MON 28/10/2002

Net amused ... David at his computer

By JILL MOWAT

FURIOUS David Smith has become the latest victim of Customs chiefs after buying cigarettes on the internet — and having them confiscated.

David, 32, ordered 800 fags and 800 grammes of hand-roll tobacco from a Spanish website for £137.

But the goods were seized by Customs officers BEFORE he received them. David only discovered something was wrong when he emailed the internet firm and was told the goods had been despatched days earlier.

The next morning he received a letter from Customs saying his goods had been seized and were being held in Coventry.

Married David, of Durham, is furious. He hit out after The Sun’s Hands Off Our Booze Cruises campaign revealed Customs staff at ports were seizing punters’ fags, booze and even the vehicles they were carried in.

David said: “I feel like I’ve been robbed.

“This is the first time I have ordered from the net so I have no idea why they targeted me.”

Jobless David, who plans to appeal, bought the tobacco at half price.

His order was under the unofficial limit of 800 fags and 1kg of tobacco that booze cruisers can bring in. But David was told that by law he should have informed Customs and arranged to pay tax.

A Customs spokesman said the sites “are a con” and tax is payable on fags bought on the internet.