Advice to Lorry Drivers
Turn a blind eye to tobacco and alcohol smuggling …
… and you could lose your lorry!
Last year, Customs seized over 10,000 vehicles involved in tobacco smuggling.
Tobacco smuggling is a major league crime carried out by highly organised gangs. The vast majority of illicit cigarettes are not smuggled in cars or vans but by the freight-load.
Customs are cracking down hard on those involved in tobacco smuggling.
From July 2001, anybody who uses a Heavy Goods Vehicle (tractor unit and/or trailer) to smuggle tobacco or alcohol risks losing it. To avoid this risk Customs are asking all responsible drivers to make sensible checks to ensure they are not being used for smuggling.
Lorry Drivers: think very carefully before you turn a blind eye to tobacco and alcohol smuggling. You could lose your vehicle - PERMANENTLY
… and you could lose your lorry!
Last year, Customs seized over 10,000 vehicles involved in tobacco smuggling.
Tobacco smuggling is a major league crime carried out by highly organised gangs. The vast majority of illicit cigarettes are not smuggled in cars or vans but by the freight-load.
Customs are cracking down hard on those involved in tobacco smuggling.
From July 2001, anybody who uses a Heavy Goods Vehicle (tractor unit and/or trailer) to smuggle tobacco or alcohol risks losing it. To avoid this risk Customs are asking all responsible drivers to make sensible checks to ensure they are not being used for smuggling.
Lorry Drivers: think very carefully before you turn a blind eye to tobacco and alcohol smuggling. You could lose your vehicle - PERMANENTLY
So be fore you enter the United Kingdom make sure:
· you make reasonable physical checks to ensure the goods in your vehicle match those described on the accompanying paperwork
· the collection and delivery points are sensible for that load
· you check that collection and delivery points are the same as on the accompanying paperwork
· you contact the delivery address if you are hauling alcohol to check they are expecting you.
If these checks or anything else makes you suspicious about the load you are carrying contact Customs.
DON’T BE BLIND TO THE CRIME. If you have any information - Call Customs Confidential: 0800-59 5000
· you make reasonable physical checks to ensure the goods in your vehicle match those described on the accompanying paperwork
· the collection and delivery points are sensible for that load
· you check that collection and delivery points are the same as on the accompanying paperwork
· you contact the delivery address if you are hauling alcohol to check they are expecting you.
If these checks or anything else makes you suspicious about the load you are carrying contact Customs.
DON’T BE BLIND TO THE CRIME. If you have any information - Call Customs Confidential: 0800-59 5000
Specific rules for Belgium
Since February 2007 the following road regulations were brought into place for Belgium:
- if it is raining, hailing or snowing, vehicles of 7.5 tonnes or over are not allowed to overtake on motorways, highways or roads with a minimum of four lanes.
- vehicles of 3.5 tonnes or over are not allowed to use the left lane on roads with more than three lanes. An exception is made when traffic approaches a fork in the motorway and vehilces have to move to the left or right hand lanes depending on their destination.
- the maximum speed for vehicles of 3.5 tonnes or over is now 90 km/h on motorways and highways of 2 x 2 lanes or more.
- if you vehicle breaks down and you are on the hard shoulder of the motorway, you must now wear a fluorescent jacket.
