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http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=04-Jul-2014&lang=ru&s=9046
http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=04-Jul-2014&lang=ru&s=9046
04-Jul-2014
by Pamela Tom
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 In Nogales, Arizona, on the 27th June, the Associated Press reported on a Mexican man being held in U.S. custody for allegedly trying to smuggle over 4 pounds (2 kg) of methamphetamine into Arizona in an accordion.U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers say 18-year-old Eloy Renteria-Ortiz was arrested on Monday at the Port of Nogales after being searched at the Morley Gate crossing. According to officers, nearly $13,600 worth of meth was found wrapped in black tape and stashed in the center of the accordion that Renteria-Ortiz was carrying. The drugs and instrument were seized and Renteria-Ortiz was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations. Its not known if the accused is actually an accordionist and a close up examination of the the picture, shows the accordion straps appear unused. The possible outcome of this may be, that in the US, the Transportation Security Administration could require an internal exam of your accordion. This could be a problem as described by Shelia Lee (Houston accordion performers & Heritage Arts Productions, Inc. Performing Artist, co-owner and professional accordionist). The critical concern is that they will “pull the bellow pins so that they can see inside.” Pliers over 7 inches in length are not allowed on carry-on luggage. And really, how many TSA personnel are equipped with or trained to use specially modified pliers for removing the pins without damaging the surface of the accordion, nor aware that the pins are hole-specific and need to be replaced in the original cavity?" Lets hope, that due to the incident at the US-Mexican border, traveling with your instrument does not become more challenging. When flying commercially, some accordionists split the accordion open and carry the bass end on the plane so that it can be stored under the seat or in the overhead bin. This approach may now have another advantage of easy viewing, if the TSA insists on wishing to open the accordion for inspection. |