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Topic: UK Customs  (Read 2710 times)

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UK Customs
« on: February 02, 2004, 06:00:59 PM »
Hi, my name is Melissa and I am a smoker [smiley=smoking.gif]

Okay, so I want to bring back cigarettes for my own consumption. Based on what I have read, if you are traveling from a EU country you can bring back 3200 cigarettes. But if you are traveling from a non-EU country, you can only bring back 200 cigarettes.  I don’t ever recall anyone at Heathrow ever looking at my luggage let alone ask how many cigarettes I have. Is it safe to assume I can take more than 200 cigarettes back with me?
Anyone, anyone, Bueller?
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Re: UK Customs
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2004, 06:15:13 PM »
My experience with (mostly Gatwick) UK customs is that it seems to work on the honour system!  No beagles running around sniffing your luggage or anything.  I mean, they do "spot checks" if you go through the Nothing to Declare section.  But I've only ever seen one and never been picked myself (and that's including the last time when we had about a pound of beef jerky in our carry-on bags...!).
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Re: UK Customs
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2004, 06:22:45 PM »
I've been through Heathrow Customs with more than the allowable total of ciggies.  It's really a game of chance; they might stop you or they might not.

My golden rule has been to never bring more than I can afford to lose.  ;D
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Re: UK Customs
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2004, 04:53:33 PM »
I don't know if this TV show is just local or what. It's called Bristol Airort and is very much like the other airport shows that have been on. The other night they featured people bringing in more than they should and it was interesting to note what the customs folks looked for.

First off, they tune in to times when such planes would be arriving. Tenerife was definitely targeted because Spain is not an EU country and a lot of folks don't know that, and cigarrettes are especially cheap on the Canaries.

So, Tenerife plane comes in, Customs comes to attention. You might as well give the game up if you have tried to bring in more. And they will take it all, not just leave you your allowance. They know people do it, so you might as well just throw your hands up and say "ya got me".

Oh, and lil ole Bristol Airport has a sniffing dog...doing his duty on the conveyor belt between plane and baggage claim. You don't even see the little critter.

So, what can you do? My guess is that you personally should not smell like cigarrettes. If I were an agent, I'd probably be secretly trying to suss out folks who do smoke. Next, I'd wait. Stall. Don't come out with others, but wait until a big plane-load comes through from someplace where cigs wouldn't be brought in from.

Oh, not that I have experience.  ;D
I don't smoke and maybe have only once brought in a single bottle of liquor...and I still have it after years. Duty free isn't really my interest. Just that when I was watching the Bristol Airport show a few thoughts come up. Hmmm...if I wanted to... (LOL.)
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Re: UK Customs
« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2004, 06:37:23 PM »
Thanks so much for all of your feedback. I will follow the rules and only bring back what i am allowed to bring back :-/ Thank goodness we will be taking some other trips over the next few months - I will stock up then [smiley=devilish.gif]
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Re: UK Customs
« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2004, 10:17:47 PM »
Spain is actually a part of the EU...since 1992...maybe the Brits don't want them to be on account of Gilbaltar...but they are... ;) what they are though is a Duty Free Zone like Andorra and even the Brittany Ferries.

In Andorra and FRance/Spain border customs people are very through.  Cigs, CD's, Alcohol and well electronics and tons of other things are much cheaper there.  So there are limits.  Thing is they will sell you whatever you want, but it's the UK, Spanish and French governments that lose out on those taxes so they just wait for those planes to come in.

*takes Spain cap off...

That said I have entered the US with two kilos of dry ham before and numerous other things.  You basically have to throw it away if you get caught.  Unless you are a beligerant fool and piss them off.  I won't encourage anyone to bring more stuff than they should but I have had the blessing of never being caught (knock on wood)...
« Last Edit: February 05, 2004, 10:18:58 PM by vnicepeeps »
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Re: UK Customs
« Reply #6 on: February 08, 2004, 08:23:37 AM »
Correct, vnice...thanks for the clarification!
Cait's advice is what I tend to follow...never take more than you can afford to lose.

It's not that you're going to be thrown into jail for it. They take it all and destroy it. You walk away without it. Not that I am advocating by any means...My point is, if you do decide to bring in more, then give it up. Admit it. They see it all the time. And to try to talk your way out is pointless.

Anyone know what happens when a couple goes through? I mean, if one carried just the right amount, and the other one overdoes it, is it just the stuff from the one person that's siezed?
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Re: UK Customs
« Reply #7 on: February 08, 2004, 03:16:23 PM »
I know crossing from Andorra it's a per family typpe cap in many situations.  I do not know about a couple though.  I would think they would treat you as indivduals.  I have carried cigs and my husband has carried cigs for friends with no problems.
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The wiring in our brain is not static, not irrevocably fixed.  Our brains are adaptable. -Mattieu Ricard

Being ignorant is not so much a shame as being unwilling to learn. -Benjamin Franklin

I have long since come to believe that people never mean half of what they say, and that it is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions. -D.Day

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Re: UK Customs
« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2004, 05:48:33 PM »
Back to a follow up / clarifiaction for missy_jx2.

My understanding ... Spain is in the European community, just like France and the UK, and you can bring back as much tobacco as is reasonable for you personal use ... EXCEPT ...

Certain offshore islands (such as the Canaries in the case of Spain) and the Channel Islands (in the case of the UK) aren't in the EU, even though they belong to Spain / the UK.

In other words - you can bring lots of ciggies from Madrid, no problem, but not from Teneriffe where you're limited to 200.

Wanting to check my understanding before I posted, I found http://www.london-guides.co.uk/chapter/ew1/e1002010.htm which I think confirms what I have just written  :)
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Re: UK Customs
« Reply #9 on: February 08, 2004, 05:59:04 PM »
You are 100% correct oh Graham.  Things like Cigs and alcohol are taxed out the ying yang in Spain except those lovely islands so not much point in buying them there unless in a duty free shopping area.  Spain does have one very nice thing I have yet to find in the UK and that is nice Cuban Rum.  I do not know the UK's position on imports from Cuba.... :-/
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Being ignorant is not so much a shame as being unwilling to learn. -Benjamin Franklin

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Re: UK Customs
« Reply #10 on: February 08, 2004, 06:12:03 PM »
I am only going to bring home 200 cigarettes from the States. I am not a risk taker unfortunately.  :-/I would rather die than get caught with more than my legal allotment.  :P
Thank you all for the information. I leave in just a few short days!   ;D
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Re: UK Customs
« Reply #11 on: February 09, 2004, 07:32:33 PM »
Quote
I do not know the UK's position on imports from Cuba....


No embargoes on Cuban imports in the UK, VNP, so far as I know.

When you get here (I sooooo hope that's soon!) you could order up a bottle of Cuban rum from
http://www.thedrinkshop.com/products/nlpdetail.php?prodid=1165&name=HAVANA%20CLUB%203YO

Now, if you'd like a good cigar to go with that, how about
http://www.simplycigars.co.uk/ ?  What more could a woman ask? ;)



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Re: UK Customs
« Reply #12 on: February 09, 2004, 07:52:51 PM »
Quote


What more could a woman ask? ;)


Oh boy - I could think of a few other things ;)
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Re: UK Customs
« Reply #13 on: February 16, 2004, 06:20:35 AM »
[smiley=sneaky.gif]  A nice supply - no one was there to even asked/look. Naughty girl  [smiley=devilish.gif]
« Last Edit: February 16, 2004, 07:43:14 AM by missy_jx2 »
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