Passport number taken for bringing toooo many ciggies into the country

[rosiew]

Hi Answerbankers, i little over 4 years ago, customs stopped me at the airport and took my passport number and all my duty free fags off me. Now before you non smokers start(lol) i was not bringing them back to sell like most people do, it was for my own personal use. Does anyone know how long they keep it on the system. Im going away soon and i want to bring just a couple of hundred more than my allowance. Im worried that if i got caught again they may do something horrible. You fellow smokers will know what i mean, i dont expect non smokers to have any sympathy

[ummmm]

Prudie...we are not the 'last minority' we chose to smoke.

[sandyRoe]

Does an addict have a choice? I've tried to stop and can't.

[ummmm]

Yes they do. We shouldn't have started in the first place. Giving up smoking is not like giving up heroin. There will be no physical pain.

I'm not saying it's not hard...just that we're not a minority.

[rosiew]

There is when you start hitting the husband cos of the mood swings lol. Seriously, no we should not have started in the 1st place, i agree, but when i started in the late 70's you were "cool" then, saying that tho, i would rather be addicted to nicotine than Heroin.

[Prudie]

Ummm your definition of minority must be different to mine - I meant that as little over 20% of the UK are smokers that simply makes us 'in the minority' just by numbers.

[ummmm]

Don't worry rosie as smokers we are the last minority (?) group that it's OK to pick on!

I read it like you were comparing smokers to other minority groups. Like gays or blacks. They use to get picked on once.

[Jemisa]

When I brought in 2 extra cartons I was stopped at customs and was made to pay the duty on all.
Which made them cost just the same as if I'd bought 'em in the local corner shop.
I Didn't do it again - - - - -

jem

[Dris]

My husband brings back as much as he can pack in.He also bring back a load of rolly up baccy as well -takes up less room.
Im an ex smoker -stopped for 7years now but havent a prob with anyone who smokes its just a personal choice.
I wouldnt even give it a second though how many you manage to cram in -ive seen the day we had stuff confiscated but those days are long gone.

[mollykins]

What's the point in intentionally breaking the law, especially when you've been caught doing it before?

Is it worth the risk?

[Dris]

Its not breaking the law Molly now we are in the EU its guidelines..It was before though.
We rarely see customs officers when we return from an EU country-in fact I cant remember the last time must be years ago.

[mollykins]

i thought someone said the canaries were different meaning there is a proper limit not a guideline.

[Prudie]

The guidelines are for participating countries within the EU. The Canaries are not included in this and so, along with going outside of these areas, the specified limit is 200.

[Bobbisox]

why would they do this?
We went to Poland last year and was asked by someone to bring them 5 sleeves back and as they came into the EU in 2004, we did, only to be told the laws were different for these countries, they took all but 2OO from Bill but never took his passprt from him, I wrote to our MP to complain about the lack of guidelines for this, he took it up in the HoC only to be told "The economy was still weak in Poland"
lesson here...we don't bring any back for anyone,,,ever!

[naomi24]

Why would anyone do anything that's going to worry them, or jeopardise their reputation? How much are you going to save by sneaking extra cigarettes into the country? £50? £100? Is a pittance really worth the stress? Go to the corner shop and buy what you need legitimately.

[Dris]

O well you learn something new every day.
Kinda a bit hit and miss.The Canaries are part of Spain and are in the EU but dont follow the EU customs guidelines. Im not disputing it just cant understand it - same as with Poland.

Little wonder people get confused.

[boxtops]

Am I right in believing that the Canaries - and Gibraltar - have freeport status although geographically within the EU and this is why non-EU rates for customs still apply to them?

[Bobbisox]

I have questioned this too Haggis by asking where in Newcastle Airport are there signs telling you not to bring cigarettes in from Poland in exess, furthermore, they should be forbidden by EU Rules , to sell you them in the departing countries knowing you have probably handed them a wad of cash free gratis!!