Directorate-General of Customs and Indirect Taxes
The Directorate-General of Customs and Indirect Taxes (French: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects, DGDDI), commonly known as les douanes (Customs), is the customs service of the French Republic. It is responsible for levying indirect taxes, preventing smuggling, surveilling borders and investigating counterfeit money. The agency acts as a coast guard, border guard, sea rescue organisation, and customs service. In addition, since 1995, the agency has replaced the Border Police units of the National Police in carrying out immigration control at smaller border checkpoints, in particular at maritime borders and regional airports.
| French Customs Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects | |
|---|---|
French Customs logo | |
| Common name | la douane |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1791 |
| Annual budget | €1.66 billion (2020) |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | France |
| Specialist jurisdiction | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | 11, Rue des Deux Communes, Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis |
| Elected officer responsible |
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| Parent agency | Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Employment Minister for the Budget, Public Accounts and the Civil Service |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Directorate-general is controlled by the Minister for the Budget, Public Accounts and the Civil Service (French: Ministère du Budget, des Comptes publics et de la Fonction publique) at the Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Employment. It is normally known simply as "la douane", individual officers being referred to as "douaniers". Officers are routinely armed.