I recently watched a documentary on how the USA and UK catches drug smugglers at their borders. I found out that most of us that has complained of being thoroughly searched at the point of entry due to our green passport/country don't even know why we are being searched or we know but just trying to form engagements.
I believe experts can shed more light on this.

I found out that the immigration or whoever they may be of that particular country even in Nigeria works on
1. Tip-off

A particular plane is coming from let say Nigeria and there is a tip-off that there is possiblity of a smuggler on it. The person is not known but everyone on board is a suspect. Due to this, all eyes would be on everyone as they deboard. So a special search will be carried out.

2. Behavior/Body language

They work more on ones body language because that alone is enough for them to nail one as a suspect. From fidgeting to shaky hands, sweating, different shoe sizes, type of bag, yawning even if you are hungry and many others will make them stop you for an interrogation.
Example was a Nigerian lady that was being interrogated due to how she was behaving.

Officer: Where are you going
Lady: Bristol
Officer: Do you have a family/friend there?
Lady: No
Officer: Where are you going to stay there?
Lady: I will take a taxi to anywhere to lodge
Officer: You don't know where are going follow me.
Her luggage was thoroughly searched but nothing was found.
Officer: So how are you going to sort yourself in Bristol?
Lady: I will call my brother's friend

Two different things now.

Officer: I'm sorry I will have to carry out a body scan on you.

I could see the frustration on her face but after the scan, nothing was found on her. Even though she was handled over to another unit due to her inconsistent response about her destination, she was later allowed to go as they found out she was a student. ( I was very happy for her).

Samething happened to a business man that was fidgeting and sweating after take Viagra to calm himself down. All they thought was that he might have swallowed something which is now making him act that way. He was thoroughly searched and nothing was found.

3. Scanner/Sniffing dog information

If one Carry ordinary Love Machine and the scanner detects it as something dangerous or the sniffing dogs indicates there is something in the luggage, that person can ever escape being searched.


This is just make us understand that, being searched at any country's point of entry has nothing to do with passport/country, and that it's a normal thing everywhere in the world.
Naija isn't even into this smuggling of a thing compared to some countries that are generally known for it. Imagine them having this our mentality of our passport is a red flag anywhere.
Even countries that have been marked with terrorism don't complain like us.

I believe we can all work together to make Nigeria better as we enter year 2024.

Happy New Year in advance.

A lot of Nigerians do not carry themselves with dignity outside Nigeria and that gets them into so many troubles. A simple and cheerful "good morning Sir" can avert a lot of negative issues.