Have you ever seen the show Locked Up Abroad? I stumbled upon the program while channel surfing the other night. I caught a few minutes of the National Geographic Channel show, which centered on a guy who went to Peru with a woman he met at a bar. Unbeknownst to the young man, the woman was attempting to pay off a loan shark by smuggling cocaine (two suitcases full) back into the U.S. While she eventually took the blame, the young man was tied up in legal nightmares for several months. It was a very interesting show, and if anything, it will put a fear of being arrested abroad in you! Other episodes of the show have taken place in Chechnya, the Philippines, Colombia, Bangladesh, Brazil and more. It is on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. The show also offers harrowing looks at people kidnapped while abroad — which is an even scarier prospect. This is certainly a concern for travelers, and preparing yourself, knowing what to do should something serious occur, accidentally or otherwise, is important. Global Traveler covered the topic in a special feature in our July 2008 issue. Click here to read the story. Of the top 10 places where Americans are most likely to get arrested, six of them are in Mexico — Tijuana (1), Guadalajara (2), Nuevo Laredo (3), Mexico City (5), Merida (8) and Nogales (9). The other top spots are London (4), Toronto (6), Nassau, Bahamas (7) and Hong Kong (10). A movie that came to mind while I was watching Locked Up Abroad was Brokedown Palace, with Claire Danes and Kate Beckinsale. It is about two best friends, recent high school graduates, who take a trip to Thailand. After meeting a cute Australian, they follow him to Hong Kong but are arrested in the airport for drug smuggling. The U.S. State Department’s Web site has information for Americans arrested while abroad, with their rights and a guide to what assistance they can expect from the embassies and consulars. -Kimberly Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive