customs inspection

Meaning

A customs inspection is an official check of travelers' luggage and personal belongings by government officers at an international border. It is conducted to ensure that no illegal goods, restricted items, or undeclared taxed products are brought into the country.

Examples

• All passengers arriving from international flights must go through a customs inspection.

  All passengers arriving from international flights must go through a customs inspection.

• During the customs inspection, the officer asked if I was carrying any fresh fruit or plants.

  During the customs inspection, the officer asked if I was carrying any fresh fruit or plants.

• To avoid delays during your customs inspection, make sure to declare all packaged food items.

  To avoid delays during your customs inspection, make sure to declare all packaged food items.

• He was selected for a random customs inspection after his luggage went through the X-ray machine.

  He was selected for a random customs inspection after his luggage went through the X-ray machine.

• The country has strict customs inspection laws to protect its local agriculture from foreign pests.

  The country has strict customs inspection laws to protect its local agriculture from foreign pests.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I had to pass a custom control.

  ✓ I had to go through a customs inspection.

  In this context, 'customs' is always plural. Additionally, 'go through an inspection' is the natural, idiomatic verb collocation.

• ✗ The officer made a customs checkup on my bags.

  ✓ The officer did a customs inspection on my bags.

  A 'checkup' is used for medical examinations. For official border reviews, use 'inspection' or 'check'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you are carrying more than $10,000 in cash, you must declare it during the ___.

  💡 The official check of your belongings at the border

  Show answer

  customs inspection

• The airport lines were long because everyone had to undergo a thorough ___.

  💡 A formal review of imported items

  Show answer

  customs inspection