OMG thank god you got out I'm never going there
Sent from my GT-I9505 using PhantomPilots mobile app
Sent from my GT-I9505 using PhantomPilots mobile app
Good thing that doesn't happen in America... Police being used to confiscate items for personal/departmental gains. Oh wait...
Rick after watching your video. I feel really bad for you. That you had to experience that terrible country. Thank you for letting other people be aware of this I will pass it on myselfHello flyers.
Below is the story of my arrest by corrupt customs agents in the tiny country of Macedonia (north of Greece). People with drones in their luggage are being targeted by corrupt customs police as the resale value within the country is up to 5 times the retail value.
This is the story of how my car was stopped, my belongings confiscated and then the resulting trial, imprisonment, and conviction I faced, just for driving to the country with my Phantom 3. I wasn't even flying, just heading to Germany from Greece in a rental car!
Be warned.......and be scared.....very scared.....in Macedonia. I was tried in kangaroo court with 4 other drone owners and the customs depot is filled with drones just waiting to be sold by the police who first pocket your available cash then keep your goods.
If you don't like Macedonia, stay out of Broward county in South Florida. The police here are notorious for the same behavior. There are decades old abuses and are commonly reported stories of this right here in the USA.Good thing that doesn't happen in America... Police being used to confiscate items for personal/departmental gains. Oh wait...
This seems to be the Macedonian version of the asset forfeiture scam here in the U.S. which was fostered by the drug war and has been incrementally expanding throughout American law enforcement agencies. It started out with drug arrests but is graduating to other offenses. If you are arrested the police can seize your car and/or anything else of value they can claim is related to your unlawful activity -- such as everything in your home if that's where you're arrested. It has gotten so bad that some people have been falsely arrested, had their assets seized, then been cleared but are having a heck of a time getting their property returned.Hello flyers.
Below is the story of my arrest by corrupt customs agents in the tiny country of Macedonia (north of Greece). People with drones in their luggage are being targeted by corrupt customs police as the resale value within the country is up to 5 times the retail value.
This is the story of how my car was stopped, my belongings confiscated and then the resulting trial, imprisonment, and conviction I faced, just for driving to the country with my Phantom 3. I wasn't even flying, just heading to Germany from Greece in a rental car!
Be warned.......and be scared.....very scared.....in Macedonia. I was tried in kangaroo court with 4 other drone owners and the customs depot is filled with drones just waiting to be sold by the police who first pocket your available cash then keep your goods.
They will seize your iPhone, too. That's how bad it's getting with law-enforcement in America. Search out a police auction in your area and you'll be amazed at the things they sell -- mainly cars.I suggest you record with your iPhone if this ever happens in Broward to you personally. I doubt it is as widespread institutionally as in macedonia but asset forfeiture is certainly a temptation anywhere to simply stretch the law to meet budgets.
Rickray,Greetings flyers. Let me bring you up to date on developments on my story. It has taken on a life of its own.
First about the US Embassy. I did contact them during the ordeal. However, they have a policy of not intervening in unfolding legal matters in the country. They recommended a list of lawyers I could call at the time. I had already seen how ineffective having a lawyer was at the border. I passed up the opportunity (fees were about $500 US).
Next, my story went public in Macedonia, possibly because of some of your efforts. I have received an outpouring of apologies from both ordinary citizens and high ranking officials. Thus far I have received person emails and sincere apologies from the director of the Ministry Of Tourism, the US Ambassador to Macedonia and the Macedonian embassy in America. I have also received a promise that an investigation will be launched from a high ranking official in the Ministry of Justice. (Doubtful)
Macedonia is having a runup to nationwide elections starting on the 27th and the country is on edge. I've been asked by two government ministers to not make my video public by YouTube and Facebook until after that time. However having seen the institutional nature of the country firsthand, I did not really think holding off from publishing this more widely will do any good. I think everyone should know and maybe corruption voted out. What do you think?
Mind you, my drones and cash have not been returned. And I assume I'll never see those again.
There does seem to be a consensus amongst people who have contacted me that this is a very isolated incident. The Bitola crossing between Greece and Macedonia is a lonely road where there have been clashes between Syrian immigrants and the police as well as a major drug smuggling route to Europe. The police that day were likely amped up. Other border crossings and the airport may be more mellow. But I can only speak about my own experience and it was very shocking.
I personally witnessed every car being shaken down that day at Bitola and I went to court with multiple other tourists, two of whom also lost their drones. Others lost clothing, electronics, sports and other equipment. No one won and no one had any possessions returned even after fines were paid.
I'm having separation anxiety from my Phantom3. We had almost 500 great flights together, when you bond with your craft and some greedy police just take it, it's like they stole your pet. My last flight were the amazing monasteries of Meteora Greece so my Phantom, named Skydog, truly went to heaven before being sold into slavery.
And yes, during a brief moment I was left alone in the interrogation room, I managed to pull the micro card and all my other cards. I was tempted to break the gimbal too, but too scared to get caught. They did not get my footage.
That might have been true a few generations back, but a new America has been quietly but steadily evolving and has been taking painful little nibbles out of the collective *** of mainstream Americans rather than great big bites which are the stuff that rebellions are made of.Although I hate that you went through such an experience, I do thank you so much for sharing. Very well put together. It does seem to me that the US Embassy could do something.
I think he's a cop.Are you perhaps Macedonian? Maybe still have family there being held hostage?
How do you feel about climate change???
Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots
Are you perhaps Macedonian? Maybe still have family there being held hostage?
How do you feel about climate change???
Just out of curiosity Gary, what is your job?No, I am from beautiful Australia where we hear bull**** stories like this all the time....ones without full evidence....go cry somewhere else
Hello flyers.
Below is the story of my arrest by corrupt customs agents in the tiny country of Macedonia (north of Greece). People with drones in their luggage are being targeted by corrupt customs police as the resale value within the country is up to 5 times the retail value.
This is the story of how my car was stopped, my belongings confiscated and then the resulting trial, imprisonment, and conviction I faced, just for driving to the country with my Phantom 3. I wasn't even flying, just heading to Germany from Greece in a rental car!
Be warned.......and be scared.....very scared.....in Macedonia. I was tried in kangaroo court with 4 other drone owners and the customs depot is filled with drones just waiting to be sold by the police who first pocket your available cash then keep your goods.
Wow! What an experience. Thank You for showing the world your story. Most American's have no idea what it's like to leave this country. " I am an American you can't do that to me" is the mindset of far too many. They have no idea how helpless they can become in another country. Very scary indeed. I have shared your video. May you never have to experience anything like that again in your life.Hello flyers.
Below is the story of my arrest by corrupt customs agents in the tiny country of Macedonia (north of Greece). People with drones in their luggage are being targeted by corrupt customs police as the resale value within the country is up to 5 times the retail value.
This is the story of how my car was stopped, my belongings confiscated and then the resulting trial, imprisonment, and conviction I faced, just for driving to the country with my Phantom 3. I wasn't even flying, just heading to Germany from Greece in a rental car!
Be warned.......and be scared.....very scared.....in Macedonia. I was tried in kangaroo court with 4 other drone owners and the customs depot is filled with drones just waiting to be sold by the police who first pocket your available cash then keep your goods.