Bringing cigs back from Abu Dhabi

allandanyways

Hi all,

Quick one for ye in the know.

I'm going to Abu Dhabi this weekend and there's a few of us smokers in the office that I'd like to be able to bring cigs back for.

I know the customs allowance in Dublin is 200 so I'm wondering does that just apply to duty free items brought back from the country you're coming in from?

Could I buy 400 on the way out in Dublin and bring 200 back duty free?

I haven't travelled outside of the EU for a while so I'm not sure what the story is as regards bringing stuff back!

Any advice appreciated (and I know smoking is bad for me btw. I don't drink anymore so just gotta love that sweet, sweet nicotine :pac:). Also not illegal intentions, just confused by what amount counts as actual duty free if I make the purchase outside of the airport

schemingbohemia

No 200 is the limit in total if bought outside the EU and they keep a special eye on those flights.

allandanyways

schemingbohemia wrote: »

No 200 is the limit in total if bought outside the EU and they keep a special eye on those flights.

Cheers, so no matter if they're bought in the duty free area of the airport or if they're bought in the hotel shop or something, 200 is 200.

That's great, thanks for the clarification

keithclancy

Their so cheap i'd chance it, worst case scenario they take them off you.

coylemj

Certain brands of cigarettes are not the same in every country, Silk Cut Blue being one of them so I wouldn't get hung up on bringing back cigarettes for the crowd in the office. You could bring them back their favourite brand and they mightn't like them cause they're not the same as the ones sold in Ireland. For the Asian market there would tend to be more dark tobacco and that may also apply in the case of cigaretters sold in the UAE.

veetwin

If you are going to Abu Dhabi don't bother buying them in Dublin on the way out. They are about 1/3 of the Dublin Duty Free price there. You can even shop when you arrive in AUH to cover you while you are there. The absolute maximum they will sell you though is 800.

Yes customs do watch non EU flights but unless you are laden down with luggage they will probably ignore you. As said worse case scenario is you lose all but 200, not that anyone here condones smuggling mind you.;)

Stinicker

I brought back 800 from Bangkok last year and they were pulling in loads of passengers on the Dubai Emirates flight. I had 600 seized and had my passport details noted. If you are a male single traveller then you are very likely to be searched, I had my case wrapped in that clingfilm stuff which probably aroused suspicions even more.

coylemj

Stinicker wrote: »

I had my case wrapped in that clingfilm stuff which probably aroused suspicions even more.

Invitation to the customs people to stop you. Carry your valuables like jewellery and cameras in your hand luggage and if you have to wrap your check-in bag in plastic it's sending a signal to the baggage handlers that there's goodies in the bag, in turn that's going to attract the attention of the customs people.

Putting a padlock or any kind of protection on your bag attracts all the wrong attention. The more beat up and worn your luggage is, the less likely it is to be pilfered and you'll be better able to blend in with the crowd when exiting the customs lane.

Stinicker

coylemj wrote: »

Invitation to the customs people to stop you. Carry your valuables like jewellery and cameras in your hand luggage and if you have to wrap your check-in bag in plastic it's sending a signal to the baggage handlers that there's goodies in the bag, in turn that's going to attract the attention of the customs people.

Putting a padlock or any kind of protection on your bag attracts all the wrong attention. The more beat up and worn your luggage is, the less likely it is to be pilfered and you'll be better able to blend in with the crowd when exiting the customs lane.

I agree totally, however as I was returning from Bangkok Irish customs were the least of my concern, there is a major scam at Bangkok airport of planting drugs in passengers luggage when it goes down through the bowels of the airport and then when you would be pulled in for questioning about it by corrupt police who are willing to turn a blind eye in return for a bribe of €1K - €2k despite the drugs being planted there in the first place. So I always wrap and lock to try and prevent my baggage being tampered with when traveling home from Thailand.

I was pulled in at Cork in December off a flight from Warsaw despite no cellophane wrapping but I had no cigarettes on me. Both my suitcase and carryon was x-rayed in Dublin last time and after they seized my cigarettes I gave them plenty verbal abuse and told them where to shove the cigs and am not sorry for it either! and I'm not even a smoker!