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Thanks Margaret,

I assure you and everyone that we will be careful - we have no intention of falling foul of any laws in any country we visit.

I know there are those who take chances, I simply do not have the necessary wotsits to take such risks.

Sounds like a bit of a cheeky French law .

Is there a similar sneaky law wrt bringing back wine or is it a matter of coming home with as much as I can fit in my folding camper .

As far as I can tell no sane Frenchman (or woman) would ever buy wine or cigarettes in the UK or Ireland to take back to France.

If there is such a person then they are either extremely rich, and money is no object, or they are ready for some psychiatric help!

Quote: Originally posted by Travelling-man on 26/4/2007

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Neither my wife or I smoke but some friend who do have asked us to bring back as much cigarettes and tobacco as possible when we return. Does anyone know how much we can legally bring back into the country? 

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I categorically refuse to break the law on behalf of other people ..... who count out to the nearest penny the actual costs of such goods and don't take one iota of risk!   One of my colleagues used to do it ...... damned if I will!

I have been stopped by Customs on a few occasions as I travel a lot.  On one occasion they asked me to empty my pockets, they went through my wallet, they took everything out of the glove compartments and went through it all with a fine tooth comb, they even checked text messages on my mobile ..... and were looking for 'lists' to show that I could have been buying for others!  I NEVER allow myself to be put in such a position as I would lose my livelihood.

The Customs guys are well trained.  They will set up 'trick' questions for you .... and take you right into their trap. They will ask the same question twice .... they will ask whether you are totally confident that the answer you gave was truthful!   The are out to get you!  They will get you if they can.

I know ......... loads of people will say they've got away with it.   But what if you are the one that doesn't?

Let's face it ..... you may well have recorded with your doctor that you do not smoke ..... you may have taken out life insurance and said you do not smoke. And yet you have 400 B&H on board for somebody who is going to pay you the precise price?!!!   Many government bodies now have access to 'databases' ..... do you want to take the risk .... for somebody else?

Anyone who asks me to bring back ciggies etc for them is going to get nothing out of me.  My car, my money, my job, my reputation, my record (yes, a criminal record if I got done for smuggling) available for all to see?!!  No thanks!

Oozat

Crikey Oozat, stop it, will ya! You're frightening the life out of me!

Loved your post, by the way.

Quote: Originally posted by Travelling-man on 30/4/2007

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Crikey Oozat, stop it, will ya! You're frightening the life out of me!

Loved your post, by the way.

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LOL!  But you won't do it, will you, Travelling-man?!!  ;-))  Honestly, I just can't see the point of putting yourself at risk ..... for a 'friend' who will just pay you the exact amount the ciggies cost you .... and deny everything if you get caught!    I can't say the word that's going through my head at the moment .... but it rhymes with something you put the oars into in a boat!  

There's no way I'd risk everything for somebody else and a few quid saved on some ciggies.

Oozat

PS  An old college friend works for Customs and there's a Customs guy lives near me, who I meet occasionally.  The stories these guys tell!  ;-)

Please folks ..... don't do it!  Buy for yourself only ... then you won't get caught out.  Yes, I can admit to exceeding limits many years ago on occasions .... but not by much, and only for my own consumption.  It's just not worth the risk.  A couple of weeks ago they stopped every single vehicle in front of me when I came back through Dover.  Then they went through my top-box and car.  On this occasion they didn't put the dogs in, but sometimes they do.  They also dust the driver's compartment etc for signs of explosives.  It's not a nice experience.

On lots of occasions I've passed straight through - and sometimes there haven't even been any customs officers present, so it's easy to think the system is quite lax.  But I'm quite happy that they carry out stringent checks on occasions ... as they then catch those who've got away with it before and who could be terrorists/drug dealers.

Years ago I can remember watching a Customs chap take the bottles out of the boot of a car at Dover ...... one at a time ..... holding them by the neck and showing all of us in the queue that he'd just scored!  He loved it - and made the most of it .... whilst we waited ... and waited ...... and waited ..............

go look at the link i posted thurther up the thread

Oozat,

Do you write for a living? I bet you do :) I'm still laughing.

And please don't worry about me I shall be very careful - I'll mention your name if all else fails!

There is a limit on the amount of cigarettes and alcohol which you can carry in a vehicle in France It does not make any difference where you bought them from

The limit for cigarettes is 5 cartons ,that is per vehicle not per person.It is a very old law resurrected to prevent the cigarettes runs to Spain.French customs operate thro out France not just at border crossings .Cigarettes are 4.50 euros a packet

I have decided not to bother taking a chance on bringing back the "cheap" tobacco from France. Just too much hassle if I were to get caught. My friends are nice people but even so let them take the risks!

Ooozat and other have made me see the dangers involved and to be honest I am too much of a coward to take the chance.

Thanks lads.