Sanji, that link is from 2003!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes Robbie, I know it is, in 2002 the C&E were given powers to arrest and prosecute, (you said they couldn't unless they caught you in the act) since then they have been given even more power, the Revenue & Customs Prosecution Office (RCPO) was formed following the Revenue & Customs Act 2005, combining the powers of the Customs & Excise Prosecution Office with the Inland Revenue Crime Group and the Asset Forfeiture Unit.

It makes no difference to me what people do or don't do, I'm neither the secret police or an undercover agent for C&E, but, a lot of people read what we write in here and therefore I like to give the best advice, to the best of my ability on this forum.
Whether I agree with the rules or not, it's irrelevant because the rules/guidelines are there in place and anyone caught exceeding the guidelines will have a lot of explaining to do, and if the goods are siezed and they take it to court to fight the decision, they can be faced with paying costs, if they lose the case.

So, IMO it makes sense and in the best interest of this forum to keep telling people to stick to the guidelines, and I just wanted to clarify the term "gifts" and how it can be interpreted by C&E.

Spain has its own rules and regardless of whether or not the British Customs sieze goods, it's always worth reminding people that anything over 800 cigs can also be siezed by the Spanish and a monetary fine imposed before you leave Spanish soil.
It's always best to keep the receipts to prove you have paid the Spanish equivalent of VAT (IVA)
I'll admit that I get a trifle annoyed when some smart alec says there is no limit because each country within the EU does impose limits on what you can legally take in and out of the respective country, and I've seen cigs confiscated off people in mainland Spain.

In Gibraltar, I saw a man who had 600 cigs on him, the allowance is 200 because Gib is not in the EU, but his wife was inside M&S shopping, so as she would be allowed 200, he was 200 over the limit.
They had him spread on the floor face down while they searched him and then stripped his car down to the bare shell...I know this has nothing to do with the Costa Blanca, but the point I'm trying to make is, don't walk about thinking you will never get pulled over...one day your luck will run out.
We had a poster suggesting that cases were not x-rayed at Malaga ...it is an EU directive and unless custom officers have x-ray eyes so they can see inside the cases and know just who to pull over....then, I've never heard owt so daft in all my life.
It's your life and your choice. ! You throw the dice.!

Sanji