Mr Healy ... trip warning

By TOM WORDEN

TREASURY bosses warned staff going on a booze cruise to France: “Watch out you don’t get nabbed by Customs.”

The civil servants from the Treasury Sports and Social Club went on a jaunt to Calais and Boulogne last Saturday.

But before going they were given instructions not to get their coach seized for bringing back too much booze or cigs.

A source at the Treasury — which is in charge of
Customs and Excise — said: “It shows NOBODY is safe from the Customs men.”

A top civil servant in the department of Economic Secretary John Healey sent an emailed memo to senior colleagues.
It was passed on to staff going on the trip to prevent embarrassment to the ministry.

The memo read: “I don’t mean to pour cold water on your fun. But the media would love the Treasury coach to be impounded, with ‘Treasury staff caught on booze cruise’ as a headline.

“I am sure that nobody would presume to use this trip to bring back anything more than they are allowed under
Customs rules.

“But could we ask you to gently remind those who are going on the trip that they are entitled to bring as much tobacco and alcohol as they like provided it is for own use.

“But if they do bring in more than the amounts below they may have to convince Customs that it is for their own use:
“800 cigarettes, 1kg of hand-rolling tobacco, 10 litres of spirits.”

Attached to the email was the Customs and Excise leaflet giving guidance for passengers on booze cruises.

The source said: “Imagine the embarrassment if a Treasury coach was impounded and passengers accused of smuggling. The email got a real laugh in the office.

“Even civil servants in the department in charge of Customs live in fear of being called bootleggers.

“The memo also seems to suggest Customs men are seizing goods from genuine day-trippers.”

Warning ... booze

The booze cruise passed without problems.

But Customs officers have caused outrage by branding innocent day-trippers as smugglers.

The Sun has told how people heading for France to take advantage of cheaper prices have had their goods and vehicles seized.

Booze cruisers can bring as much drink and tobacco as they like from EU countries for their own consumption or as gifts.

But Customs chiefs issued their own guidelines and are even flouting a High Court ruling which banned them from carrying out random searches.

Last night the Treasury said staff were handed leaflets giving the limits as they boarded the bus.

A spokesman said: “They were informed of the legal situation over cross-border shopping.

“The Government has always made clear that we are on the side of honest shoppers bringing back as much as they want for their own use.”