Guardia Civil Search

[Verteuil Man]

Many people ask on the forum whether there are customs checks at ports when arriving on the Continent. Some have been stopped and many others have not. Today a chap that has sailed into Santander was stopped. Below is his bit of a thread from Facebook.


"Hi all for informstion traveled over ti santander today, stoped and searced by guardia civil.
Fridge emptied and checked, goods confiscated. "

It seems that they have been checking.

 

[Two on Tour]

Many people ask on the forum whether there are customs checks at ports when arriving on the Continent. Some have been stopped and many others have not. Today a chap that has sailed into Santander was stopped. Below is his bit of a thread from Facebook.


"Hi all for informstion traveled over ti santander today, stoped and searced by guardia civil.
Fridge emptied and checked, goods confiscated. "

It seems that they have been checking.

Likely to have been just before lunchtime.

 

[BikerGraham]

We arrived in Santander on 18th December and they were pulling motorhomes over for inspection.
Thought we were gluing to get dragged in as the customs lady started to say something but her colleague looked at the bursting plate and noted the steering wheel on the right hand side and said something to her. She then just waved us past.
The fridge was empty too

 

[jumar]

Likely to have been just before lunchtime.

Don't think Spanish would like the contents of a visitor's fridge....Pork Pies, Pasties, Bacon and Sausage...and of course Pot Noodles(I know, not from the fridge) Why should they when they have Paella and Migas....

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Why should they when they have Paella and Migas

I’ll have the sausage and bacon please

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[Emmit]

Many people ask on the forum whether there are customs checks at ports when arriving on the Continent. Some have been stopped and many others have not. Today a chap that has sailed into Santander was stopped. Below is his bit of a thread from Facebook.


"Hi all for informstion traveled over ti santander today, stoped and searced by guardia civil.
Fridge emptied and checked, goods confiscated. "

It seems that they have been checking.

Just a question.

Is your quote (above) a C&P or a retype?

 

[Verteuil Man]

Just a question.

Is your quote (above) a C&P or a retype?

It is copied direct from the FB post. SWMBO is on FB so emailed it to me. There have been lots of replies mainly asking if they were fined. No replies as yet. We assume they are driving.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Don't think Spanish would like the contents of a visitor's fridge....Pork Pies, Pasties, Bacon and Sausage...and of course Pot Noodles(I know, not from the fridge) Why should they when they have Paella and Migas....

7 out of 10 items on the main menu in a restaurant in Denia on Monday were pork !

 

[EuroTrotters]

Funsters tell me they were searched last month

 

[Verteuil Man]

The person who was stopped has come back with an update.

He was not fined but there was a long form to complete.

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[EuroTrotters]

It’s pretty pathetic and picky really, in my humble opinion.

Maybe the Guardia etc should be concentrating on what’s travelling to Spain from the Netherlands. Rather than fridge food from the UK.

 

[Verteuil Man]

It’s pretty pathetic and picky really, in my humble opinion.

Maybe the Guardia etc should be concentrating on what’s travelling to Spain from the Netherlands. Rather than fridge food from the UK.

If you look at #3 it infers that Continent vans were being pulled. In theory they would have UK contraband food in their fridge.

At the end of the day, it's the law and there is no excuse for ignoring it.

 

[jumar]

7 out of 10 items on the main menu in a restaurant in Denia on Monday were pork !

Of course, it's freely available...I was jesting about Pork Pies and Pasties...

 

[EuroTrotters]

If you look at #3 it infers that Continent vans were being pulled. In theory they would have UK contraband food in their fridge.

At the end of the day, it's the law and there is no excuse for ignoring it.

It may well be, but it’s still petty.

 

[Winger]

No more petty them being pulled for no illumination light in the uk

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[Paulypaul]

I think they should have been hauled away and given spelling tuition.. ...The Guardia Civil probably phelt sorrie fore im

 

[royandsharont]

We have just been deciding what we will do when we sail in March. Find it difficult to knowingly break the law has helped with our thinking. We normally travel with own prepared meals to just stick in the oven for ease at the end of a days drive, shepherds pie, chilli, curry etc.

Haven’t fully decided yet but as we have a smaller fridge now it would not be much in any case and I think there is a Mercadona on the port exit road just before the Repsol station, if we can get parked, so is it worth it.

We only want a couple of evening meals really for travelling but have decided to see what is on offer in the vegan range at the supermarket, all labelled & sealed should pose no problem

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Without a doubt Mrs CC will have the fridge/freezer loaded to the gunnels again when we board the boat at Portsmouth in May.
Obviously if she gets detained I will have to carry on for the month then see if she is released on my return.
No doubt she would do the same for me

 

[Just smiffy]

Ah… Facebook

 

[POH]

Many people ask on the forum whether there are customs checks at ports when arriving on the Continent. Some have been stopped and many others have not. Today a chap that has sailed into Santander was stopped. Below is his bit of a thread from Facebook.


"Hi all for informstion traveled over ti santander today, stoped and searced by guardia civil.
Fridge emptied and checked, goods confiscated. "

It seems that they have been checking

Was his name Blackbeard by any chance

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[Verteuil Man]

Was his name Blackbeard by any chance

So are you suspecting a foul plot to confuse the travelling public by using dubious social media outlets.

Really. Gentleman. Is there nothing you believe, or is the whole world a rotten onion?

 

[Chris]

I am not sure I would really give a shit if my fridge was emptied by some foreigner to be. honest.

 

[Verteuil Man]

I am not sure I would really give a shit if my fridge was emptied by some foreigner to be. honest.

Each to their own. To be honest.

 

[Minxy]

There's so little info about the original situation it's difficult to know how much notice to take of it.

They were searched and goods confiscated but what were these goods and how much was there? Was it just a small amount which would only have been for their own consumption, or large amounts which were likely for others and/or would be sold on? Was it high value stuff etc?

Taking stuff solely for yourself is one thing but doing it to supply others especially if for commercial gain is another thing entirely. No disrespect to the OP but unless there is clear evidence that this happened to a normal UK holiday traveller just taking a few bits for personal consumption I'll just pop it in my 'scaremongering and exaggeration ' file (aka rubbish bin).

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

There's so little info about the original situation it's difficult to know how much notice to take of it.

They were searched and goods confiscated but what were these goods and how much was there? Was it just a small amount which would only have been for their own consumption, or large amounts which were likely for others and/or would be sold on? Was it high value stuff etc?

Taking stuff solely for yourself is one thing but doing it to supply others especially if for commercial gain is another thing entirely. No disrespect to the OP but unless there is clear evidence that this happened to a normal UK holiday traveller just taking a few bits for personal consumption I'll just pop it in my 'scaremongering and exaggeration ' file (aka rubbish bin).

Exactly they might be a major sausage smuggler, supplying black market sausage’s to the Costa’s

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[suavecarve]

Newbies being trained.

No big news here, but for memory bank purposes I will add it to the ham sandwich 12 months ago in Holland as 2 confirmed occasions

 

[3 cabbages]

Ah… Facebook

What Smiffy is really saying is, what you read on "Facebook" is usually a load of bollox!

and I agree !

 

[EuroTrotters]

Simple solution.

When you go to vehicle deck. Take out banned foods. Put in cupboards or oven etc.

Go through customs. Stop, put gods stuffs back in fridge .

Simple

 

[jumar]

I don't for one minute expect a Guardia Civil officer to stoop so low to take foodstuffs from a travelling motorhomers fridge, for his or her own gain.
I also cannot understand why anyone can go to great lengths to smuggle food into Eurozone, when it clearly violates the rules...
Further to this, isn't part of the experience of traveling to different countries, a chance to try different food, culture and lifestyle...
Or do we really have to have Meat and Two veg while sitting on a Med coast campsite, while the sun blazes at 23°c. no wonder why Brits Abroad get laughed at....,

 

[EuroTrotters]

I don't for one minute expect a Guardia Civil officer to stoop so low to take foodstuffs from a travelling motorhomers fridge, for his or her own gain.
I also cannot understand why anyone can go to great lengths to smuggle food into Eurozone, when it clearly violates the rules...
Further to this, isn't part of the experience of traveling to different countries, a chance to try different food, culture and lifestyle...
Or do we really have to have Meat and Two veg while sitting on a Med coast campsite, while the sun blazes at 23°c. no wonder why Brits Abroad get laughed at....,

Just the same as many other Europeans do

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