Duty free question

[tobeloy]

As i will be entering the Uk from a non Eu country the limit I understand is only 200 cigarettes, however someone mentioned to me that you may be able to get around this rule if the packs are incomplete not full 200's and therefore you can bring in more? Myself think that this is crap but just wanted to ask what you think.....cant understand why Canaries are non Eu if they belong to spain?? Cheers people

[dzug]

The Canaries have a special tax status within the EU so are non-standard.

Never heard of the incomplete packet rule - you might get away with not counting one partially used packet in addition to the 200 but if you try to invoke it for multiple open packets I doubt if you will get anywhere other than having the lot confiscated.

[firegirl]

Hiya

I would think that you are wrong in what you say - 200 cigarettes is 200 cigarettes no matter how they are packaged. I regularly go to the Canaries and when I return through UK customs with as many as I can get in my suitcase, I go through the Blue "EU" Channel. The only time I did not do this was when there were quite a few customs officers around and we were the only flight in baggage reclaim, went through the green channel and got pulled over and when they found 800 I played dumb and said "but I have come from Spain" - in theory you are not lying. They let me keep them but told me not to do it again. The worst they will do is seize them, which I think is worth the risk at the price you are paying in the Canaries! Good Luck!