The project proposal by the Northern Customs District was based on the development of service equipment and customs operational capacity at the Vartius and Kortesalmi customs facilities. Th e ability to utilise monitoring equipment necessary for clearing people and goods traffi c and the general functionality of the clearing operations ensure fl exible and effi cient traffi c-fl ow processing. Effi cient functions at border crossing points not only improve the traffi c fl ow but also make the work of border offi cials more organised, increase customs enforcement security and, therefore, increase society’s level of protection. Th e project proposal included diff erent types of machines and equipment for the use of offi cials at the customs facilities of Vartius and Kortesalmi. 50 percent of the project funding was received from the European Regional Development fund and 50 percent from the National Board of Customs. Achievements: The planned investments for the Vartius and Kortesalmi border crossing points were implemented as part of the project. All of the equipment remained in the possession of the National Board of Customs and were its property. Purchases made with the project funding included: vehicle lifts, which are used to elevate the vehicles to be inspected and search their undercarriages at the customs locations dynamometers with weight sensors, which are used to ensure traffic safety (break functionality and excessive load weight control) forklifts, which are used during freight load inspections a radiation control system, which is used to prevent the entry into the country of illegal radioactive substances and contaminated products pattern recognition systems (license plate and container number recognition system), which are used to efficiently monitor traffic crossing the border as well as target operations using advance information and risk analysis. fibrescopes and endoscopes (both optical devices), which can be used to inspect enclosed spaces and discover potential hidden locations. video surveillance systems, digital cameras and image processing equipment.