Smuggling highlighted at Balmoral Show

Items used to smuggle drugs and counterfeit cigarettes into the UK have been placed on show at the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) exhibition stand at the Balmoral Show.

A variety of odd items including a bear's head, a turtle shell, a dwarf crocodile handbag and carved ivory, are among the examples of illegal goods people have tried to bring back from holiday.

Visitors to this year's show will also have the opportunity to see a wide range of smuggled items seized by HMRC in their fight against crime and to quiz officers on duty free allowances and the sort of things they should avoid bringing home from holiday as souvenirs.

Matthew Conlon, National Exhibitions Officer for HMRC, said: "We hope visitors to the show will find it interesting to learn more about our work and our success in fighting organised crime such as drug, alcohol and cigarette smuggling, illegal imports, money laundering and tax fraud. In addition, friendly help and advice will be available on a whole range of issues from Allowances to VAT."

He added: "We will also be promoting our confidential hotline which has been overwhelmingly successful - receiving numerous calls from the public in the last year. It has helped us improve our intelligence base and promotes a good working partnership with local people and communities in the fight against crime."

HM Revenue & Customs staff will be on hand to provide advice on the quantities of cigarettes and alcohol that can legally be brought back into the UK from abroad. Information on the type of souvenirs that are banned or restricted will also be available including items made from animals or animal products and details of food products likely to be confiscated.

(SP/GB)