7.9.2009
Better facilities in the customs control area

The customs control area at Copenhagen Airport has been expanded and refurbished, ensuring greater privacy for travellers whose baggage is searched. Moreover, the customs officers now have more space and better facilities for monitoring arriving passengers.

17,000 travellers per day go through customs at Copenhagen Airport. In recent months, they have gone through a construction area on their way out of the airport as the customs control area has been under renovation and expansion. On Friday, 4 September, the new customs control facilities were officially brought into use.

“The renovation was much needed. We did not have enough space, and we were not able to offer proper conditions for passengers who are stopped for a detailed search.  In addition, our monitoring facilities have been updated,” said Erling Andersen, head of the Copenhagen Region customs and tax service.

More than 100 sq.m. has been added to the customs control area.  Before the change, passengers might have to open their baggage in an area visible to all other passengers if they were stopped for a thorough search.

”The additional space allows us to search baggage in an adjacent room so that nobody has to have his or her bags searched in front of all other passengers,” said Andersen.

New monitoring system
As part of the renovation project, a new and more efficient monitoring system has been installed which is connected to various cameras in the airport.

“This allows us to monitor people we suspect are bringing products into the country that are a health and safety risk.  We are then ready to stop them for a thorough search when they go through the customs control area,” said Andersen.

During the first six months of 2009, the customs officers at the airport seized almost 5 kilos of cocaine, 23 kilos of hash, 1 kilo of heroine and large quantities of amphetamine and doping substances. Moreover, they seized weapons, cigarettes, counterfeit items, endangered animals and plants.

“If you are in doubt about what you are allowed to bring back from a journey, you can get information on the rules in brochures issued by the tax authorities. They are available from our website, skat.dk, and print versions are available at the airport,” said Andersen.