Public Servant Lifestyle

Holidaymakers are reminded to be extra cautious when buying souvenirs to bring back from their travels. The goods they buy freely abroad may be illegal in the UK.

Customs minister Paul Boateng said: "Every year millions of tourists flock to Europe and far away destinations and bring back an ssortment of gifts and mementos that look innocent but can in fact be illegal.

"Most travellers are aware of the rules concerning drugs, alcohol and tobacco, but unsuspecting passengers must bear in mind that unusual souvenirs and gifts may be banned in the UK. These include not just the obviously dangerous items like flick knives but goods such as coral, ivory and animal skins, whose trade damages the environment and endangers rare species.

Think Before You Buy

"These goods are rightly and commonly seized by Customs officers. We owe it to each other and to future generations to protect the world we live in, so think before you buy."

Customs have updated the Guide for Travellers' - Notice 1, which offers advice on the items that passengers cannot bring back into the UK. Passengers caught in possession of prohibited goods will have them seized and could face fines or even imprisonment.

Last year Customs seized over 1100 prohibited weapons and 3832 derivatives of endangered species. People caught smuggling these types of goods into the UK could face a fine and or up to seven years in prison. Drug smuggling is a crime that carries a maximum prison sentence of life imprisonment.

In accordance with EU guidance people travelling from within the EU to the UK can bring back, for their own personal use, the following:

800 Cigarettes

200 cigars

1 kg of Hand Rolling Tobacco

10 litres of spirits

110 litres of beer

90 litres of wine

Travellers bringing back more than the above must be able to satisfy customs officers that the goods are for their own consumption. If they can't the goods and any vehicle used to smuggle the goods may be seized. The maximum sentence for tobacco smuggling is seven years.

Last year in the London region (which includes, Heathrow, Gatwick and Waterloo International) the following were seized:

Over 230 offensive weapons, including flick knives, swordsticks, machetes and knuckledusters

Over 600 CS gas canisters and pepper sprays

Live animals, rare plants and caviar

Examples include:

21kgs of coral, discovered in the shoulder bag of a passenger arriving at Gatwick from Mauritius. Customs officers explained to the passenger that coral was protected and the goods were seized

A passenger arriving at Heathrow from Tenerife declared 6 flick knives in the Red Channel, unsure if they could brought into the UK. The knives are prohibited offensives weapons and were seized from the passenger

One passenger arriving at Heathrow from Russia had three hard sided suitcases full of caviar. Each passenger arriving from outside the EU is allowed to bring in to the UK 250 grms of Caviar. The 3 suitcases contained 92 kgs of Caviar which was seized

Some travellers also post goods from abroad whilst they are on holiday. Customs Officers are also based at International postal depots in the UK and detect prohibited goods arriving from overseas

At Mount Pleasant postal depot in London 10 'death star' offensive weapons were seized after being discovered in a package arriving from the USA

In spring 2003 3 young Spurthigh tortoises were discovered by a Customs cutter onboard a Polish vessel which had come from Morocco. Customs contacted Skye Serpentarium Reptile World, who agreed to take the tortoises. The SSPCA looked after them overnight and they were transported to Skye the following day. All are now doing well

More information available in Travel Information, Gifts, Holidays