# Musician's bamboo flutes destroyed at U.S. customs **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 3, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809 "2014-01-03T16:46:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/21 "2014-01-03T20:11:44Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > But yes: precious valuables? Carry-on; special-handling request and insurance; split packing between different members of the party if possible; _courier service_ (DHL, FedEx). Hell, I don’t understand why he was carrying ALL of his flutes. Keep a couple back home, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/22 "2014-01-03T20:51:49Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > But who is going to steal a bunch of bamboo flutes? They’re obviously valuable to the owner, but do they have any actual monetary value? Looking at the picture of him playing one, it looks more like a kiddy toy. I’m wondering this myself. If it was thieving bag handlers, I’d expect them to be looking for jewelery or electronics. I’m having a hard time imagining one seeing a bamboo flute and thinking “Score!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/23 "2014-01-03T20:56:03Z")
It’s not like bamboo takes forever to grow or that it really rare. It’s probably the most replaceable thing. Not everything is stolen because it’s super valuable. “Hey, my kid would like that, I’ll take it.” But it does sound more reasonable if they were with other ‘green’ bamboo that the whole lot could have been destroyed. But if they say ‘only green bamboo’ then something doesn’t quite add up. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/24 "2014-01-03T21:22:22Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > **Merneith** , that does sound like there may have been an “airside” theft of the instruments, which would explain why the luggage was left aside in the handling area without delivering it to the pick-up carousel and Customs then handled it as “unclaimed”. > > But yes: precious valuables? Carry-on; special-handling request and insurance; split packing between different members of the party if possible; _courier service_ (DHL, FedEx). Right. In the NPR article, the Airline (American) claims that they’re not responsible for losses once Customs has taken the bag - but the flutes could have been taken before the bag was left unclaimed. And it was American that delivered the bag to Razgui at his home so they were ultimately the last people to touch it. > [@muldoonthief](#): > > But who is going to steal a bunch of bamboo flutes? They’re obviously valuable to the owner, but do they have any actual monetary value? Looking at the picture of him playing one, it looks more like a kiddy toy. Stupid people? Someone who just saw the special case inside the large bag and thought, “ooo - I bet that’s where the valuables are!” > [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Hell, I don’t understand why he was carrying ALL of his flutes. Keep a couple back home, just in case. Yes, I wondered this, too. Surely he’s got some flutes that he doesn’t use any more or that he’s still in the process of creating? Surely he doesn’t really play every single flute he owns, in every single concert? That’s why I mentioned insurance fraud. It’s a low blow, and of course there’s nothing like proof. It’s just weird that he would take every last one and then ship them so haphazardly. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/25 "2014-01-03T21:30:15Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > This may be a cheap shot, but why is this guy protesting to a Canadian news source if he lives in the U.S. and has a dispute with a U.S. agency? He wasn’t able to tweet about it? ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/26 "2014-01-03T22:09:26Z")
Not an expert on bamboo flutes, but I wouldn’t be surprised for a musician to need a whole kit of them in different keys as well as alto/tenor/baritone varieties. Have you ever seen how many harmonicas a harp player carries? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/27 "2014-01-03T22:32:25Z")
From watching various documentaries about Customs and border control, if it wasn’t the quarantine hazard, another possibility is that the material was composed of a whole bunch of hollow things - potentially a perfect hiding place for contraband - and if some of the canes were fresh, the pith inside them may have looked like concealed packages of drugs. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/28 "2014-01-04T00:05:41Z")
If something is that important to you, you should ship it instead of taking it on a plane with you. Do people still not know this? Even if it wasn’t taken by customs or TSA or whoever, do you know how much stuff just gets flat out lost every year? I’d be playing the world’s smallest violin\* right now, but customs destroyed it. \*in case this isn’t a common phrase outside the US, this is just a saying not an indication that I have ever owned a violin, smallest or otherwise ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/29 "2014-01-04T00:08:34Z")
> [@randompattern](#): > > Is that Adam Sandler playing the flute? “He’s goooood.” ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/30 "2014-01-04T01:14:18Z")
Was this Customs, or was it a DHS agent? Because maybe they were [confusing it with another type of flute](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic_%28South_Park%29)… damn Guinea Pirates. Also, I first read Razgul, with an L instead of I, which would make a great orc name. I don’t think they play anything other than drums, though. > [@gotpasswords](#): > > The TSA’s [website](http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/musical-instruments)says you may carry one musical instrument in addition to one carry-on and one personal item through the screening checkpoint, but I believe they’re referring to large instruments in their own case such as a trumpet or violin, rather than some flutes that probably could be rolled up in a towel. I think that’s it, for guitars and such, not harmonicas. But individual airlines may have more strict rules, and I can’t recall them classifying an instrument as its own category and not as a carryon/personal item. Supposedly you might have to get a seat for [large instruments](http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323393304578358390459673484), at least on Delta. See: [Southwest’s page](http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/baggage/special-luggage-pol.html#baggage_special_luggage_pol_tab_list_tab_10). ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/31 "2014-01-04T01:31:35Z")
Air travel is always a nightmare for musicians - I doubt there will ever be anything done for this man. ‘Inexcusable’ is the nicest word that comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/32 "2014-01-04T01:45:18Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > Not an expert on bamboo flutes, but I wouldn’t be surprised for a musician to need a whole kit of them in different keys as well as alto/tenor/baritone varieties. Have you ever seen how many harmonicas a harp player carries? No, but why would a harp player need to carry _any_ harmonicas? ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/33 "2014-01-04T02:10:28Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > No, but why would a harp player need to carry _any_ harmonicas? Harmonicas are AKA Mouth Harps, in music circles they are called Harp Players. **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/34 "2014-01-04T03:11:58Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Air travel is always a nightmare for musicians… Indeed. Remember this incident: [United Breaks Guitars](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo) (YouTube) ---
**Author:** ![chopshop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@chopshop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chopshop)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/35 "2014-01-04T03:31:48Z")
> [@randompattern](#): > > Is that Adam Sandler playing the flute? [http://www.coindev.org/asi-tfp-makingof.jpg](http://www.coindev.org/asi-tfp-makingof.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![chopshop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@chopshop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chopshop)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/36 "2014-01-04T03:43:58Z")
Adam Sandler Plays Boujemaa Razgui In… The Flute Player Originally found [US Customs Destroys Virtuoso's Flutes Because They Were "Agricultural Items" - Slashdot](http://news.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=4618675&cid=45841745) ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/37 "2014-01-04T04:30:40Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > It’s not like bamboo takes forever to grow or that it really rare. It’s probably the most replaceable thing. From the link in the OP: > [@](#): > > Finding the right bamboo for his flutes is not easy, as the variety he needs is not available in the Americas, said Razgui. > > His flutes were made from bamboo sourced from Morocco. > Razgui said he must also ensure that the stems are at least two years old so that they have the right knots and thickness for a proper flute. > > Once he has the material, Razgui crafts the instruments himself, heating and cooling them alternately to tune them. “You have to tune it one time for life,” he explained. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/38 "2014-01-04T04:35:56Z")
He had some green bamboo in his luggage. I guess to make new flutes. So he lost the flutes he plays and the material for new ones. Isn’t that the definition of getting totally screwed? This guy’s livelihood is in serious trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/39 "2014-01-04T04:57:24Z")
There is no way to know if the flutes were burnt or not. They probably were burnt with the raw bamboo . ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809/40 "2014-01-04T14:08:32Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Hell, I don’t understand why he was carrying ALL of his flutes. Keep a couple back home, just in case. Yeah, always have a backup flute. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809.md?page=3)