Between 10 and 14 April, the fixed scanning systems were installed at the Isaccea Border Customs Office, the third largest on the Ukrainian frontier, and at Moravița, the largest border customs office on the Serbian border. According to the Romanian Ministry of Finance, the new equipment is designed to scan passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles, enabling customs officers to detect undeclared goods without the need for manual inspections.
In a statement, the Romanian Customs Authority said the new scanners will help “prevent and efficiently detect illicit transport and customs fraud attempts,” and are expected to contribute to “a significant increase in security at the EU’s external border.”
The newly deployed scanners are connected to Romania’s National Centre for Customs Imaging Analysis, enabling real-time monitoring and coordination of customs control activities nationwide. This integration is expected to optimise the response time of operational teams and improve targeting of suspicious consignments.
The Customs Authority highlighted several anticipated benefits, including reduced waiting times at border checkpoints due to more efficient processing, and enhanced protection of the financial interests of both Romania and the European Union.
The move comes amid growing pressure to reinforce the EU’s eastern borders, particularly in light of increased trade flows and security concerns linked to the war in Ukraine. At the same time, Serbia’s status as a non-EU country means that border control at Moravița plays a vital role in monitoring trade between the EU and the Western Balkans.
The Romanian authorities have also noted that these fixed systems complement existing portable scanning devices already in use, allowing for more flexible and comprehensive customs checks.
