International Customs Day 2026: Message from Ian Saunders Secretary General WCO

On 26 January each year, Customs administrations around the world celebrate International Customs Day.

This gives them a chance to honour the dedication of their respective staffs, educate the public on Customs’ mission, and mobilize decision makers who can help ensure that they have the necessary tools and resources to innovate and address challenges effectively and efficiently.

International Customs Day is also an opportunity for the WCO, as the voice of the global Customs community, to highlight a specific area in which our community can take collective action.

This year, we are elevating the profile of Customs as a protector of society and to demonstrate our dedication to safety and security through the WCO’s theme for 2026: “Customs protecting society through vigilance and commitment”.

Guided by this theme, I call on WCO Members to broaden the public recognition of how their steadfast service supports and safeguards the communities they serve. Indeed, even with our prominent position at the border, the indispensable contribution Customs makes to the security and welfare of societies worldwide is not commonly understood as part of the agency’s mission. We need to demonstrate that strong and well-equipped Customs authorities are indispensable to national and international security, public health, environmental protection, trade facilitation and supply chain integrity.

We can showcase operational achievements, underlining the practices and tools enabling them, and demonstrate the value of information and intelligence sharing, regional and international cooperation, capacity building, risk management, detection equipment and data analysis as cornerstones of safeguarding our society.

Customs’ protective mandate is not limited to enforcement against illicit firearms, financial flows, narcotics and unsafe goods. It also extends to advancement of public health and safety, environmental stewardship, disaster response, and overall security.

As more effective protection of society demands a unified response, we also need to show how building partnerships with other administrations, governmental authorities, law enforcement and intelligence agencies, international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and trade and logistics operators brings an important added value in securing our borders and global supply chains.

I encourage Members to actively participate in WCO-led operations and to make full use of WCO standards, guidance and tools that are tailored to the needs of Customs administrations. The strength of our vigilance comes from using all the tools at our disposal.

Our shared narrative must convey that Customs’ actions do more than disrupt criminal operations; they preserve the security and well-being of entire societies. Together, by highlighting the decisive role Customs plays and presenting it through compelling, relatable storytelling, we will strengthen public understanding of our mission and reinforce the value of what we do.

Building on the collective momentum created by last year’s theme, let’s continue to tell the stories of the positive and crucial work carried out by Customs. As we undertake these efforts, we should remain mindful that the goals we are pursuing are substantial and intricate. Our ability to engage, influence, teach and inspire our audience is strongest when our narratives are based on facts and achievements for the betterment of society. When our efforts bear fruit, society sees that wherever there is a border, there’s Customs - working to deliver on its commitment to protection.

I am very grateful for your support in making International Customs Day a memorable event, as well as in promoting and acting upon our 2026 theme throughout the year. Let’s ensure we use this year to help the world better understand the key role Customs plays in protecting our societies and lives. I wish you all a wonderful International Customs Day.

Ian Saunders Secretary General 26 January 2026

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026