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

[madmaggot]

Why on earth do you want to do something illegal, especially when you have already been caught at it once before?
I suppose when you get caught and 'something horrible' happens you will be on here asking for legal advice as to how to 'get off'?

[ummmm]

Don't bother bringing them back then. Or get someone else to carry some.

[bella46]

Dont know how long they keep this info on file, but if you check WWW.Directgov.co.uk file under customs and excise, if you are coming in from an EU country you can bring in as many as 3200 ciggies as long as you have bought in that country (not duty free shop), also that file may be able to help with your question on file. Hope this is of some help.

[Prudie]

Where are you going? I thought you could bring back 3600 within EU for personal use (not the Canaries though).

[rosiew]

Thanks bella and prudie. And Maggot, i suppose you are one of the non smokers.
Ummm - i would never expect someone else to do my dirty work, i either risk it myself or not at all

[bella46]

Hi, sorry it states that there is no limit that you can bring in from an EU Country, but if you have more than 3200 ciggies, it is quite likely that Customs may question if they are for you own use, or if you are selling, I am going to Malta

[Prudie]

Yes just checked and bella is right it's 3200

[Buenchico]

The simple answer to your '"how long?" question is almost certainly "Forever". Once your details are on the UKBA database, as a suspected smuggler, it's unlikely that they'll be removed.

Madmaggot refers to your actions as 'illegal' but, as long as they are genuinely for your own use, you can bring back an UNLIMITED quantity of cigarettes from any EU country. The 3200 'limit' is simply a guideline figure, above which you're more likely to be challenged about your imports. If you believe that your ciggies were seized unlawfully, you should have followed the appeals procedure:
http://customs.hmrc.g...propertyType=document
(The fact that you didn't might look bad when UKBA staff check their database).

However you might like to think yourself lucky that you weren't arriving via a ferry port. The usual procedure there, in the case of excessive tobacco imports, is to seize both the car and the vehicle.

Chris

[rosiew]

Yes i know, it's a shame that im going to the canaries where the cigs are only around 18 euroes a box as apposed to 38 euroes in mainland spain. Thanks to you both for the answers that you gave. Im only guilty of a smoking habit not anything else and i have NEVER been in trouble in my life and the maggot has made me feel like a low down criminal

[Prudie]

Don't worry rosie as smokers we are the last minority (?) group that it's OK to pick on! Mind you people forget how much we contribute to the Inland Revenue.

[Buenchico]

The Canary Islands are actually within the EU but, because of their special tax status, count as 'non-EU' when importing tobacco products. That means that there is a fixed LIMIT (not 'guideline) of 200 cigarettes. Exceeding that quantity will always result in seizure (and, quite possibly, court action) because dong so is a criminal offence.

[rosiew]

That's true Prudie. Thank god that us smokers never beat anyone senseless just for their ciggies. I have never mugged anyone so i can go buy a packet of fags

[Coobeastie]

"Mind you people forget how much we contribute to the Inland Revenue"

Or how little if they all bypass Inland Revenue by smuggling in cigarettes from abroad.

[donkeymike]

Coobeastie if the tax on cigs was the same here as other eu countries it would put a stop to smuggling straight away. Till then i will have a 99 and a packet of green please.

[boxtops]

Could you not do what we do? OH smokes but I don't, so I bring back my own allocation for him too. Still not many from non-EU countries but it's better than nothing.

[maclarencat]

Balance out how much you will save on a couple of hundred extra cigarettes with the trouble you will be in if you get caught. Is it worth it? Probably not. Im an ex smoker and hubby still smokes and I know the temptation is great but not worth the risk. Oh yes and if you do it you will be a criminal. sorry I guess thats not very sympathetic is it?

[4getmenot]

when i last went on hols, i bought loads back for me, all hidden in lining of suitcase. What a crim lol

[boxtops]

you wouldn't have been impressed if they'd pulled you over, 4get....

[JackDanielsU]

Bring back what youre allowed. Simple as.

[trt]

Bring back as many as you can and chance you don't get caught.
If you do get caught just let them confiscate them, cant see them putting you in jail, it happens everyday at all ports and they wouldn't have room.