New extortion scam at Caracas Simon Bolivar Maiquetia airport
Yellow vaccination card: extortion chain at the Maiquetía airport
23 de Marzo de 2018
translated from Spanish
An irregular situation has arisen in recent months at the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, specifically in the area of domestic and international flights, where officials of some airlines that make the transfer to destinations in the country and abroad extort money from passengers who do not have the vaccination card against yellow fever at that time.
Complaints received by the editorial staff of Caraota Digital , made by travelers who requested not to be identified due to fear of reprisals from these airport workers, point out that once the tickets, passports and other documents have been checked, officials indicate to the passengers who must have the cardboard certifying that they are immunized against the tropical disease or they will not be able to continue the trip.
The fact occurs especially with people who make the transfer to the terminal in the east of the country, who make this transit to take off from there to international destinations such as Chile, Peru or Argentina.
Immediately, upon realizing that the passenger does not have the card, they order him to go to the health post at the Maiquetía International Airport, where a vaccination point is located; but since there is no one there to perform this outpatient procedure, unidentified persons inform the unsuspecting passenger who has already stamped cards for sale, which he can pay with prices between 100 and 160 dollars.
The passenger, seeing himself in "three and two", agrees to pay such amount of money in North American currencies; but when he returns to the reception of the airline, they warn him that said card is false, to be extorted again there and again demanded more dollars in cash.
These passengers resorted to Caraota Digital to denounce the irregular fact, because in the air terminals do not dare to make the claim under pain of being also extorted by other public or private officials; remembering that there have been repeated cases of airport or military personnel stripping Venezuelans who travel or emigrate from their dollars.
The whistleblowers hope that after this alert national authorities put the eye on this situation so that more Venezuelans are not victims of these illegal actions.
http://reporteconfidencial.info/noticia/3310862/tarjeta-de-vacunacion-amarilla-cadena-de-extorsion-en-el-aeropuerto-de-maiquetia/
The Maiquetia Shakedown morphs yet again! I personally have been subject to this. And because my Spanish isn't as good as my VZ expat wife's Spanish, it makes the scam that much intimidating.
The last time I was in Venezuela, I was separated from my wife and was taken to a room where my documents and luggage were examined... "Very bad bad thing, Mr. American Gringo... you are the smuggler? Things are harsh for smugglers in Venezuela. You are bringing in contraband (clothing/underwear for the sobrinas? Shoes for the niños?) and it is illegal for you to have dollars (???) But... as a courtesy TO YOU we will exchange your dollars at the customary exchange rate (10 worthless Bolivars to the dollar) and allow you to leave. Please do not argue with me, Mr. Arrogant American Gringo, or I will put you in jail. You are very fortunate to meet me today, Mr. American Gringo. I suggest you leave now before I change my mind."
And leave I did... minus all of my dollars ($200 in cash from my wallet... the rest was hidden elsewhere) and most of the new clothing (evidence?) for the wife's family.