I recently had my drone taken by customs when leaving a Middle Eastern country. While I know they had the right to do it, it felt a bit like a scam. I didn’t argue with them, though. I don’t think I’ll be able to get it back. Has this happened to anyone else? Any tips for avoiding this in the future? Thanks.
Which country did this happen in?
Emil said:
Which country did this happen in?
Yeah, let us know which country to steer clear of.
Emil said:
Which country did this happen in?
Yeah, let us know which country to steer clear of.
Could be Qatar.
Marlo said:
Emil said:
Which country did this happen in?
Yeah, let us know which country to steer clear of.
Could be Qatar.
Might’ve been Morocco too.
@Neely
Never take a drone into Egypt. Just don’t.
Clarke said:
@Neely
Never take a drone into Egypt. Just don’t.
Or really any place where corruption is common.
Clarke said:
@Neely
Never take a drone into Egypt. Just don’t.
Or really any place where corruption is common.
It’s not just about corruption; many countries have strict anti-drone laws.
@Kai
Corruption can still play a role. Even with clear laws, common sense tells you it’s always a gamble.
pierra said:
@Kai
Corruption can still play a role. Even with clear laws, common sense tells you it’s always a gamble.
I see your point, but the original post mentions that customs had the right to take the drone, so I think this was more about following local laws than corruption.
@Kai
Yeah, but better planning would’ve avoided this. The laws are usually available if you check beforehand.
@Kai
You can’t call it corruption when there are laws in place. Visiting another country means you follow their rules, not what you’re used to back home. Corruption is when officials ignore or abuse the laws, but this doesn’t seem like that. Many countries clearly warn travelers about drone restrictions.
Clarke said:
@Neely
Never take a drone into Egypt. Just don’t.
Or really any place where corruption is common.
I’ve taken mine into Mexico a few times and even through secondary inspections with no issues. I guess it depends on the country and a bit of luck.
@Arlo
Mexico might be more lenient, but you still have to weigh the risks. Always back up your footage to the cloud or keep SD cards separate just in case.
@Arlo
Mexico depends on where you’re flying. In tourist areas, it’s fine, but in Mexico City, police might ask for ‘tips’ to let you fly. Officially, the law says foreigners can’t own drones, so keep that in mind.
Clarke said:
@Neely
Never take a drone into Egypt. Just don’t.
I took mine to Egypt back in 2019 without issues, but maybe things have changed since then.
Clarke said:
@Neely
Never take a drone into Egypt. Just don’t.
I traveled with mine in my checked bag and didn’t face any problems.
@Neely
Morocco isn’t in the Middle East. It’s in North Africa.
@Neely
Yeah, Morocco bans drones, but it’s not a Middle Eastern country—it’s part of North Africa.
@Neely
In Morocco, I think drones are just straight-up banned.