Every foreigner who lives in or travels to a certain country is subject to its laws, and we Americans are no different when it comes to overseas travel. They cannot, for instance, represent you in legal proceedings or pay your legal fees or other expenses. They can, however, perform a variety of vital services, which include providing a list of attorneys, assisting in contacting your family in the U.S. if you wish it, helping you obtain money from family in the U.S., and monitoring your health and welfare and the conditions under which you are being held.
If you happen to be arrested, you have the right to speak to somebody from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, a consular officer to be specific. You are duly entitled consular assistance per your request as per international laws, statutes and agreements. Be patient if you are not allowed to speak with your consul right off the bat, and be persistent - try your best to conduct yourself politely and courteously.
Drug offenses in other countries - an exclusive look
Many Americans are getting arrested in other countries for drug charges they may or may not have committed. As the old adage goes, ignorance of the law excuses no one, and individuals caught in possession of or ingesting illegal substances overseas are subject to foreign, and not U.S. laws. In many countries, the burden of proof is on the accused to show that he or she is innocent of the charges.
One of the most notorious bamboozles in these foreign countries is to offer somebody, usually an American to travel overseas all-expenses-paid in exchange for carrying "loaded" luggage. When, to their surprise, they are caught, the fact that they did not know that there were drugs in that package will not reduce the charges against them.
Drug arrests in the United States and around the world have many dissimilarities not all of us are familiar with. Some examples:
few countries provide a jury trial
many countries do not permit pre-trial release on bail
Pre-trial detention is often done in solitary, and can last more than a few months
Prisons may be bereft of toilets, wash basins and even beds, making them very uncomfortable
You may want to ask a family member or a friend to bring you supplements, because diets in here tend to lack nutritional value
officials may not speak English
physical abuse, confiscation of property, degrading treatment and extortion are possible.
Individuals convicted overseas may not just face jail time - there is also the possibility of hard labor or a trip to Death Row with nary a chance of a commute
penalties for drug possession and for drug trafficking are often the same abroad, so possession of one ounce of marijuana could result in years in a foreign jail
As with any arrest of a U.S. citizen abroad, consular officers perform a variety of services. But if that is the case, you made your bed, so go lie in it. Don't be stupid. Drugs are for losers.
If you happen to be arrested, you have the right to speak to somebody from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, a consular officer to be specific. You are duly entitled consular assistance per your request as per international laws, statutes and agreements. Be patient if you are not allowed to speak with your consul right off the bat, and be persistent - try your best to conduct yourself politely and courteously.
Drug offenses in other countries - an exclusive look
Many Americans are getting arrested in other countries for drug charges they may or may not have committed. As the old adage goes, ignorance of the law excuses no one, and individuals caught in possession of or ingesting illegal substances overseas are subject to foreign, and not U.S. laws. In many countries, the burden of proof is on the accused to show that he or she is innocent of the charges.
One of the most notorious bamboozles in these foreign countries is to offer somebody, usually an American to travel overseas all-expenses-paid in exchange for carrying "loaded" luggage. When, to their surprise, they are caught, the fact that they did not know that there were drugs in that package will not reduce the charges against them.
Drug arrests in the United States and around the world have many dissimilarities not all of us are familiar with. Some examples:
few countries provide a jury trial
many countries do not permit pre-trial release on bail
Pre-trial detention is often done in solitary, and can last more than a few months
Prisons may be bereft of toilets, wash basins and even beds, making them very uncomfortable
You may want to ask a family member or a friend to bring you supplements, because diets in here tend to lack nutritional value
officials may not speak English
physical abuse, confiscation of property, degrading treatment and extortion are possible.
Individuals convicted overseas may not just face jail time - there is also the possibility of hard labor or a trip to Death Row with nary a chance of a commute
penalties for drug possession and for drug trafficking are often the same abroad, so possession of one ounce of marijuana could result in years in a foreign jail
As with any arrest of a U.S. citizen abroad, consular officers perform a variety of services. But if that is the case, you made your bed, so go lie in it. Don't be stupid. Drugs are for losers.
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