Customs Attorney

For importers and exporters, goods detained at customs is far more than a headache – it means enormous financial damage. Delayed containers incur heavy storage and demurrage costs, disrupt the supply chain, and can destroy commercial relationships. Moreover, the Customs Authority enforces aggressively, including seizure and confiscation of goods, imposition of substantial deficiency penalties for classification or valuation errors, and initiation of complex criminal investigations on suspicion of smuggling, "invoice undervaluation," or forgery of certificates of origin. Mishandling encounters with customs officials and investigators can result in loss of the goods and a criminal record.

Customs and international trade law in Israel is a niche field requiring specialized expertise. On the civil and administrative level, attorney intervention enables challenging the classification and valuation of goods to reduce import duties, working with the Tax Authority to release detained goods under bond, and canceling administrative penalties. On the criminal level, proper legal representation from the very first stage of investigation is critical to prevent self-incrimination, counter allegations of tax evasion, and where appropriate – conclude the proceedings through a compounding payment without indictment and without conviction.

In the world of international trade, time is money. At the law firm of Shlomi Vaknin & Co., we understand the urgency of releasing your goods and getting your business back on track. We combine commercial and tax knowledge with criminal litigation expertise, and possess in-depth familiarity with the working procedures of Israel's customs houses. Whether you need an urgent extraction of a container from port or you are facing a threatening customs investigation, we will act with determination, professionalism, and speed to protect your financial and personal interests.