Contrary to popular belief, customs officers do accept that most travellers are ordinary citizens going about their legitimate business and are not smugglers. So why is it that most travellers claim to feel nervous whenever they approach Customs, and actually feel guilty when negotiating a Green Channel? It may be uncertainty about the extent of allowances and precisely what is and is not permissible. It may also be apprehension about the possibility of being singled out for checking - having bags emptied and even being personally searched. The modern Customs service recognises these pressures and considerable effort is made to make checks highly selective and well targeted at areas of highest risk so that the vast majority of travellers are not inconvenienced.

Today, Customs face a dramatically changing scenario, as trade barriers are dismantled, fiscal and physical frontiers are removed, journey times are reduced and ever-increasing traffic flows demand fast and efficient customs clearance.

A balance must be struck between the often conflicting demands of the free movement of travellers while at the same time protecting society. But from what? Serious threats are posed by the considerable number of prohibited and restricted items that may be either unwittingly carried by the uninformed traveller, or smuggled by and on behalf of the unscrupulous. Customs, consulates and ministries can give advice, often in the form of leaflets, about what can and cannot be imported. Examples which may be encountered by travellers include the following:

Plant and animal health risks: Commercial importations are carefully controlled to prevent the spread of pests and disease, but thoughtless importation could quickly introduce an epidemic. Rabies is the most publicised threat but there are many more, including bugs and grubs which could devastate crops in a new environment. A health certificate, licence and/or quarantine is necessary for many plants and animals, and all live birds.

Endangered species: Few people bring home a wild animal from their travels. But many buy articles made from them (a skin handbag and shoes, an ivory ornament) without knowing that the species is in danger of extinction. Even trade in tourist souvenirs can threaten the most endangered species. In many countries it is illegal to cut or pick wild plants and flowers for the same reasons. They may be freely available and on sale in the country you are visiting but if you do not get a permit before you import them they are likely to be seized.

Obscene and indecent material: Changing social and cultural attitudes make this a sensitive area so check first and you will not be embarrassed.

Firearms, weapons, explosives, gas canisters: Travellers face stringent security checks before the start of their journey in an effort to separate them from even the most legitimate of these such as the sporting gun or the fisherman's knife. But on arrival at the destination their importation is likely to require a licence, and may be prohibited. Check first, or be sure to tell Customs on arrival.

Drugs: Personally-prescribed drugs and medicaments are best carried in labelled containers and, if for regular use, carry a letter from your doctor. Illicit drugs are a major and increasing concern for all Customs services and are often the principal reason for checks on travellers. Whilst the possession of very small quantities may be permissible in a few countries, their carriage across frontiers is invariably prohibited. Penalties are severe, and often carry a risk of imprisonment.

Countries with long land frontiers may choose to exercise some controls inland but travellers through ports and airports provide a concentrated flow which enables an efficient screening and checking by Customs. Particularly in the prevention of drug trafficking, the search at the frontier enables Customs to identify and seize large commercial shipments, before they are distributed inland for sale in small, usable quantities. In addition, Customs and police will often cooperate to monitor the delivery of a consignment to its inland destination in order to identify principals in smuggling organisations.

Many people think that drugs are found from tip-offs, and that routine checks are not necessary. That is not so. Valuable intelligence does come from co-operation between Customs and police services around the world. But detections made in the day-to-day work of ports and airports depend on the Customs Officer's initiative and experience in assessing risks and choosing the right passenger. The overall Customs effort against drug trafficking is a mix of intelligence, information, judgement and intuition. Officers are carefully trained to observe, select, question and examine. 'Profiles' are built up from instances where patterns have emerged, but they are but one tool in a large bag, and need to be constantly up-dated and refined as methods and types of courier change. Checks may need to be done to test out Customs' perception of risk, and that is where the innocent traveller may come under examination. Co-operation will help allay suspicion of the innocent, and full searches - including a body search - are only undertaken under strict supervision and where there are strong grounds for suspecting an offence.

Checking travellers

An officer who stops a passenger needs information before making a decision (whether or not a full examination is needed) and so questions must be asked. The officer is looking for tell-tale signs that something is not right. The smuggler cannot be completely honest about themselves and must tell lies to stand any chance of success. It is that deceit that a Customs officer is trying to see through. Travel documents, identification documents, questions about the purpose of the journey - all give a picture which the officer can test for credibility against what he sees and hears and, ultimately, feels. He may not get it right every time, but intelligent, intuitive assessments do result in the discovery of people attempting to smuggle.

The traveller who objects to the way he or she is dealt with at Customs should complain to a Senior Customs official at the time of the incident. In that way most complaints can be dealt with to everyone's satisfaction, and while events are fresh in everyone's mind. By all means follow up with a letter if you feel you have not got satisfaction. But a written complaint made for the first time several days after an incident is more difficult to investigate.

In addition to their role in protecting society, the Customs service has a duty to collect import taxes (which can still be substantial on luxury goods, despite moves to harmonise more tax rates and remove barriers to trade). The expensive watch, silk carpet, video camera or item of jewellery can still result in a hefty tax bill on arrival home. Goods in excess of allowances must be declared to Customs, or you risk having them confiscated, and criminal proceedings taken for smuggling. Many offences of this nature are settled between Customs and the traveller by the payment of a fine and few cases go to court. However, if you also have to buy your confiscated goods back, the overall penalty can amount to a large sum. In addition, the amount of time and effort spent by Customs dealing with such irregularities increases the opportunity for the drugs courier to get through undetected.

The business traveller can usually be relied on to know what personal allowances can be carried into each country, but a misunderstanding can occur when business goods are carried. Lap-top computers, replacement parts for equipment, parts for repair and sample prototypes can all find their way into a business traveller's baggage. Sometimes he will act only as a 'courier' for another part of his company. Such items are invariably liable to some form of control as frontiers are crossed and a declaration to Customs on each occasion is the safest way - unless you have personally checked with a reliable authority and you are confident you know what you are doing.

As a general rule, do not carry packages for anyone if you are unsure what they contain. Whether it is personal or business, your freedom or even your life could be at stake if something goes wrong.

On 1 January 1993, the Single European Act heralded the free movement of goods and people within the European Community (EC). For visitors, controls on goods and the collection of taxes generally take place at the first point of entry into the Community, and subsequent travel involves only checks for prohibited and restricted goods. Travellers within the Community do not have to pay any tax or duty in the UK on goods bought in other EU countries for their own use. 'Own use' includes gifts but remember that you may be breaking the law if you sell goods that you have bought; and that if you are caught selling the goods they will be taken off you and you could get up to seven years imprisonment. Any vehicle you use to transport the goods could also be confiscated.

The EU sets out guidelines for the amount of alcohol and tobacco a person can bring into the UK from an EU country. These are intended as indicative levels for 'own use' consumption. If you bring in more than this, you must be able to satisfy customs officers if you are asked that the goods are for your own use. If you can't the goods may be taken off you. For your information the indicative levels are:

Smoking

· Cigarettes: 800

· Cigarillos: 400

· Cigars: 200

· Smoking tobacco: 1 kilogram

Alcohol

· Spirits: 10 litres

· Fortified wine (such as port or sherry): 20 litres

· Wine: 90 litres (of which no more than 60 litres sparkling).

Since the advent of the single market, Customs' controls on EC passengers at airports and ferry ports have been improved to provide a faster and more efficient service which targets the high-risk traveller, but permits the majority to move unimpeded through customs.

Make sure you are properly informed when you travel. A confident traveller will project his or her innocence and help Customs to concentrate on their own priorities, for all our good.