Cheap cigarettes in Europe?

PolishBigSpender

Lindy-Lou wrote: »

:exclamati I have just got back from the Canary Islands and a word of warning as I got stopped by Immigration. I honestly did not know the duty free allowance is different from the mainland, as I assumed that the allowance was the same as for coming in from Spain. Although the CI's are under Spanish law, the taxation rules are different!! You can only bring in 200 cigarettes from CT's and I had my extras confiscated - ouch!!! Check the country before you go!!

Expensive mistake. _pale_

Did you not read the large posters, prominently displayed throughout all UK airports informing you about the rules?

smiiiithy wrote:

We are looking at bringing back our limit in cigarettes & tobacco costing around £1,300.

With such an excess, don't be too surprised if you get stopped by Customs. Bear in mind that 3200 is a guideline, not a limit - Customs can seize as little as 200 if they believe that they're intended for re-sale.

Smiiithy

3200 per head is the level above which customs might consider to be suspicious. Id be very surprised if customs batted an eye lid at a couple bringing 6400 cigarettes from Crete to England

Lindy-Lou_2

Yes Phatbear you are right, the Customs guy was good looking!!

Polishbigspender - perhaps you have more time than me to spend at airports and frequent them more than I do.

For your information, I posted this as a warning to others not to avoid others making the same mistake as me. It was a genuine mistake as I am a smoker, and also I was travelling with another adult who also had an entitlement. Judging by your comments, you seem quite an expert, I get the distinct impression that you are a non-smoker who is either anti-smoking or brings them in for 'others'!!

PolishBigSpender

Smiiithy wrote: »

3200 per head is the level above which customs might consider to be suspicious. Id be very surprised if customs batted an eye lid at a couple bringing 6400 cigarettes from Crete to England

I wouldn't 'assume' anything in so far as Customs in the UK go. If you and your girlfriend are bringing in 6400 (which is right at the top of the guideline that Customs set) - they might very well simply assume that you're planning to resell them.

Even mentioning that you might give some away is enough grounds for seizure.

Lindy-Lou wrote:

Polishbigspender - perhaps you have more time than me to spend at airports and frequent them more than I do.

For your information, I posted this as a warning to others not to avoid others making the same mistake as me. It was a genuine mistake as I am a smoker, and also I was travelling with another adult who also had an entitlement. Judging by your comments, you seem quite an expert, I get the distinct impression that you are a non-smoker who is either anti-smoking or brings them in for 'others'!!

I'm a non smoker, but that has nothing to do with not being able to comply with instructions that are prominently displayed throughout most/all UK airports. British customs are notoriously tough

Were you stopped in the Blue or Green lane, incidentally? Often, going through the Blue lane in EU airports without the telltale green stripe (which says that you're exempt from Customs control as you're coming from an EU destination) on your luggage is a guaranteed way to be stopped. I know this, because I made the same mistake once before 2004.

Lindy-Lou_2

Polishbigspender - please get down off your soap box - I am neither colour blind or stupid !! Judging by your expertise you never make a mistake in life. Please note that I did not post this for the benefit of you to analyse, as I said earlier, it was so that others did not do the same.

Smiithy have a good holiday, just double check before you go for your own personal satisfaction, if you post anymore on here, the frequent airport user' (or maybe he is a Customs Officer) will be on your tail next ...... lol

phatbear

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Even mentioning that you might give some away is enough grounds for seizure.


British customs are notoriously tough

Were you stopped in the Blue or Green lane, incidentally? Often, going through the Blue lane in EU airports without the telltale green stripe (which says that you're exempt from Customs control as you're coming from an EU destination) on your luggage is a guaranteed way to be stopped.

Allow me to address your post one part at a time

As you have said quie rightly 3200 is a guideline, however I have let people go with far more than that because they have managed to convinvce me the items were for their own personal consumption, and statting that some are gifts, not payment in kind, is no reason to seize such items, and in court the officer would'nt have a leg to stand on if he used this is as a reason for seizure.

Britsh customs are not only notoriously tough we are also very very good looking and charming too.

Claiming that anyone arriving from the eu is exempt from customs control is poop anyone arriving from an international destination is subject to customs control. Your mention of the white tags is actually incorrect as, in attempt to confuse the tough, charming, goodlooking customs officers, the canaries have an annoying habit of using the EU tags

all the best

Mr B

Silk

phatbear wrote: »

Britsh customs are not only notoriously tough we are also very very good looking and charming too.

all the best

Mr B

You forgot to mention "Modest" too
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

PolishBigSpender

phatbear wrote: »

As you have said quie rightly 3200 is a guideline, however I have let people go with far more than that because they have managed to convinvce me the items were for their own personal consumption, and statting that some are gifts, not payment in kind, is no reason to seize such items, and in court the officer would'nt have a leg to stand on if he used this is as a reason for seizure.

That would be why your colleagues have got away with absolute murder at Dover, then? Considering Customs have lost in court over their behaviour at Dover in the past, particularly concerning operating border customs checks where there legally shouldn't be any, combined with quite a few cases of outright harrasement - you're honestly telling me that you and your colleagues are bothered by what the law says?

Claiming that anyone arriving from the eu is exempt from customs control is poop anyone arriving from an international destination is subject to customs control. Your mention of the white tags is actually incorrect as, in attempt to confuse the tough, charming, goodlooking customs officers, the canaries have an annoying habit of using the EU tags

That's an issue for the UK to take up with the EU if the Canaries are using the green stripes when they're clearly considered a non-EU destination for the purposes of duties.

However, you're the one that's wrong here. The specific existence of the blue lane in airports is to bypass Customs control.

I quote.

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/customs/customs_controls/baggage_controls/index_en.htm wrote:

1. Are you taking an intra-EU flight ? (Ex: Dublin - Warsaw) Your baggage is not subject to any customs control on your arrival in Warsaw (Note 2) You leave the airport by the exit reserved for intra-EU travellers . Your registered baggage will have been given a green-edged label in Dublin which identifies it as baggage not subject to control on arrival. (Note 2)

What hope do travellers have when UK Customs don't even know the law?

UK Customs are a law onto themselves - if they want to pull you and find spurious reasons for taking your cigarettes, I'm sure they will. The odds of many people having the money and the guts to fight it through the courts? Next to none.

phatbear

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

However, you're the one that's wrong here. The specific existence of the blue lane in airports is to bypass Customs control.

I quote.

[/LIST]What hope do travellers have when UK Customs don't even know the law?

UK Customs are a law onto themselves - if they want to pull you and find spurious reasons for taking your cigarettes, I'm sure they will. The odds of many people having the money and the guts to fight it through the courts? Next to none.

Well that told me, oooooh hang on nope i've just noticed something also on the page you supplied is

"
Note 2 : The information on this page does not prejudge, where necessary, to the need of controls connected, on the one hand, with the safety of air transport operations, and on the other hand, to prohibitions or restrictions enacted by Member States, in as far as they are compatible with the treaties establishing the European Communities (Drugs, weapons, public health)."

in other words it doesnt matter who you are or where your from we can stop you to look for p&r's add to that the fact that under sect 163a of the customs and excise management act 1979 we can stop EU travellers to search for dutyable goods which could be held for a commercial purpose then that should covers the bases, but thanks for your input anyway.

dacouch

There are two types of people I find are best not to argue with and that is Police Officers and Customs Officers.

We came back from a drinking holiday in Europe in a campervan and the customs officer told us off for not bringing enough tobacco back!