If You Carry These Prescription Drugs Abroad You Could Be Arrested

Penknives. Big bottles of shampoo. Batteries.

These are items you might think twice about packing when travelling. What probably wouldn’t concern you is your prescription medication.

Think again. It turns out that your totally legal, prescribed medication could get you in a lot of trouble if they’re discovered by the wrong people.

Medications including Tramadol and codeine, which is found in some over-the-counter painkillers, could get you arrested.

Before you travel anywhere, check if the country you’re visiting allows your medication. Each country, from Turkey to the US, has different rules.

If the nation you’re planning on visiting bans the drugs you need, it’s crucial to contact their foreign embassy before you travel.

In situations like these they should give you permission, or will recommend an alternative medication for you to bring.

The regulations depend on the individual country. Codeine is one of the most commonly banned substances, as it contains opiates, also found in heroin. It’s illegal in both Greece and Hong Kong.

Tramadol is another commonly banned substance. It’s a strong painkiller that’s related to morphine (itself another commonly restricted medication) and both the US and Egypt don’t allow it.

If you’re caught, even if the drugs are on prescription, the penalties can be severe – including deportation and even imprisonment.

It’s always worth checking before you fly. These rules aren’t for messing around with.

About the author

Alice Johnston

Food Editor

Alice is always planning her next meal. She studied English at the University of Bristol before getting her Master’s in newspaper journalism from City University London. She worked on Femail at Mail Online for 18 months writing about lifestyle and food and has also worked at Metro.co.uk, The Guardian, Mumsnet and The Sun. After starting at Culture Trip as a Social Content Producer writing travel and lifestyle stories, she was promoted to the role of Food Editor and now specialises in culinary culture, trends and social issues around food. When she’s not writing, eating or travelling, she can be found cooking overly elaborate dinners, reading cookbooks in bed or playing with her cat, Orlando. Her favourite foods include fishfinger sandwiches, burnt caramel panna cotta, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and oysters.