A strange experience travelling through Mexico

My experience on a Mexican ADO bus — Why I was the only one checked at the checkpoint

Travelling on a bus through Mexico can be an exciting experience, filled with beautiful scenery, fascinating culture, and friendly people. However, it can also be an experience that raises questions and concerns, especially when it comes to checkpoints and document checks. On a recent trip on a Mexican ADO bus, I had an experience that left me puzzled and a little worried.

If you’re not familiar with Mexican ADO buses, they’re a popular form of transportation for both locals and tourists. They’re known for their comfortable seats, air conditioning, and on-board amenities like WiFi and snacks. However, they’re also known for their strict security measures. Before boarding the bus, passengers are required to provide their personal information, including their name, date of birth, and nationality. This information is recorded and stored in a database for security purposes.

I found the process of providing my information a little intrusive, but I understood the need for security measures, especially in a country like Mexico, which has had its share of safety concerns. Overall, the process was smooth and efficient, and I felt confident that I was in good hands.

About halfway through our journey, the bus stopped at a checkpoint where a 3 officials got onto the bus. At first, I didn’t think much of it. After all, we had all provided our information before boarding the bus, so it seemed like a routine security check.

However, as the guards made their way down the aisle, I noticed that they didn’t really check any passengers and kind of knew exactly where they wanted to go. As luck would have it — where they wanted to go was directly to me. I was the only person asked to show my passport. Everyone else on the bus, including other tourists were not looked at twice.

Initially I asked a bunch of questions to the guard about why it was necessary for me and only me to show my passport so but he didn’t seem interested in answering any questions.

Some fruitless back and forth and eventually I did hand my passport over. A quick look at an Australian passport logo was enough for him as he flipped through the pages of the passport in what seemed like an authenticity check of the document itself as opposed to any checks for official stamps in my passport.

The experience was a little rattling and left me feeling uneasy. It was also roughly 3AM and dozing in and out of poor quality sleep on the bus did not do me any favours during the encounter.

After reflecting on the experience, I though about a few possible reasons for why I was targeted at the checkpoint. One possibility is that the guards were looking for illegal immigrants, and I may have fit a certain profile that they were targeting. It’s possible that factors such as my appearance, behaviour, or background may have contributed to their decision to search me and not others.

Another possibility is that I simply caught the attention of the guards for some reason. Perhaps they saw me taking photos, or noticed that I was the only one on the bus wearing a certain type of clothing or accessory. Whatever the reason, it’s clear that the guards had some reason to single me out for a closer inspection.

My experience at the checkpoint highlights the importance of being prepared for unexpected security checks, especially when travelling in a foreign country. Always have your passport handy when you are travelling — it can save you a lot of trouble in certain situations.