Press Release: Opening of a new coordination centre for joint customs operations at OLAF

A new coordination centre for joint customs operations was opened at the premises of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) in Brussels, 27 May 2005. In the framework of OLAF's task of assisting national customs services in the fight against smuggling and illegal trade of goods, the new operations centre was to provide all the necessary facilities, both technical and logistical, for joint customs operations between Member States. This new permanent structure was set up in order to allow flexibility in timing of operations in the future and a reduction in costs.