GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
seizure (custody)
Customs authorities and law enforcement agencies resort to seizure when goods are suspected of violating import prohibitions, export controls, or anti-smuggling provisions — the shipment is placed under official custody pending investigation.
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Source: https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Sicherstellung
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Customs authorities and law enforcement agencies resort to seizure when goods are suspected of violating import prohibitions, export controls, or anti-smuggling provisions — the shipment is placed under official custody pending investigation. Logistics operators may also physically segregate suspect or damaged cargo as a precautionary in-house measure. The defining characteristic of seizure is its provisional nature: it preserves the status of goods until the competent authority or court determines the outcome. This clearly distinguishes it from confiscation, where ownership is permanently transferred to the state. For freight forwarders and carriers, a customs seizure in practice means delivery delays, accruing storage charges, and potential liability exposure towards the consignee.
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