Why were holes drilled into my luggage when I entered the US?
Around a month ago, I entered the US for the first time. A couple of days back, I was reorganizing stuff, and happened to notice three holes:
punched into the side of the bag I had used while entering the US. I don't think this was a random accident - someone bothered to open the bag (I was using a TSA "lock") and taped the three holes from inside the bag using some masking tape.
This was a new bag, and I'm positive that the holes weren't there when I bought it. Has anyone heard of such a thing happening? Why would the TSA/CBP/other agency drill holes into the bag, when they could've simply opened it? (They could clearly open it since they taped the holes from the inside.) Could they've been inspecting the lining or something?
UPDATE: @Harper mentioned a possible scenario of the logo of the bag getting broken by the baggage handlers. Yes, there was indeed a logo there, and now it's missing. So I guess this is not CBP/TSA's handiwork after all.
Best Answer
Why would the TSA/CBP/other agency drill holes into the bag, when they could've simply opened it?
Holes are normally drilled when a suspicious trace shows up from another test - for example, there may have been an anomaly on the x-ray, or a sniffer dog may have given an indication.
Smugglers are extremely adept these days at concealments - customs officials have seen such things as fake luggage cases where the outer rigid cases are thicker than they are supposed to be, where the smuggler has sandwiched an illicit substance between two thin layers of rigid plastic.
If you watch various Customs and Border Control TV shows, you will often find cases where officials have conducted a search via drilling into an object - its often quicker and leaves less damage than any attempt to disassemble the item.
In your case, they don't seem to have found anything. I am surprised that this was not done in your presence or a note wasn't left in your luggage as a result.
The US Customs and Border Protection considers claims for damage caused by them in the process of them carrying out their duty.
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Why Did TSA go through my checked bag?
TSA screens approximately 1.4 million checked bags for explosives and other dangerous items daily. Upon check in, your checked baggage will be provided to TSA for security screening.Do they scan your hold luggage?
Yes, once you check them in and they go off on the conveyor belt, your baggage will be screened by an X-Ray machine and also often with chemical sniffers. If there is any doubt or something suspicious about your bag, a member of security personnel will inspect it by hand.Should I lock my suitcase when flying to USA?
For a trip to the USA, it is recommended to lock the suitcase or bag with a special TSA lock. This is a lock that can be opened by the border control staff using a special key. TSA locks are available in various forms: as a combination lock, lock with key or lock with key card.How do checked bags go through security?
Checked bags go through the same scanning process that your carry-on items go through. They're loaded on a conveyor belt and scanned under an x-ray to see what contents are inside. If there are any suspicious items within, the airport security might go through your luggage and search for the suspicious item.What Happens to Your Checked Luggage at the Airport
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Answer 2
USCBP is known to drill into luggage in order to check for explosive material or illicit substances. A few years ago there was a minor uproar over customs officials drilling into a West Indian cricketer's bat when his team was touring in the US.
This is not done trivially; usually, suspicion is raised because of some other test, or because X-rays or other tools cannot penetrate the area of interest. You can file a damage claim, although I cannot speak to the success rate for collecting any compensation.
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