Theft from Suitcase from Ercan Northern Cyprus?

dehdeh


Joined: 15/02/2009
Posts: 3

Message Posted:
02/05/2011 18:14

On Sunday 1st May 2011 I flew with Pegasus Airline departed 08.10 from Ercan arriving Stansted 12.15 with a touchdown at Istanbul S. Gokcen. My suitcase was padlocked but on arrival at Stansted I noticed that the padlock had been tampered with and the lock had been cut. When I checked the contents of my case I found 10 x 50g Golden Virginia pouches were missing. So BEWARE.

Pugwash


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 1797

Message Posted:
02/05/2011 18:18

Well at least Customs didn't get it

spider


Joined: 03/01/2009
Posts: 5527

Message Posted:
02/05/2011 18:25

Please tell me how you are sure it is not Stansted ?....









Spider,X

EsentepeGal


Joined: 12/09/2010
Posts: 144

Message Posted:
02/05/2011 18:29

Hmmmn!!!, 1st post and they're knocking the TRNC, What is that smell?

Tango1


Joined: 19/02/2011
Posts: 1151

Message Posted:
02/05/2011 18:32

Are you allowed to take 10 x 50gm pouches of Tobacco into UK?



Tango1

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
02/05/2011 18:35

No you are not allowed to take that much from TRNC to UK. The OP may have been lucky in that it if they were still in his suitcase when he went through customs, not only would they have been siezed but they would also have been liable for a fine as well.

In my opinion locking a suitcase is asking for it to get look at more closely than if it isn't locked. Customs and security need to be able to seach in suitcases, for valid reason, so why lock it ?

malsancak


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 2874

Message Posted:
02/05/2011 18:42

you can take as much tobacco FROM TRNC as you like, as far as I know there are no rules, but taking it INTO the UK would mean that if customs find it they'll be waiting for you.

I've also had locks broken and because nothing was missing assumed it was manhandling. I use plastic cable ties now as they're harder to remove than most locks.

breezyboy


Joined: 14/05/2007
Posts: 1179

Message Posted:
02/05/2011 19:50

Spider

I also flew to Stansted yesterday via Izmir on Pegasus at 11.00am.

My bag beat me to the carousel and I used the fast chip passport control. Nobody had time to tamper with anything.

Most impressed, really well run airport this being my first round trip due to no flight available from Manch. Shame they cannot copy Stansted on many things specially the toilets!

dehdeh


Joined: 15/02/2009
Posts: 3

Message Posted:
02/05/2011 20:53

I was only trying to be helpful. I won't bother again.

dehdeh


Joined: 15/02/2009
Posts: 3

Message Posted:
02/05/2011 20:59

Thanks malsancak, I'll try plastic ties when I travel to the TRNC later in the year.

hodgeliz


Joined: 16/10/2010
Posts: 278

Message Posted:
02/05/2011 21:34

dehdeh maybe you got lucky as has been said you could of been fined for smuggling as 250gr is the limit allowed from Turkey which is outwith the eu

lovinit


Joined: 20/06/2008
Posts: 745

Message Posted:
02/05/2011 21:37

Hi dehdeh,



I had same problem a few years ago flying in to Ercan, all christmas presents removed from suitcase including a new pair of boots.



It took me over 6 months to even get an Acknowledgement from the airline it had happen staff at Ercan very reluctant to fill any forms in re missing items. Bloody knightmare and nothing returned, 100TL compensation paid out eventually via airline. I had no insurance as I live here, just travelling back from short break in UK.

spider


Joined: 03/01/2009
Posts: 5527

Message Posted:
02/05/2011 22:53

A friend of ours works at Stansted as security and when she left here was very impressed with the fact we have to go through two security checks. She stated the Stansted intended to do this also but it seems she is still like the rest of us waiting for it to happen ! We have also met some that work in the baggage and always saying that it matters not or however you try to secure your luggage it takes nothing for security to open them Hence ever since my luggage is never locked. I tie my zips up with bright ribbons on the ends to allow for me to recognise them when they come through..





Spider,X

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
02/05/2011 23:27

We always have locks on our cases the ones where you have to have a code no but twice flying from Larnaca to Manchester we have had a lock broken off one of the cases.

birdman



Joined: 20/09/2010
Posts: 690

Message Posted:
02/05/2011 23:46

The only time I flew back from Ercan, to Gatwick, we stopped, as normal in Turkey where SOME passengers were to disembark. On Instinct, I checked my overhead luggage to find that my duty free bag had been stolen by a disembarking passenger. I yelled down the plane " STOP THIEF" and an embarrassed passenger returned my duty free bag saying " He had taken it by mistake" !!! YEH ?

Be careful if you remain on board and some passengers leave, ALWAYS check the overhead compartment if you have bought "duty free" at the airport.

Gerry

shrimp


Joined: 01/09/2010
Posts: 939

Message Posted:
03/05/2011 00:04

thanks for this tip, it is just beyond me that anyone would do this, but fore warned is fore armed..........

wormy



Joined: 24/05/2010
Posts: 31

Message Posted:
03/05/2011 12:22

msg 6: not only would they have been siezed but they would also have been liable for a fine as well



Erolz, I was stopped at Manchester earlier this year, almost everyone from Ercan was stopped. Must have been a training day. I was just over the limit and ALL was confiscated, icluding the 200 cig "allowance".

I was not fined and was old by an apolegetic customs man that I would hear no more about it.

A

eagleyemonkey


Joined: 21/03/2010
Posts: 184

Message Posted:
03/05/2011 20:04

Plastic ties no good. We used them to secure a hold all bag from Stanstead to Ercan. They were removed and zip left open a couple inches. Nothing taken but nothing in apart from 2 rugs LOL.