imagine the principle in some of the cities there is similar to how it was in North Africa when I went in the eighties. The only way to get any peace in Tetouan or Tangiers is to hire a local guide straight away, and just hope you get an honest one. Not sure what the going rate is nowadays, but we could have saved ourselves so much trouble. Two innocent young English guys trying to sort out transport, find a hotel, and set up their own drug deal with only a phrasebook was, in hindsight, a ****ing bad move.
It's called Baksheesh. I've used it plenty of times in Morocco both voluntarily and when it's been suggested by the local Five O. I had to hand over 100 Diram to a copper once for having 'too many surfboards' strapped to the roof of a hire car. Whilst he was writing out my ticket (which he kept) There were trucks and vans going past with goats strapped to the roof. Also saw an old Renault with so many guys in it, that the blokes in the back were having to hold the doors closed against their knees as they wouldn't shut. Mate of mine called Khalid who I go and stay with down near Agadir used to be a hash dealer. He got caught and busted selling a sizeable quantity to some Germans years ago and would have done time, but for the copper who busted him who took all the hash. This copper has used this for Baksheesh for years. Now that Khalid runs a small guesthouse, he's always round asking for 'small favours', knowing that he could pull the rug on his business. Real shame a few years ago a couple of mates and me bought Khalid a digital camera (when they were pretty rare in Morocco). A week later the camera had gone, when I asked Khalid, he shrugged his shoulders and said 'Baksheesh'.
Yeah I know that one. ****ing dodgy as **** and usually goes either amazingly well or completely wrong.
First time I went to Morocco was to Tangiers. First day there I wandered into the Souk and got accosted by a 'guide'. Thankfully he was a decent bloke and we spent the afternoon smoking Kif in cafes. I was convinced I was going to get ripped off at some point, but all he asked for was a a few Diram for his family and for me to pay for the coffee. Fair play I say. I've done some great deals in Morocco. Nowdays you can get replica football shirts everywhere, but back in the early 90's they were like ****ing Gold bullion for trade. Got myself loads of cool Moroccan stuff by trading Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool shirts. Also did a great deal for a clay drum and Jilaba for a £5 note and two pairs of M&S boxer shorts
We got chased out of Tetouan in a state of shear terror, and the last words I remember hearing from our pursuers as our bus pulled out was "I make sure you not leave Tetouan alive!".
There was a time when the Guardia Civil in Andalucia where no better. Always stopping and searching likely looking customers for "chocolatay", which they would pocket if found. I got stopped for riding a moped with no helmet, and was trying to explain that I had been in town 5 days and had seen no one wearing a helmet. I pulled out my wallet looking for ID, but when the cop saw the large denomination peseta note tucked in there, all became clear. He issued an on the spot "Fine" and I was on my way, still with no helmet.
I got to spend some time in Mauritania with a mate who is a pro surfer and his photographer. Not many people get to travel there because it's disputed territory and the place is heavily mined. But my mate got the necessary visas for us on the back of a commercial trip. The Gendarme there are pretty relaxed. They are armed, so there's basically zero ****ing about with them. But most are pretty switched on young blokes who are happy to chat with travellers. You always get to stop and chat because there are checkpoints and road blocks. Some want to see passports and visas and ask where you are going, what your business is etc. But most just want to say hello and swap cigarettes and chocolate etc. They see the surfboards and know the score. The local police in Morocco are far worse. They will basically haul you up for anything that they think they can rinse a few Diram out of you for.
haha, they were always nicking me and my mate so they could grua the car when I was a timeshare scumbag in Benalmadena. Manolo the Avis man had to go pay them 10mil to get it back 2 or 3 times a week. They were much more chilled in Ibiza when I sold tapes and CD's, they'd come nick me once a week and take a couple of copies of each one.
A meet up would be a laugh, I know there's always stick thrown here and there but it's usually in good nature and whenever anything serious/ concerning is mentioned the board rallies round regardless of club allegiance. Thread starter obviously has to get the drinks in though
If it happens I'll buy a round or 2 for sure. Logistics the big issue though, all these bladdy Northerners
