Editor's Note
This editor’s note highlights the key facts and market implications behind “Region. Traffic, Fraud, Counterfeits: The Franch”, with emphasis on sourcing, product fit, fabrication, logistics, or buyer impact.
With its 250 kilometers of border with Switzerland, French customs have their work cut out for them in the Franche-Comté sector. Every day, thousands of vehicles and goods cross this border. To improve the efficiency of controls and streamline the ever-increasing traffic at entry points, French and Swiss authorities are now betting on a "smart border," based on collaboration. Another strategic location is under particular scrutiny by Franche-Comté customs: Dole Jura international airport, which sees thousands of tourists pass through each year.
The Growing Challenges of E-commerce
E-commerce is a growing challenge for customs services. Every year, more than 1.5 billion packages are delivered to Franche-Comté's postal sorting centers. Among the 227 seizures made by customs officers in 2025, Franche-Comté customs officers encountered some notable items, including 144 pyrotechnic devices, 15,700 doses of "erectile honey," and 4,350 doses of Kamagra, a derivative of Viagra with harmful health effects. Other e-commerce controls concern textile products (clothing and shoes) and illicit goods. Counterfeit websites are flourishing online, and in the event of a customs check, it's often a double penalty: not only is the counterfeit product seized, but the recipient is also prosecuted. Far from being trivial, this mission of the customs remains essential to preserve French brands and, more generally, the activity of traditional commerce.
Tobacco, Cigarettes, and Narcotics: Record Seizures for Customs
Franche-Comté customs officers often make headlines with the increasingly frequent drug seizures carried out in the territory. And the figures presented by the authorities speak for themselves. In 2025, almost 14 tons of tobacco were seized, including 12 tons discovered by the Lons-le-Saunier brigade in a Bulgarian truck. Narcotics seizures are also on the rise. This mainly concerns cannabis (6 tons seized) and cocaine (307 kg). In June 2025, for example, Besançon customs officers intercepted over 1,862 kg of cannabis pollen concealed in a shipment of olives.
Cash Also a Concern
Possession of cash is not in itself an offense when crossing a border. However, amounts over €10,000 must be declared, which is far from being done by everyone. For instance, €48,000 was discovered in a private vehicle by Pontarlier customs officers. In June 2025, a joint operation by Swiss and French customs officers in Delle led to the seizure of €327,000 in undeclared cash.
Household Waste in the Sights of Customs
Household waste collection in Switzerland is chargeable. Therefore, to avoid paying for collection, some Swiss citizens do not hesitate to cross the border to deposit their waste on the French side. Even household waste is prohibited from crossing borders. In total in 2025, 138 fines were issued.
Yves Quemeneur
Source: Read the original article | Published: April 22, 2026