Pentagon Requests Toronto Shop Cease Shipping Sex Toys to Bahrain

A Toronto-based sex toy shop, Bonjibon, has found itself at the center of an unusual situation involving the Pentagon and US military personnel. Co-founder Grace Bennett discovered two returned items, including butt plugs, along with letters from the Pentagon asking her business to cease shipments of such products to military personnel stationed at a US naval base in Bahrain.

The Pentagon’s request stems from the strict regulations in Bahrain, which prohibits “pornographic materials or devices.” Bennett explained that her shop does not even ship products to Bahrain due to local laws, suggesting that someone may have forwarded the items to military personnel without understanding the implications. “We didn’t even know it was going to Bahrain until it came back to us months later, and it just kind of unraveled this whole… hilarious moment,” she told CTV News.

Bennett expressed a mix of amusement and concern regarding the situation. “We got a huge kick out of it,” she said, adding that she believes in allowing customers to order what they want. “But, there is a juxtaposition of a military person in a foreign country ordering butt plugs and having no understanding that those items are illegal in the country that they’re in,” she noted.

The Pentagon’s correspondence highlighted that the items violated regulations set by the Department of Defense, which includes a list of prohibited items for Bahrain. Specifically, the 2024 guidelines from the Pentagon’s Transportation Command outline restrictions on “pornographic material,” which encompasses not only sex toys but also handcuffs and nudity magazines. The Naval Supply Systems Command also advises against bringing or shipping such items into the conservative Gulf nation.

Bennett took issue with the tone of the Pentagon’s letters, suggesting that the responsibility lies elsewhere. “This sounds like a you problem,” she remarked, emphasizing that the error originated from within the military’s own supply chain.

The situation raises questions about how military personnel navigate cultural norms in foreign countries. While the items in question were deemed inappropriate for Bahrain, issues surrounding sexual expression and identity continue to be contentious within the US military as well. Despite the humor in the situation, Bennett expressed disappointment that her customers did not receive their orders. “There’s many layers of hilarity to this that we can all just poke fun at, but I’m sad that they didn’t get their order,” she stated.

Bennett’s experience underscores the complexities of international shipping and the importance of understanding local laws, particularly in conservative regions. As the story unfolds, it serves as a reminder of the sometimes humorous, yet serious, consequences of cultural misunderstandings.