In the coming years, border customs will be equipped with 26 scanning systems, and the first devices will be installed at the beginning of next year, according to the Ministry of Finance.

“These scanners will make it possible to check the contents of vehicles faster and more accurately, carry out customs control of goods, inspect the contents of parcels and containers without the need to open them. Together with the introduction of electronic invoices, electronic seals and the introduction of telemetry information in the electronic transport system, we are creating a reliable ecosystem to prevent any attempts at fraud and smuggling,” Minister Marcel Bolosh explained.

“The first scanning systems will be delivered and installed within the next three months. The use of scanners will contribute to increasing the degree of security of the external border of the EU and the effectiveness of the control of the customs authority during the passage of vehicles. The use of these systems will give AVR an advantage in the fight against smuggling, customs fraud, and will also reduce waiting times at border crossings,” said Ion Kupe, President of the Romanian Customs Service.

Purchase of scanners with funds from European funds

The beneficiary of the project is the Customs Service of Romania, and the financing is carried out from the state budget and from the budget of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

According to representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the use of X-ray scanners during customs control has several purposes:

Savings: Contributes to the fight against customs fraud, including the undervaluation of goods, thus providing authorities with an efficient way to check the contents of cargo.

National Security: Allows authorities to detect dangerous items or substances, such as explosives, weapons, or dangerous chemicals, that may pose a threat to national security.

Contraband: Helps identify any prohibited goods or substances that may be smuggled into the country, such as drugs, prohibited weapons, or other prohibited goods.

Environmental protection: allows you to identify substances or materials that may have a negative impact on the environment and that may be prohibited or restricted.

Operational efficiency: speeding up the customs process by reducing the time it takes to manually inspect each parcel or container, which helps speed up customs operations.