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Customs Service of the Czech Republic returns to NATO Days

One of the core concepts of NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days is the unique opportunity for the public to gain deeper insight into the duties performed not only by armed forces personnel but also by members of security services. After a one-year break, visitors will once again have the chance to see firsthand the importance and high standards of the work carried out by the Czech Customs Administration.

This year, the Customs Administration has prepared three engaging dynamic displays for the audience. The first will feature the elite Operational Deployment Group, which, in cooperation with the Intervention Unit of the Financial Administration Criminal Office of the Slovak Republic, will carry out an intervention against dangerous criminal offenders. The second demonstration will showcase the work of a mobile customs patrol in coordination with officers from the customs training unit. They will present an action-packed scenario of an intervention against fleeing suspects on a public road. The third and most unique demonstration will focus on international cooperation in practice: customs officers from the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Slovakia and for the first time from Austria will jointly demonstrate that when it comes to detecting drugs, weapons, illegal trade in endangered species, or unlawfully transported cash, their service dogs do not care about state borders.

The static Customs Administration exhibit will feature a laser shooting range where visitors can try shooting with a service weapon. Those interested in science and analytics will enjoy the Customs Technical Laboratory exhibition, which will include a handheld Raman spectrometer capable of identifying over 12,000 substances, along with demonstrations of methanol detection in alcohol. To better understand the everyday duties of customs officers, visitors will be able to experience firsthand the challenges posed by the growing volume of shipments from third countries. Using modern technology, they can explore how hazardous or illegal packages containing narcotic or psychotropic substances, weapons, or explosives are detected. The exhibit will also include radiation detectors, handheld X-ray devices, endoscopes, and many other tools used in customs inspections. For children and youth, a "Young Customs Officer" competition will be held, offering a hands-on way to explore the competencies of the Customs Administration.

A new addition to this year’s exhibition will be the presentation of a manual tobacco cutter – a device used in the illegal production of cigarettes, which is often discovered during raids on illicit manufacturing operations in the fight against the black market with tobacco. Visitors interested in intellectual property rights violations will also be able to explore the world of counterfeit goods – from cosmetics and clothing to electronics and automotive parts. As in previous years, there will be an opportunity to check for any outstanding debts registered with the Customs Administration. This exhibit will offer a comprehensive look at the everyday duties and responsibilities of customs officers.

Finally, representatives of the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM) will also be present at the static exhibition. Together with the Czech Customs Administration, they will provide an opportunity to support a good cause. Visitors can also meet customs officers as part of the NATO Days’ accompanying program on September 17 at the "Action Afternoon" in the Géčko Shopping Centre in Ostrava.

See you at
the NATO Days in Ostrava
& Czech Air Force Days!