You run the risk of Bulgarian Customs seizing your cigarettes/tobacco at the airport. They invariably scan your luggage and then try to enforce UK guidelines of 1kg of tobacco and 800 cigarettes. Our standard documentation won't help you. Bulgarian Customs will say they can't read it and so on. Plus your flight is due and they know this ... it all adds to the pressure.Your goods WILL be seized and then there will be nothing you can do about it. You won't get any documentation and even if you complain when you get home you'll probably find there is no record whatsoever at Bulgarian Customs of your goods being seized.
Produce this letter and the problem with your goods disappears. Bulgarian Customs Officers do NOT want to upset their boss ... it's a bad career move.
This letter was obtained by ourselves when we refused to let Bulgarian Customs seize them. lt meant us missing the flight and going back home to our apartment in Sofia and then the next day going to the British Embassy. That was a battle and a half in itself. Even talking to them was difficult because the majority of the staff are Bulgarian! We had to teach them the regs and all that went with them first. Then we had to make them get in touch with the Bulgarian Customs bosses. As Brits we wouldn't have stood a chance but fortunately my wife is Bulgarian and has contacts.
So thanks to her, you don't have to do any of this .... just use our letter. lt's written in English AND Bulgarian. Cherish it, it was won with blood, sweat and tears!
lt works and we personally still use it to this day as Bulgarian Customs still try it on!
Jesus H Christ Smokey, is there no-one you daren't take on? l'm going to Sunny Beach this June so your letter will be going with me. Kudos to you and Mrs Smokey.
ReplyDeleteAnon 15.03 Mrs SH is gorgeous and far far too young for SH. x
ReplyDeleteFreebird Jussy - How do you know Mrs SH is far too young for SH?
ReplyDeleteNow...you just produce your letter at customs like SH has told you to do and we'll hear no more about it.
Spanish Gardia civil tried. This on but it only lasted a few days.
ReplyDelete@JJ
ReplyDeleteerrr because l know her. :) xxx
George ... Zaphod has been stopped a couple of times in Spain and they were totally baffled about the regs. On one occasion they sent a fax to UKBA about him so they'd be waiting for him. He 'acquired' the said fax during his interview. Needless to say but he came home with his cigarettes ... and fax.
ReplyDeleteBulgarian Customs are a lot different ... corruption is a way of life in Bulgaria. The saying the people often use about it is 'Welcome to Bulgaria'
@Jussy ... Shut it! ;-) x
:) xxxxx
ReplyDeleteyou gave me a copy of this before I went away to Bulgaria. As it happens I didn't need it but it is always there just in case, an excellent piece of work. One blogger who does do things for the smoker and free of charge
ReplyDeletemany thanks
Karl
If my memory is correct the Spanish were demanding an EXPORT licence.
ReplyDeleteIssued in Madrid four weeks prior to exportation, but it was seen as illegal under EEC laws and quickly brushed under the carpet at Malaga anyway.
Our pleasure Karl. We can now give it out publically after resolving a legal issue.
ReplyDeleteHa ha George, you won't believe what Bulgarian Customs came up with! Everytime we met their demands they changed the goalposts ... but we kept scoring! Have to write that story at some point m'thinks.
ReplyDeleteGood for you SHOULD. I AM BACK BEFORE THE SHERIFF on Monday 27th. Still my computers and defences hi jacked. Solicitors made numerious requests for return all blanked. I think the Sheriff may take a dimly view of all this nonsense and waste of court time.
ReplyDeleteI saw in the local papers the same Sheriff put a window cleaner on the sex offenders register for taking pics of ladies arses. Hope he is not viewing the pics I took on the PLAYA NUDISTAS in sunny Spain, like me he will go blind. I'm over here your Lordship.