NZ customs tore GPU's off motherboard looking for gun

Forums › Desktop computing › NZ customs tore GPU's off motherboard looking for gun

Yabanize

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#175873 14-Jul-2015 15:10

Ouch. It's a Gigabyte G1 Assassin 2
http://www.reddit.com/r/techsupportgore/comments/3d70a7/customs_tore_the_gpus_out_to_find_the_gun/

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#1343098 14-Jul-2015 15:11

As far as asking for it goes, that's up there with the Glock iPhone case.

tardtasticx

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#1343132 14-Jul-2015 15:46

I couldn't imagine anything more stupid. I get scared taking a pen on a domestic flight, let alone having a gun shaped cooler inside my computer that'll look like an actual gun on an X-ray. What did they expect to happen?

davidcole

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#1343134 14-Jul-2015 15:47

WTF is that a "decoration" on the motherboard?

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ludez

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#1343144 14-Jul-2015 15:57

To be fair if they are xraying it they would think it was a gun.But ripping the gpus off?

kobiak

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#1343150 14-Jul-2015 16:03

my parcel with LED bulb from China was disassembled by customs/post (?) but not assembled back... packaging was ripped apart like dog had a little play with a parcel. Too much of border patrol I guess.

works in the end. I guess it's perfect place to hide drugs, but would not it be visible on Xray?

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DravidDavid

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#1343152 14-Jul-2015 16:06

I completely fail to see how anyone would see that on an x-ray and think "gun". Yes, it's shaped like a gun to the naked eye. But wouldn't an x-ray machine pick up internal components of a real firearm?

Also, the damage done is entirely unacceptable considering how easy it is to remove a video card. Why do they lack a person with suitable knowledge of electronics to control small plastic leavers to remove a detachable component properly? Surly it would simply be "double checking" visually to ensure it's not a "real gun".

Hardly installs confidence in the system.

ludez

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#1343153 14-Jul-2015 16:10

DravidDavid: I completely fail to see how anyone would see that on an x-ray and think "gun". Yes, it's shaped like a gun to the naked eye. But wouldn't an x-ray machine pick up internal components of a real firearm?

Also, the damage done is entirely unacceptable considering how easy it is to remove a video card. Why do they lack a person with suitable knowledge of electronics to control small plastic leavers to remove a detachable component properly? Surly it would simply be "double checking" visually to ensure it's not a "real gun".

Hardly installs confidence in the system.

I dont know the specifics of the xray machine and what it sees.But surely common sense wouldnt be too just rip it apart?They must have used a screwdriver to take the side panel off but didnt use one to unscrew the gpus?

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mdooher

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#1343154 14-Jul-2015 16:11

DravidDavid: I completely fail to see how anyone would see that on an x-ray and think "gun". Yes, it's shaped like a gun to the naked eye. But wouldn't an x-ray machine pick up internal components of a real firearm?

Also, the damage done is entirely unacceptable considering how easy it is to remove a video card. Why do they lack a person with suitable knowledge of electronics to control small plastic leavers to remove a detachable component properly? Surly it would simply be "double checking" visually to ensure it's not a "real gun".

Hardly installs confidence in the system.

haven't you seen those customs shows? they seem to do everything with Bunnings drill and a pocketknife

Matthew

DravidDavid

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#1343155 14-Jul-2015 16:16

mdooher:
DravidDavid: I completely fail to see how anyone would see that on an x-ray and think "gun". Yes, it's shaped like a gun to the naked eye. But wouldn't an x-ray machine pick up internal components of a real firearm?

Also, the damage done is entirely unacceptable considering how easy it is to remove a video card. Why do they lack a person with suitable knowledge of electronics to control small plastic leavers to remove a detachable component properly? Surly it would simply be "double checking" visually to ensure it's not a "real gun".

Hardly installs confidence in the system.

haven't you seen those customs shows? they seem to everything with Bunnings drill and a pocketknife

I've watched the ones with the dogs occasionally. But they only bust people with drugs and actual weapons like knives and bio hazards. I didn't think that their security badge allowed them to operate without common sense and a certain duty of care.

What if it was a real firearm? It takes force to do that kind of damage to a motherboard. The "gun" could have gone off if they genuinely thought there was risk.

That said, I don't know if this was NZ customs or not. It just seems so moronically extreme to me.

mdooher

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#1343158 14-Jul-2015 16:20

Indeed even if the story is true, why the hell wouldn't you remove the cover and then go "oh look an iddy biddy plastic gun that is attached to a motherboard called an Assassin, I'll show the boss and put it back together"

Matthew

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#1343161 14-Jul-2015 16:23

Yup it was NZ customs apparently....

"I should have clarified it was New Zealand customs ... Probably not too smart when it comes to guns ... Or something that "looks" like one"

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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mdooher

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#1343167 14-Jul-2015 16:30

If true, what's the bet we get a twit from customs saying something like

"It is our job to protect New Zealand's borders. We take any suggestion of firearms extremely seriously. We used international best practice in diffusing the situation in the safest manner possible. I am pleased to say in this case none of my staff were hurt and we will continue to protect New Zealand from unregulated imports"

Matthew

macuser

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#1343180 14-Jul-2015 16:46

The graphics cards would have been well over top of the Gun looking object so they would have needed to remove them to inspect, and I'm sure they didn't know how to remove a GPU from a PCI-E slot.

Michaelfjs

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#1343185 14-Jul-2015 17:01

Good job, serves them right for having a stupid gun shaped cooler in their PC. It's bloody obvious that you shouldn't have anything that even looks like a gun while going through customs.

NZ customs did a good job.

Michaelfjs

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#1343186 14-Jul-2015 17:03

DravidDavid: I completely fail to see how anyone would see that on an x-ray and think "gun".

I completely fail to see how anyone would see a gun on an x-ray and not think "gun".

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