| Central Customs Support Group | |
|---|---|
| Zentrale Unterstützungsgruppe Zoll | |
| Active | 1997 – present |
| Country |  Germany |
| Agency | Bundeszollverwaltung |
| Type | Police tactical unit |
| Headquarters | Cologne 50°58′37″N7°03′53″E / 50.97694°N 7.06472°E /50.97694; 7.06472 |
| Abbreviation | ZUZ |
| Structure | |
| Officers | 47 |
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TheZentrale Unterstützungsgruppe Zoll (ZUZ) (Central Customs Support Group) is thepolice tactical unit of theGerman Customs Service (Bundeszollverwaltung) and subordinate to the German Customs Investigation Bureau (Zollkriminalamt, ZKA).[1][2]
In response to the increasing violence against law enforcement officers, the ZUZ was formed in 1997 as the customs tactical unit for use when regular officers would be in too much danger. Until that point, the German Customs services requested the service of theSEK units or theGSG 9 for high-risk missions. However, due to the workload of these units, the German Customs Service decided to establish their own special unit for these types of missions.
Any member of the German Customs Service can apply for the selection process of the ZUZ.Requirements are:
The selection process lasts 14 days and includes physical tests, medical examinations, interviews and aptitude tests.
Upon completion of the selection process, new ZUZ members have to attend a 10-week basic training which is followed by a 48-week advanced training.
Preservation of the various basic skills (i.e., shooting, sport and self-defence) is a top priority on the ZUZ training plan as well as driving and safety training and courses on new technical devices.
In addition to an extensive fleet, ZUZ members are armed with the following weapons:
| Name | Country of origin | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Glock 17 |  Austria | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Glock 26 | ||
| Heckler & Koch MP5 | Germany | Submachine gun |
| Heckler & Koch G36 | Assault rifle | |
| Heckler & Koch HK416 |
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