Romanian customs officers formed the first anti-smuggling team after a training program held at the Port of Miami

Romanian border police officers and inspectors from the Romanian Customs Authority have formed Romania’s first Counter-Smuggling Enforcement Team (CET), following the completion of an intensive five-day training program at the Port of Miami. The unit will operate at the Port of Constanța, tasked with identifying and stopping illegal shipments that could pose threats to regional and transatlantic security.

The program was organized by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), in collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The training included theoretical courses and practical exercises on identifying, inspecting and intercepting prohibited or illegal goods in various operational situations.

The CET team will conduct targeted inspections of containers and maritime cargo at the Port of Constanța. Priorities include detecting weapons of mass destruction, dual-use goods with military and civilian applications, as well as other categories of illicit cargo.

The U.S. Embassy in Bucharest said the partnership combines DTRA’s expertise in countering weapons proliferation with CBP’s maritime operational experience. The cooperation aims to strengthen the protection of external borders and prevent threats to Romania and its NATO allies.