Pensioner’s medicine bag seized by customs officials

IN what is being described as an international “mix-up”, the bag containing medication, belonging to 71-year-old Josephine Alleyne was misplaced as she attempted to board a flight from Piarco airport to ANR Robinson airport as she returned from New York last month.

Newsday spoke with Alleyne yesterday who said she returned from New York on June 10 after receiving treatment for an injury she sustained earlier this year. She said as she arrived at Piarco, she was told by staff that she did not need to clear with Immigration officials at the Trinidad terminal and could instead check in at the ANR Robinson terminal.

Upon arriving at ANR Robinson airport, she was told by immigration officials that their post was a domestic one and did not accept landing cards of persons of international flights and said she could not find her bag containing her medication. She said she received a call from Caribbean Airlines officials admitting they made a mistake but were unable to find her bag.

“I told the airport staff about it but they told me that was all the bags they could find. I waited in the airport from 7 am in until around 11 am. This is really quite unfortunate because for the past month I have had to buy medication. This comes at an added cost to me.

“The following week I got a call from a staff member in Piarco telling me they found the bag but I could have to come to Trinidad to collect it. I was confused and angry, I refused to do so, but they eventually sent it to ANR Robinson airport. However by the time I got to the airport they told me that the bag was confiscated by customs officials as part of some “investigation”. I don’t have a timeline as to when I can get my bag back.”

Alleyne says she was told by officials in order to clear the bag she has to return to Trinidad to get her landing card stamped by an immigration officer who was on duty at the time of her arrival on June 10.

“This is really ridiculous now. In addition to the medication, which I need I also have gifts given to me from my children and grandchildren for mother’s day while I was in New York and I can’t even get an answer as to when I can get it back, after no fault of my own.”

Alleyne says she is calling on senior Customs officers to intervene in the matter and bring about a speedy resolution to the situation.

Newsday attempted to contact the Tobago Customs and Excise Office but was unsuccessful.