Three Chinese tourists declined to board, and eventually missed, their flight home from an airport in south-central Vietnam, asserting that they had been squeezed for money by customs officers in what appears to be a false claim.

On Monday night, the Chinese were about to complete procedures to exit Vietnam at Cam Ranh Airport in Khanh Hoa Province when they returned to the main hall, denouncing that some customs officers had asked them for ‘coffee money.’

The border police unit then immediately checked footage from the security camera in the immigration section to verify the complaint, one officer told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

“The footage showed that the Chinese tourists only spent 12 seconds in the immigration section and there was no evidence proving customs officers had harassed them,” the border police officer said.

However, as the Chinese tourists remained uncooperative with police, they eventually missed the direct flight to Chengdu.

The border police had to book the case and arranged for the Chinese to board an alternative flight at 1:40 am on Tuesday, but they still refused to board.

“They asked to meet representatives from the Chinese consulate general so we will arrange a phone call for them,” the officer said.

He added that the border security department under the General Department of Security of Vietnam has been briefed on the incident and will provide guidance on how the Chinese should be treated.