The Zentrale Unterstützungsgruppe Zoll (Central Customs Support Group, ZUZ) is the SWAT

SWAT

A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...

 unit of the German Customs Service

Bundeszollverwaltung

The Bundeszollverwaltung is an executive and fiscal administrative unit of the German government and part of the Federal Ministry of Finance. It was founded in 1949 in West Germany...

 (Bundeszollverwaltung) and subordinate to the German Customs Investigation Bureau (Zollkriminalamt

Zollkriminalamt

The German Customs Investigation Bureau in Cologne and its investigation offices are federal agencies that fall under the German Finance Ministry...

, ZKA).

History

In response to the increasing violence against law enforcement officers, the ZUZ was formed in 1997 as the customs SWAT team for use when regular officers would be in too much danger. Until that point, the German Customs services requested the service of the SEK

Spezialeinsatzkommando

Spezialeinsatzkommandos are the special response units of the German state police forces. German SEKs are full-time units whose members do not perform any other duties, and are essentially the equivalent of American SWAT Teams...

 units or the GSG 9

GSG 9

The GSG 9 der Bundespolizei , is the elite counter-terrorism and special operations unit of the German Federal Police.-History and name:...

 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.

Recruitment and training

Any member of the German Customs Service can apply for the selection process of the ZUZ.
Requirements are:

• Not older than 35 years
• Physical and mental fitness

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.

See also

• KSK
  Kommando Spezialkräfte
  The KSK Kommando Spezialkräfte is an elite military unit composed of Special Operations soldiers from the ranks of Germany’s Bundeswehr and organized as such under the Division Spezielle Operationen . The unit has received many decorations and awards from both NATO and its affiliates...
  
  
• Kampfschwimmer
• GSG 9
  GSG 9
  The GSG 9 der Bundespolizei , is the elite counter-terrorism and special operations unit of the German Federal Police.-History and name:...
  
  
• Spezialeinsatzkommando
  Spezialeinsatzkommando
  Spezialeinsatzkommandos are the special response units of the German state police forces. German SEKs are full-time units whose members do not perform any other duties, and are essentially the equivalent of American SWAT Teams...
  
  

External links

• Official page (in German)