Customs Confidential

0800 59 5000
Every year Customs & Excise reports record successes in seizures of illegal drugs and smuggled alcohol and tobacco. Many of these are as a direct result of information passed on to them through Customs Confidential, their 24-hour centre for receiving information.

This centre has been set up exclusively to make the most of vital information from YOU - the public and the business community. Whether it's about:

• Drugs
• Illegal alcohol or tobacco sales
• Tax Fraud including VAT, Betting and Gaming Duty, Landfill Tax, Aggregates Levy and Climate
• Change Levy Fraud
• They're ready to take your call

No information - however trivial it may seem - is too small and could be the key to stopping these criminals.Customs Confidential is free, easy to use and completely confidential. You do not have to give your name or any personal details and you could be eligible for a cash reward.

Is the hotline completely confidential?
Yes. You don't have to give your name if you don't wish to. Your information
will still be treated seriously by their team of officers. They make no attempt to trace calls.

Will my call always be answered?
Customs always endeavors to answer your call as quickly as possible. However, due to the number of phone calls they receive, you may sometimes be placed in a queue. Please be patient - as soon as an operator becomes free, your call will be answered. As an alternative to speaking to one of their operators, your information can also be e-mailed, faxed or posted using the contact details listed at the end of this section.

What sort of questions will the officer ask me?
This will depend largely on the information you are giving. As a guide, Officers will ask for details of who is involved in the suspect activity, what type of activity is taking place, when it takes place and how is the fraud / suspect activity being conducted. Don't worry if you cannot give all these details - the officer will concentrate on what you do know.

Will my information be passed on to anyone else such as the police?
Customs work in close partnership with agencies and organisations such as the police, Inland Revenue and customs organisations worldwide. If the information you have given is relevant to any of their partners, we may pass it on but we will NOT pass on your name. This remains confidential.

Will I get a reward for giving information?
You may receive a cash reward for your information. However, this will depend on what is achieved as a direct result of the information you provide and is awarded at the discretion of Customs & Excise. They cannot agree the payment of any reward over the telephone.