Veteran journalist and media entrepreneur Dele Momodu has recounted how he was almost detained at Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom after officials found 18 mobile phones in his luggage.
Momodu made the disclosure in a video shared on his story on Tuesday from an associate’s page, during a discussion about his use of multiple mobile phones.
He said he currently uses six phones, some of which have dual SIM capabilities, while keeping additional devices in reserve.
Recounting the Heathrow incident, Momodu said he was travelling to South Africa with a senator when airport officials stopped him and questioned him about the number of phones in his possession.
“There was a time I was almost detained at Heathrow Airport. I had 18 phones in my bag. Yeah, when they stopped me, they said, ‘Where are you going?’ I was going to South Africa with the senator… And then they just called the special force to come and put all the phones in a tray. And they were asking me, ‘What do you do for a living?’ I said, ‘I’m a journalist.’ ‘Is that why you are carrying 18 phones?’ I said, ‘I didn’t read anywhere that I can’t carry 18 phones.’”
According to Momodu, the officials subsequently asked him to provide evidence of his profession.
He said that, at the time, he regularly carried an iPad, which he used to show photographs of some of the prominent personalities he had interviewed or met during his career.
Momodu said he deliberately displayed photographs of the late British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, and former United States President Bill Clinton as part of his effort to establish his identity and professional standing.
“I said, ‘So, can you show proof of what you do?’ At that time, I used to carry an iPad, so I brought out the iPad. And, of course, I know how to drop names very well. People don’t know that name-dropping is part of the media. ‘Who do you know? Who have you interviewed? Who have you met?’ You know, then I just opened the iPad, and the first person I pressed was Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Then I brought out President Clinton. That’s the only way a black man would have an air.”
The interviewer observed that the photographs appeared to convince the officials that Momodu was not an ordinary traveller.
Momodu said he remained calm throughout the encounter before the matter was referred to Customs officials for further questioning.
He said Customs officials subjected him to a similar line of questioning and told him that carrying 18 phones could be considered a commercial quantity.
Momodu, however, explained that the devices were old phones rather than new stock intended for sale.
“Then, after that, the next thing they said was that I had to go to Customs. ‘Those 18 phones are commercial quantity.’ I said, ‘They are all old phones.’ ‘Don’t worry.’ Then they took me to Customs. When we got to Customs, the same ritual again. ‘What do you do?’ ‘I’m a journalist.’ ‘Can you show us?’ I brought out my Queen again. And you know, the Queen is the head of the Customs in England,” he said.
