Germany expands customs service to deal with new challenges

Germany’s customs agency is set to hire an additional 1,500 workers to deal with new challenges including a surge in parcels stemming from the rising popularity of online shopping, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said on Tuesday.

The service currently employs around 49,000 people nationwide.

Klingbeil sees a need for action primarily due to cheap goods from China. "It is a problem that Chinese junk goods are flooding our markets," said the minister.

As a countermeasure, he pointed to the abolition of the duty-free limit for packages valued under €150 ($175), which is set to take effect in July. By November at the latest, an additional fee is to be introduced at the EU level, Klingbeil said.

Klingbeil also noted that cheap goods must be scrutinized more critically from environmental and consumer protection perspectives.

Customs officials are facing a growing flood of packages driven by international online trade, particularly from China. Last year, nearly 790 million shipments of goods worth €1.4 trillion were processed at Germany's borders, up from 595 million shipments worth €1.3 billion a year earlier.

Customs officers inspect the contents of packages for product piracy, species protection, and prohibited medications. The agency is also responsible for collecting import sales taxes and customs duties, bringing in a total of €157 billion in 2025.

Combating international drug trafficking is another key focus, with approximately 12,600 investigations initiated nationwide last year. Most of the drugs, primarily cocaine, enter Germany by sea.

In addition, customs officers found around 256 million cigarettes, approximately 7,500 prohibited weapons, and 1.8 million rounds of ammunition.

The Customs Financial Control Unit for Illegal Employment (FKS) is responsible for combating illegal employment. Its staff initiated approximately 98,200 criminal proceedings last year.

Klingbeil also intends to step up the fight against money laundering with the creation of new investigative units within existing customs structures.