Smuggling of goods harmful to society such as illegal drugs (methamphetamines, narcotics, designated substances, etc.) and firearms have a serious impact on people’s security and health. In addition, trade through illegal means prevents normal economic activities and also has a significant impact on the international reputation of Japan. Japan Customs keeps control over seaports and airports day and night to protect safe society and maintain economic order.

To prevent the smuggling of goods harmful to society such as illegal drugs (methamphetamines, narcotics, designated substances, etc.) and firearms at the border, Japan Customs implements the control at sea by patrols in and out of the port and inspections of suspected vessels, in collaboration with the police and the Japan Coast Guard.

Japan Customs inspects every place inside vessels to discover goods harmful to society such as illegal drugs (methamphetamines, narcotics, designated substances, etc.) and firearms when foreign trading/cruising vessels enter into or leave port.

Japan Customs makes necessary inquiries about the vessels when foreign trading/cruising vessels enter into port.

Japan Customs inspects belongings passengers and crews carry with them when they enter or leave the country as to whether they contain goods harmful to society such as illegal drugs (methamphetamines, narcotics, designated substances, etc.) and firearms, and products infringing intellectual property rights (fake brand goods and pirated goods).

X-ray Inspection System (See (9)) and drug detector dogs (See (11)) are also used in these inspections.

Any person wishing to export/import goods needs to declare export/import goods to Customs to obtain permission. This procedure is generally referred to as “clearance procedures.” Customs examines the contents of export/import declarations, carries out necessary inspections on export/import goods (See (7) and (8)), and then gives permission after confirming the payment of taxes such as customs duty and consumption taxes for import goods.

Japan Customs inspects and checks import goods to make sure their names, volumes, designations of origin, etc. are correct and no illegal goods are imported: for example, goods harmful to society such as illegal drugs (methamphetamines, narcotics, designated substances, etc.) and firearms, and goods infringing intellectual property rights (fake brand goods and pirated goods).

Large-scale X-ray inspection system (See (9)), analyzer (See (10), and drug detector dogs (See (11)) are used in these inspections and checking.

Japan Customs contributes to realizing a safe and secured society including international peace and environmental protection through control at the border to prevent illegal export of arms, weapons of mass destruction, hazardous waste, stolen automobiles, etc.

Large-scale X-ray inspection system is used in this inspection (See (9)).

Large-scale X-ray inspection system enabled us to inspect cargos without taking out them from containers, makes it easy to inspect large cargos, ensures both accuracy and speed, and leads to the improvement of inspection efficiency.

We have introduced small-scale/on-vehicle X-ray inspection systems, too.

Scientific inspections have been conducted by using the state-of-the-art devices to check that the content of goods matches with the declaration.

Drug detector dogs have been contributing to the discovery of illegal drugs such as methamphetamines and narcotics since their introduction in 1979.

It is said that dog’s sense of smell is several 10 thousand times as acute as humans. They can detect the smell of illegal drugs hidden in cargos and communicate it to handlers, customs officials as their partners.

Customs examines declarations and inspects the content of international postal items, too, to prevent the smuggling of goods harmful to society, such as illegal drugs (methamphetamines, narcotics, designated substances, etc.) and firearms, and products infringing intellectual property rights (fake brand goods and pirated goods).

Customs officials visit the office of importers to verify their import declarations after customs clearance. Customs corrects inappropriate declarations and provides importers with guidance on proper declarations to ensure appropriate and fair taxation.