Explosives

[brendy_éire]

"A quantity of explosive, found in a flat on Dorset Street in Dublin this morning, was brought into the country following a failed security operation in Slovakia.

The explosive was one of eight pieces of contraband planted by the authorities in the luggage of unsuspecting passengers at Bratislava Airport in Slovakia last weekend as part of a test of security procedures.

Seven were detected by airport security, but the eighth - 90g of research development explosive or RDX - was put in the luggage of a Slovakian electrician who lives and works in Dublin."

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0105/dorset.html

Is this normal practice around Europe or have the Slovakians just gone a wee bit mad here?

[Schumi]

This is a crazy story!

I heard someone talking about it on the radio earlier, apparently, it's normal enough to test security by putting suspicious packages through in luggage. This was different though because the explosives were put in a guy's bag without his knowledge. It's scandalous that he was made carry something that dangerous without being told. Imagine if he'd been stopped in Dublin airport and that had been found? The Slovakians have a lot of questions to answer.

[John83]

Heck, if he'd been going to the US, he could have been dead already!

Definitely not on to have an unsuspecting person endangered like this.

[osarusan]

Story along similar lines which I remember -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7419969.stm


An unwitting passenger arriving at Japan's Narita airport has received 142g of cannabis after a customs test went awry, officials say.

A customs officer hid a package of the banned substance in a side pocket of a randomly chosen suitcase in order to test airport security.

If I remember correctly, a Taiwanese man later found it when he opened his suitcase in a Tokyo hotel room. When questioned, the security officer who'd done it said he thought the usual test (where drugs are placed in a suitcase owned by the police) wasn't realistic enough, so he tried a variation.

[John83]

...When questioned, the security officer who'd done it said he thought the usual test (where drugs are placed in a suitcase owned by the police) wasn't realistic enough, so he tried a variation.
This is what happens when people in jobs which require no skills or talent (and which pay accordingly) try to apply initiative.

[osarusan]

This is what happens when people in jobs which require no skills or talent (and which pay accordingly) try to apply initiative.
Drugs Squad Officer at Narita would be a well-paid position. Skills or talent I can't comment on, but I'd say it's harsh to suggest that a person charged with stopping the flow of illegal drugs into a country need neither skill nor talent to do their job.
This particular officer doesn't support my argument much, however.

[dahamsta]

It's very unlikely the guy was in danger of direct injury, since this appears to be a plastic explosive (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RDX#Properties), which won't explode without a detonator. However that doesn't account for the risk of being shot or just plain majorly inconvenienced by this stupidity.

[John83]

Drugs Squad Officer at Narita would be a well-paid position. Skills or talent I can't comment on, but I'd say it's harsh to suggest that a person charged with stopping the flow of illegal drugs into a country need neither skill nor talent to do their job.
This particular officer doesn't support my argument much, however.
Entry level customs officers are barely above minimum wage levels. Qualifications for the job amount to basic literacy. As career paths go, that one will net you a few humanities graduates most with limited ambition and assorted punters who didn't want to / couldn't go to college. Few of the applicants will have any interest in the job other than as a means of paying the rent. Maybe Narita pay over the odds to hire from crack anti-narcotics detective units across Japan, but I doubt it.

[osarusan]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0106/breaking44.htm


Slovakia criticises gardaí over arrest

The Slovakian government has insisted the authorities in Ireland were aware a passenger was carrying plastic explosives in his bag on a flight to Dublin last Saturday morning before the plane even took off for Ireland.

A strongly worded statement has been issued by the Slovakian Ministry of the Interior defending its handling of the debacle and criticising the actions of the Garda.

Apparently Slovak authorities realised the mistake before the flight left the ground, and informed the pilot who decided to continue as he was told the explosives were not dangerous. The pilot then sent a telex to the Irish authorities about the situation, but the was received by a private firm operating in Dublin airport, not the DAA. The DAA apparently never got the message, and when the police were informed by Slovak authorities, they raided the guy's flat. He, apparently, had been called by the Slovak authorities, informed of the situation, and told to await the arrival of the Irish authorities.

[dahamsta]

Pretty sure telexes have been phased out on airplanes at this stage. ;)

[osarusan]

Pretty sure telexes have been phased out on airplanes at this stage. ;)
That's what the report in the link said.

[Mr A]

I think there is little option at this point but to declare immediate war on Slovakia. I trust that our tank is massing on their border as we speak.

[Fr Damo]

er no...... it's towing a, (i mean the) gritting lorry off the M50!

[osarusan]

I think there is little option at this point but to declare immediate war on Slovakia. I trust that our tank is massing on their border as we speak.
In 25 years there can be a pointless and worthless "If Cowen had invaded" documentary on TV3 with interviews from the Irish and Slovak military figures of the time.

[juan]

I think there is little option at this point but to declare immediate war on Slovakia. I trust that our tank is massing on their border as we speak.


er no...... it's towing a, (i mean the) gritting lorry off the M50!

Jaysus Mary Harney is a tough cookie.

[strangeirish]

Jaysus Mary Harney is a tough cookie.
That, or she ate them all...

[juan]

That, or she ate them all...

Nah I hear she's more partial to the ginger snaps.

[Rasputin]

Entry level customs officers are barely above minimum wage levels. Qualifications for the job amount to basic literacy. As career paths go, that one will net you a few humanities graduates most with limited ambition and assorted punters who didn't want to / couldn't go to college. Few of the applicants will have any interest in the job other than as a means of paying the rent. Maybe Narita pay over the odds to hire from crack anti-narcotics detective units across Japan, but I doubt it.
What clarity you hold from way up on top of that pedastel?
Any more gross generalisations and pure and utter condesencion will you wish to hand down to us mere plebs in the future?

[John83]

What clarity you hold from way up on top of that pedastel?
Traditionally, question marks are placed at the end of questions. You may have been confused by your own use of the word "what" as a conjugation instead of an interrogative.


Any more gross generalisations and pure and utter condesencion will you wish to hand down to us mere plebs in the future?You dug up a week old thread to say this? I realise that I may have struck a nerve there. Where has your own lack of appreciable talent and ambition taken you in life? (That was a question, by the way.)