The General Administration of Customs and Excise (GACE) carries out controls along the coast and at sea to protect the maritime external border. In doing so, it contributes on a daily basis to combating smuggling, illicit flows of goods and other infringements.
Customs controls along the coast and at sea
These tasks are carried out by the Zeebrugge 2 Control – Surveillance Service. Its area of operations extends from the coastline and marinas to the North Sea. The service inspects a wide range of vessel types, including container ships, bulk carriers and tankers, roll-on/roll-off vessels, cruise ships, fishing vessels and recreational craft.
During these controls, officers monitor compliance with customs, excise and VAT regulations and actively look for indications of illegal activities, such as the smuggling of drugs, weapons and other prohibited goods. Specific checks, for example on the use of red diesel, also form part of their duties.
Their activities are not limited to controls in ports. At sea, they participate in various international and integrated operations. Each year, they make an important contribution to Operation White Sea, an international cooperation initiative aimed at combating drug smuggling. In addition, they work on a monthly basis with other coast guard partners as part of Operation Opera. Operating from the Defence patrol vessels Castor and Pollux, they conduct surveillance across a range of areas, including safety, the environment, fisheries and illegal activities in the North Sea.
To carry out these missions, Customs has specially trained staff who have completed the required maritime safety training and hold the necessary STCW certifications. They use specialised equipment such as dry suits, life jackets equipped with personal locator beacons and protective helmets. During onboard controls, they carry out targeted inspections, including light rummages and deck sweeps, with particular attention to detecting drugs, weapons, excise goods and possible violations of international sanctions. They also patrol the coastline within their customs jurisdiction and organise operations in the port area, always in close cooperation with the other coast guard partners.
Customs within the Maritime Information Crossroads (MIK): information as a force multiplier
Operational capabilities at sea are strengthened by an intelligence-led approach within the Maritime Information Crossroads (MIK), of which Customs is a permanent and active partner. Six customs operators contribute daily to maritime analysis, coordination and information exchange between the various services involved.
From the MIK, Customs supports the preparation and execution of maritime operations by conducting risk analyses and identifying targets. When acting as the lead partner in Operation Opera, Customs coordinates the activities, prepares the operational order and provides operational direction. For Operation White Sea, it also provides targeted analyses to support controls at sea.
In addition, MIK operators monitor vessel movements in the context of international sanctions and prepare maritime analysis reports for both internal services and external partners.
Alongside these analytical and coordination tasks, MIK operators are responsible for the daily operational planning of the Surveillance Service and for processing ship documentation (FAL forms), including general declarations and notifications of deliveries.
Through the close integration of operational controls at sea and in-depth information analysis ashore, Customs plays an essential role in maritime security and enforcement policy. In this way, it contributes to maintaining a safe, controlled and transparent maritime external border, where surveillance, cooperation and intelligence-led action continuously reinforce one another.