Has anyone been on/through Eurotunnel recently? Or experience of customs/security etc. I have and I have a question.....?

[BettySpaghetti]

What are those funny little sticks with pads on that they wave around in front of you and wipe your steering wheel and door handle with?

I'm presuming they detect traces of drugs and/or explosives but how?

I was quite shocked when the bloke gestured at us to wind down the window and waved that in our faces with no warning or introductions!

This was last week BTW, I've never seen it before when we've gone via Eurotunnel or ferries. Also they only did it on the way back to England, not on the way to France.

oops, meant to add that it didn't detect anything, just in case you were wondering whether or not I was a drug trafficker in my spare time

Detection of explosives.

This has been happening , on and off , for several years.

Sometimes they test everyone, sometimes they pick out 'samples' of people, sometimes they wave you through.

they tested us at Easter! We were negative

Thanks MB,thought it might be.Is it just the Eurotunnel though or do they do it on ferries too?

They seemed to be checking everyone in the line we were in.

UK Customs are based in France for Eurotunnel