kenspratt
New Member
This is my first post so please go easy on me.
About 10 years ago my father, uncle and myself pulled into Dunkirk in foul weather whilst heading back down the coast toward England. Within half an hour of being moored up and after a quick walk ashore for les frites. We were raided by French customs. I say raided not visted as they boarded us from both the shore and via a RIB who threaded the pontoons to come alongside us whilst still on the plane. With approximately ten offcers and one sniffer poodle dog systematically searching the boat we overheard a conversation between the apparant senior officer and one of his underlings. Translated by our school boy french it went something on the lines of "Boss they have not got it", "They have it i know they do keep searching." I have to admit at this stage i got quite frightened as we were on a very distinctive boat and i have heard of smugglers piggy backing their stuff whilst risk free crossing on a ferry.
Any way after an hours searching they had not found whatever "it" was and they gave up. Although as a parting shot they fined us £70 for not carrying the original SSR certificate (we had a copy of it, the original back in England for safe keeping). Not sure if this is the same now but we did not fancy arguing the point then as they all carried big guns.
About 10 years ago my father, uncle and myself pulled into Dunkirk in foul weather whilst heading back down the coast toward England. Within half an hour of being moored up and after a quick walk ashore for les frites. We were raided by French customs. I say raided not visted as they boarded us from both the shore and via a RIB who threaded the pontoons to come alongside us whilst still on the plane. With approximately ten offcers and one sniffer poodle dog systematically searching the boat we overheard a conversation between the apparant senior officer and one of his underlings. Translated by our school boy french it went something on the lines of "Boss they have not got it", "They have it i know they do keep searching." I have to admit at this stage i got quite frightened as we were on a very distinctive boat and i have heard of smugglers piggy backing their stuff whilst risk free crossing on a ferry.
Any way after an hours searching they had not found whatever "it" was and they gave up. Although as a parting shot they fined us £70 for not carrying the original SSR certificate (we had a copy of it, the original back in England for safe keeping). Not sure if this is the same now but we did not fancy arguing the point then as they all carried big guns.
