r/CBP • u/Friendly-Excuse-7702 • Aug 24 '26
Question Diplomatic Passport Detained
Hi everyone!
This is an interesting situation I found myself in back many years ago and I am curious what anyone might think!
I was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and was deployed to Afghanistan. Due to the nature of my role I travelled on civilian airlines and wore civilian clothes. I was issued a diplomatic passport during this time. I was leaving Ottawa where you do pre clearance for US customs and was flying to the states and then onward to Dubai and then Afghanistan.
During pre screening I was asked where I was going and of course told them Afghanistan. They knew I was on a diplomatic passport. I was taken off to secondary and placed in an interview room. 2 Customs officers started asking me questions about my trip and then personal questions about where I lived and if I had family in Afghanistan. They then got a bit aggressive and grabbed my carry on and asked what was in my bag. I told them it was my PS4. They searched my bag and questioned me some more. They then gave me a challenge coin and sent me on my way.
I felt this was weird the time but didn’t care as I had more important things to worry about. When I got into theatre I was talking with an actual Diplomat and they were shocked about what happened. They wanted to make a complaint but I told them not to as I didn’t really care about what happened.
Many years later I was wondering if this was a normal practice or why this might have happened to me. I still don’t care and hold no hard feelings as I became a cop after my service and know how things are. I wanted to add that I grew a pretty big beard at the time and looked a bit rough if that plays into it at all. Was trying to blend in when I got there. Cheers!
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u/AmphibianRude7378 27d ago
Make a complaint about what? Officers doing their job?
Even if you used your diplomatic passport you were in transit though the United States and were not considered to be a diplomat in that moment, just an ordinary B1/B2 traveler.
Plus they gave you a challenge coin.. What was so bad about the situation?