Dunkirk Spirit

Standing on deck on a cross-channel ferry, smuggler Colin Marcham is informed by text that his business partner (and fellow smuggler) was arrested coming off the morning crossing. In his van was a large booty of untaxed spirits and cigarettes. He is told that the port authorities are looking for him personally, not the van he’s driving. The text message advises him to find someone to swap vehicles with, just long enough to get out of the port. Colin spies a fellow passenger leaning over the rail, looking out to see. He approaches him. Brian tells Colin he is on a pilgrimage; he is following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, one of the brave fishermen who collected British troops from Dunkirk in 1940 to bring them back to Blighty. He explains that he has just lost his job, and the trip has put him in some financial strife. Colin sees this as an opportunity and makes Brian an offer. After some thought and with the incentive of £600 and two cases of single malt whisky to do whatever he wants, the deal is made. The two men exchange keys and agree to drive each other’s vehicles to a meeting point at a nearby service station. The port is coming into view, so Colin walks off towards the car deck, not before instructing Brian to wait a minute before he does the same. As Colin disappears down the deck, Brian makes a phone call. It is to his friend, a Customs officer in the port. Brian is a dodgy policeman, and the whole thing was set up. Brian agrees to split the booze in the van for his assistance in detaining Colin. Brian reveals that the car that Colin is now driving has a boot full of contraband as well as a not-too-insignificant amount of cocaine. Everybody is happy, including Brian’s Chief Superintendent, who will be delighted to have the smuggler off the streets and seas for a long time