THE Sun won a historic victory yesterday to stop Customs bullies picking on booze cruise day-trippers.

Chancellor Gordon Brown said smokers and drinkers must NOT be treated like criminals when they stock up with cheap alcohol and cigarettes on the Continent.

They can now bring back 3,200 smokes for their own use.
That is FOUR TIMES the guideline allowance that arrogant Customs chiefs had set.

Restrictions on sparkling wines and hand-rolling tobacco were also eased.

Cross-Channel travellers still risk being harassed by Customs jobsworths if they exceed the recommended limits. But the officers will have to PROVE shoppers are smuggling instead of ASSUMING it.

And first-time offenders who conceal ridiculous amounts in their cars will not have the vehicles impounded.

The climbdown was a huge boost for passengers planning pre-Christmas ferry jaunts. It came only 11 days after The Sun launched a hard-hitting crusade to protect the rights of ordinary folk.

Last night a Sun spokesman said: “We are delighted by the outcome.”

Our booze cruise crusade forced an end to the Customs bullies’ blitz on innocent trippers taking advantage of lower prices in other EU countries.

Officials were ORDERED to stop treating ordinary folk like criminals.

And new guidelines were issued, increasing the amount of ciggies and champagne that could be brought back to the UK without sparking interrogation by arrogant Customs jobsworths.

The recommended maximum of 800 fags went up to 3,200.
The hand-rolling tobacco amount rose from 1kg to 3kg.

And champagne will be treated as ordinary wine — meaning drinkers can bring back 120 bottles instead of 80.

The changes were made by Chancellor Gordon Brown after The Sun highlighted the plight of hundreds of people who fell victim to Customs.

Many had their cars impounded then sold or destroyed because they had exceeded booze and ciggie limits set by the Treasury — even though no such restrictions exist under European law.

Customs men and women at ports such as Dover were sent memos spelling out the new policy yesterday — and told to act immediately.

In future, the onus is on them to prove someone is guilty of smuggling, instead of the shopper having to show their goods are for personal use.

People with a variety of cigarette brands will be assumed to be aiming to sell them on the black market because smokers tend to stick to one make.

But cars and vans will no longer be confiscated if the drivers agree to pay duty on wildly excessive amounts and they are first-time offenders.

The Sun campaign told how Customs and Excise staff flouted a High Court ruling which outlawed random checks on ordinary travellers. An appeal against that will be heard next week.

Customs minister John Healey said yesterday: “The Government recognises, respects and supports the right of UK citizens to shop as they choose across country borders in the EU.

“But our determination to prevent smuggled imports without the duty due to the UK is also absolute.”

Jubilant cross-Channel shoppers hailed The Sun’s Hands Off Our Booze Cruises campaign victory.

Steve Moody, 43, of Sutton, Surrey said aboard the P&0 Stena ferry Pride of Burgundy: “Thank you for speaking up for us. You have given us a voice.”

Liz Day, 62, of Kingston, Surrey, added: “The Sun has shown me my rights. I wasn’t going to let Customs get away with anything.”

Even some senior Customs officers praised our campaign.

One based at a South coast port said: “The Sun’s victory will be welcomed by most of my colleagues who have never wanted to target booze cruisers.

“We joined up to stop drugs being smuggled into the country and now we will be able to concentrate more of our resources on that.”

A Sun spokesman said: “We were sure Gordon Brown and his Treasury team would see reason once they realised the scale of what was happening.

“We are delighted for our millions of readers, since they were the ones suffering from an unjust and unfair policy.”

By JOHN KAY
Chief Reporter

THE historic Sun campaign that ended in Government humiliation yesterday began when a granny was busted by Customs bullies and stranded 200 miles from home.

It took just 11 days for our stories about Pam Ellis, 63, and other victimised day-trippers to change Treasury policy.

She was frogmarched off a coach at Dover by Customs officers because she had 1,000 cigarettes, a litre of sherry, 2.7 kilos of tobacco and 200 cigars.

Pam was held for two hours and frisked while the bus left without her. She had just £20 to get home to Nottingham.

Historic ... campaign

This is the timetable of events which forced the Government’s incredible U-turn.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 18: We tell the shocking story of how Pam was treated.

SATURDAY, 19:
The Sun launches a massive front-page campaign against Customs officials who are defying a High Court order which outlaws random searches at ports. We call on our ten million readers to help beat the Booze Cruise Bullies.

Disabled Colin Bishop, 48, of Bristol, tells how his £13,000 Ford Focus was seized by Customs because he had ten cartons of cigs. He says: “They are thieves.”

MONDAY, 21:
Hundreds of innocent trippers contact The Sun to reveal how Customs bullies have ruined their lives. Officers confiscate their cars and then sell them.

Victory ... Sun front page

TUESDAY, 22:
Two Customs officers come forward to back our campaign and reveal that the more trippers they target the more they can earn.

WEDNESDAY, 23:
The Sun pays £130 for two cars put up for auction by Customs. Thirty impounded vehicles were sold at giveaway prices. Leaked e-mail reveals Customs chiefs had ordered officers to target passengers with tiny amounts of booze and cigs.

THURSDAY, 24:
We report how dozens of illegal traders openly sell cigarettes in a London street — untroubled by Customs.

Support ... Customs

FRIDAY, 25:
The Sun announces that an armada of readers are mobilised. Sun girls hand out stickers, T-shirts and leaflets on ferries and in Calais. The message is: “I’m A Sun Reader. I Know My Rights.”

SATURDAY, 26:
We launch a £1 trip to France offer. Treasury bosses warn their staff not to get nicked on booze cruises.

TUESDAY, 29: VICTORY DAY.
Even Customs men attack Government policy. Economic Secretary John Healey signals a total cave-in by the Government.

Your thanks
flood in

THE Sun was flooded with congratulations from readers.

This email from Mark Lane of Willenhall, West Midlands, was typical:

"The Sun really is the newspaper for the people. The campaign against Customs persecuting ordinary people bringing back tobacco has paid off. Now we can all bring back a much higher amount.
Thank you my Sun."