UK Customs Checks

[j.sabourn]

I would get lost today , that’s How we found our way round , used the pubs for markers and way points to pop in and recuperate . Cheers JS

[Doug Hardie]

The only place I used to see custom activity involving Rummage squads constantly applied was UK ports. Other places it was the port Custom officer only that came on board for a cup of tea or a tot with the purser. I remember being in Bombay and the chief Custom officer was having a comfort break in the accommodation toilet block, some bright spark thought it was one of the dock crew as he couldn’t see any feet under the toilet door He dumped a half bucket of water over the door to make him uncomfortable . This meant the Ship got a real search. The purser was extremely angry as he had already paid a back hander to avoid a search. The bright spark had very rough trip after that with double duties etc.
Doug

[Brett Hayes]

Thank you, Des, for your amusing reply.
Brett

[John Arton]

Had rummage squad on board in Rotterdam a couple of times, after they had completed a cabin Search they would put a chalk mark on the door frame to indicate that cabin had been searched and nothing found.
Going to any north African port you had to have a stash of cigarettes ready to hand over to customs, immigration, port health, harbour master plus all and sundry rag tag of so called officials.
Failure to have the stash meant that customs would just help themselves to the bond lockers contents and then fine you further for and incorrect quantity on the bonded stores contents declaration.
Used be quite amusing watching all those barstewards fighting over who got what
Rgds
J.A

[Johnny Kieran]

I often got stopped by the cops while driving through France, into a layby just after leaving the docks to be robbed, but, I never let them have anything. They always asked for ciggies, but I didn't smoke and told them so. Then it was gear out and search, but I never had anything for them. Thieving bunch of tossers. One thing about UK cops, I've never heard of them doing that to foreign drivers.

[Keith Tindell]

My very last trip to sea, and paying off in Hamburg, this was 1964. One of the ABs had bought a .22 rifle, from the skipper of all people, and he did not declare this rifle. On arrival from holland to Dover there was the usual milling about with the ships crew, now fully refreshed from the bar on the ferry, customs were checking some bags, and marking with chalk, we thought we were clever and slipped his bag on the trolley with our checked bags, no way, they were on to that in a flash, he was fined, and the rifle confiscated, with the option of applying for a licence and on payment to claim. I spoke with him some months later, and he never bothered to claim it back. just imagine if we had done that today, he would have been enjoying a little stay in jail.

[James Curry]

#35 Only trouble I ever had with French police was self inflicted, caught speeding sveral times.

[happy daze john in oz]

Must say I have never seen any of them on the cruise ships we have been on.
Not in passenger accommodation but maybe in crew quarters.

But in a couple of ports in Vietnam our passports were held by the local police while we were in port.
Odd thing was we were allowed ashore without them.

[j.sabourn]

Maybe thought you might sell them ashore John .My first time in Cuba saw the crowd all going ashore dressed in suits collar and ties in tropical heat. Saw them all coming ,back dressed in T shirts and boxer shorts and hangovers , and probably other things to follow at a later date, usually 3 days later. JS

[happy daze john in oz]

No doubt they went ashore dressed to kill in search of the local ladies.
But if they were like so many others I am sure they would have given those guys a present to leave with.
Amazing how so many ladies around the world at that time were so generous.