The Spanish International Courier Companies rely on us to make a full disclosure of the package contents and we, in return, rely on our customers to tell us exactly what is in their parcel. Throughout the EU all couriers are really tightening their security procedures. I have told in a previous blog of the gun sent to the USA http://blog.courier-spain.co.uk/courier-parcel-spain-firearms-citibox/ (it was a fishing rod but declared as papers!). Let’s look at a few recent events:
A lady wanted to send some items from the UK to Spain. When the FedEx agent arrived to collect the box was not ready so later it was taken down to the local FedEx office where it was opened and two packets of crisps and a Sky card were removed before the remainder was re-packed in a FedEx box for delivery the following day to our office in Javea. The customer protested but you have to understand that not only are FedEx entitled to know exactly what they are carrying but they also are just acting under Government directives following EU laws. It is illegal to send food via FedEx (although crisps are not strictly illegal) and it is illegal to watch most Sky television outside of the UK and Ireland (because of issues with advertising and sponsorship).
A customer sent some childrens clothes via UPS and declared them in full but enclosed a free gift of chewing gum in an aluminium tube. The object was stopped at the x-ray machine and we had to submit a new invoice disclosing the content.
Another customer tried to import from Germany a whole load of perfectly innocent kit but forgot to tell us there was a single aerosol can of paint in the box. FedEx stopped the box at the x-ray and it will take a week to get it back to the sender and another week to have the parcel in Spain to our customer by UPS ground service. Aerosols on aircraft are dangerous goods.
Just yesterday, a shipment stopped by UPS in Madrid was explained. The customer had omitted to tell us there was perfume in the package. Perfume is highly inflammable and therefore dangerous in aircraft. On Monday we will try and re-route via the truck based service.
I hope from this that you can see that there is virtually no possibility of sending any goods that are dangerous or illegal without fully declaring the contents. Citibox is a courier expert in what you can and can’t send and in how to declare the contents to allow for security and customs clearance.
