Beware HMRC at Portsmouth Port

We had just arrived from Bilbao after an uncomfortable night, and we were invited into the HMRC shed for a "chat."
Shame on us, but we both smoke. We had purchased cigarettes a few weeks before and packed them away in the back of the car.
I was feeling a bit groggy and when asked how many cigarettes we had, I couldn't remember and just hazarded a guess.
Turns out we had 4 times that many, and were accused to lying to the staff. Not pretty.
Now their own poster on the wall of the shed says you can bring in an unlimited quantity from the EU for personal consumption. However, their rule of thumb is 800 per person; more than that and you are going to be grilled.
After an hour they let us go, but we are now in the computer as people to be watched... .

We were pulled over after checking in in Roscoff when the springer to a liking to our van ,in particular under the driver's seat , much to the embarrassment of his handler who found two large rings of very ripe President Bree .he took it in good spirit when I suggested he feed her more often.

They like to show their authority.
Might be a different story after March 2019

They emptied my furniture van out one night and even took my taillights out to search behind them , A special breed, a cross between a springer and a pit bull, But keep cool stand back and let them get on with it, That's their job and what they take out they have to put back. Its only gonna get worse after Britexit.