BUFFETT ALMOST ARRESTED! (Not kidding)

pbans · Post by **pbans** » October 6, 2006 9:12 pm

classy statement.....works for me.

Post by **SMLCHNG** » October 6, 2006 9:28 pm

pbans wrote:classy statement.....works for me.

Yep.

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » October 6, 2006 9:47 pm

Looks like B-vitamins are in.

FYI: http://www.pamlab.com/Products,Foltx

I still think if they really thought it was ecstasy he would have been arrested and fined a lot more than $380 (and potentially be looking at jail time). Their penalties for that stuff aren't that light.

A great example of when the celeb life isn't too much fun....

I wonder how the container was marked and if the French will bother to test what they confiscated in order to corroberate Jimmy's version? (I believe there are quick and uncomplicated chemical reaction tests for ecstasy that cost less than $380 to run.)

And kudos to Jimmy for having the wisdom to address it in a responsible way.

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » October 6, 2006 9:47 pm

SMLCHNG wrote:
pbans wrote:classy statement.....works for me.
Yep.

me, too

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » October 6, 2006 9:58 pm

They do look a lot alike:

Ecstasy (in some of its many forms):

Folx:

Tiki Bar · Post by **Tiki Bar** » October 6, 2006 10:50 pm

Tequila Revenge wrote:That's my story and I'm stickin' o it.

- Jimmy Buffett
Over the Atlantic and on the way home

BRAVO!!

regalis · Post by **regalis** » October 7, 2006 12:15 am

Hurray! Gotta love it,

Cliff

chippewa · Post by **chippewa** » October 7, 2006 12:20 am

So what was the fine for?

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » October 7, 2006 12:35 am

chippewa wrote:So what was the fine for?

for to keep him out of the Bastille

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » October 7, 2006 12:56 am

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:They do look a lot alike:

Ecstasy (in some of its many forms):

Folx:

if you'll notice the X only has markings on one side while Foltex has this on it's other side

It seems to me as if the French officials were a little over the top with this cause to me they look nothing alike

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » October 7, 2006 12:57 am

chippewa wrote:So what was the fine for?

cheeper to just pay a misdemeanor fine than fight it

NYCsharkling · Post by **NYCsharkling** » October 7, 2006 9:21 am

my friend called me last night about this...said she read it in the INSIDER...sounds like a real quality source..

silverbetty · Post by **silverbetty** » October 7, 2006 10:12 am

Sounds like we can scratch France off the list of exotic locales for the tour this year.

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » October 7, 2006 10:40 am

Quiet and Shy wrote:Looks like B-vitamins are in.

FYI: http://www.pamlab.com/Products,Foltx

I still think if they really thought it was ecstasy he would have been arrested and fined a lot more than $380 (and potentially be looking at jail time). Their penalties for that stuff aren't that light.

A great example of when the celeb life isn't too much fun.... I wonder how the container was marked and if the French will bother to test what they confiscated in order to corroberate Jimmy's version? (I believe there are quick and uncomplicated chemical reaction tests for ecstasy that cost less than $380 to run.)

And kudos to Jimmy for having the wisdom to address it in a responsible way.

and 100 hits of X are a lot.. like a for sale amount
it would seem to me Jimmy needs not the money from
drug sales..

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » October 7, 2006 11:16 am

This is the key right here...the manufacturer's mark, which is typical for prescription drugs:

And, it took all of a minute to search the internet, pull up product pics and see JBs story was legit. It seems the French authorities in Toulon were just plain lazy...or they were too busy calling the press to properly investigate. That's pretty irresponsible and I hope an appropriate letter reaches the right people so they are more professional the next time around.

It's unfortunate he had to publicly share personal medical information in order to disclose the truth. He obviously cares...he may be a "shameless performer" but he's not a shameless person. On the flipside, even though he gave up the hard stuff some 20 years ago, his occupation and history will always keep him under suspiscion...I'm sure he realizes this.

It reminds me of a line from the musical Evita. While visiting Europe as Argentina's first lady, she's offended when a crowd calls her a "whore" and her host responds:

I'm still called an admiral yet I gave up the sea, long ago!

As a side note, with extensive international business travel I always carried a med kit with prescription drugs...sleeping pills (jet lag), broad-spectrum antibiotic, anti-diarrheal...in case I needed them. So, carrying prescriptions may have nothing to do with turning 60.

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » October 7, 2006 11:26 am

ph4ever wrote:
chippewa wrote:So what was the fine for?
cheeper to just pay a misdemeanor fine than fight it

That's the really odd part. It's almost like they were saying...we'll just assume you have too much of a prescription for personal use vs. assuming this is ecstasy, and just fine you for that. If they really thought it was ecstasy (French laws are as strict as the US on this) they'd have to arrest him.

So, maybe they didn't want the hassle of arresting him (or to do their homework and then be embarrassed they were wrong), so they decided to fine him and then smear him in the press. It almost looks like an official bribe to me. And just plain laziness on their part.

Pleasin & Teasin · Post by **Pleasin & Teasin** » October 7, 2006 11:29 am

Quiet and Shy wrote:And, it took all of a minute to search the internet, pull up product pics and see JBs story was legit. It seems the French authorities in Toulon were just plain lazy...or they were too busy calling the press to properly investigate.

Mr Buffett clarified that this 'inspection' took place as he was leaving France, rather than arriving, unusual to say the least. Suggests to me that there was something more deliberate here than a random check.....

Any thoughts?

citcat · Post by **citcat** » October 7, 2006 12:08 pm

Thoughts: hand over the French dummies and the NY Post gossipmonger to the aliens for a little 'butt-diddling' session.
As I said in the other thread.

MrTwain · Post by **MrTwain** » October 7, 2006 12:10 pm

Personally, I'm not shocked, surprised, or disappointed in the least.

In fact, it may be good news for all us phans.

If Jimmy's still young enough to vacation on the French Riviera and get busted for carrying a little exctasy, then he's obviously in good enough shape to keep on touring for a long, long time.

Jimmy's not a kid, and exctasy, while not tylenol, isn't the worst of things that he could be doing. Nothing wrong with a little partying here and there as long as you keep your head.

Have fun, people!

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » October 7, 2006 12:14 pm

Pleasin & Teasin wrote:
Quiet and Shy wrote:And, it took all of a minute to search the internet, pull up product pics and see JBs story was legit. It seems the French authorities in Toulon were just plain lazy...or they were too busy calling the press to properly investigate.
Mr Buffett clarified that this 'inspection' took place as he was leaving France, rather than arriving, unusual to say the least. Suggests to me that there was something more deliberate here than a random check.....

Any thoughts?

I've been "inspected" before while departing countries; although that's usually been in 3rd world vs. developed countries. This does have a somewhat deliberate edge to it, but my guess is the original intent was more of a security check. Although all international commercial passenger luggage is screened pre-flight (heck, even carry-on bottled water is now a problem for some), private passenger luggage may not be (they typically just load it right on the plane)...and this is what they were doing. So a security screening turned into a drug check...by an overzealous and lazy inspector who then went to the press.

No doubt some St. Tropez folks will need to do some damage control...celebs and the wealthy won't like knowing this kind of harrassment -- and subsequent need to reveal personal information -- might await them.