The state wants to curb crime, tax evasion and undeclared work. The staff at customs ensure that. And come across gold nuggets in a diaper.
Stuttgart (dpa / tmn) - your highlight so far during your training? Finding a nugget of gold in a diaper. Yelda Akcay is still laughing when she talks about what an airport control can do.
The 23-year-old from Baden-Württemberg also vividly remembers the retired couple, in whose apartment a marijuana plantation flourished.
"We have a lot to do with people, which is exciting and always offers surprises," says Yelda Akcay, who is in the two-year training at customs. "Contender" is the specific name.
Fit in tax law and legal texts
Nationwide, 40,000 customs officers handle goods from all over the world, take action against drug smugglers, campaign for species protection, fight for fair wages and fair conditions of competition. In addition, they levy more than 140 billion euros in taxes each year - this requires the trainees to be prepared to deal with legal texts, the various types of tax and business management.
This happens right at the beginning in one of the 41 main training customs offices in Germany. Yelda Akcay also moved to the campus of the education center in Sigmaringen for six months and delved into theory. The practical training only follows after passing the intermediate exam.
Checks on construction sites and in the catering trade
In practice, the trainees then get to know all facets of customs tasks. Not everything was new for Yelda Akcay - after graduating from high school, she initially completed a commercial apprenticeship at customs. "Immediately after school I didn't really know how to set the course for my future professional life. A commercial apprenticeship seemed to me to be a solid foundation. It was only during this first apprenticeship that I realized what was exciting about customs "said the 23-year-old.
For example when it comes to curbing undeclared work. "For example, on construction sites or in the catering trade, we check whether the employees are properly registered for social security," says Akcay.
A good mix of "action and analysis"
It has also been involved in collecting outstanding debts from the German state and has ensured that outstanding customs duties and taxes are paid. If citizens or companies are in default, customs will check which objects are suitable for attachment.
Customs also handles the "clearance of goods". Products worth around 400 billion euros are imported into Germany every year. "Today we check suspicious consignments with the help of modern technology - our profession has developed a lot since I started my apprenticeship in 1999," said Thomas Seemann. For him, working at customs is "a good mix of action and analytical work at the desk."
Middle school diploma or high school diploma?
Anyone working at customs is on behalf of the state and has a lot of responsibility. Finally, crime, tax evasion and undeclared work should be contained. "Open borders do not mean free travel for drug couriers, arms dealers and cigarette smugglers," says Seemann.
In order to be trained at customs, those who are interested must meet certain requirements. A middle school diploma is sufficient for civil servant training; anyone interested in high-level customs service must bring their (technical) high school diploma with them. In addition to a high sense of responsibility and the ability to approach people well, a certain level of physical fitness is necessary.
The earnings are good: Candidates in the middle service receive roughly 1270 euros gross per month, in the higher service around 1510 euros gross.
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