Editor’s Note
This article outlines the process for public auctions of goods seized or abandoned at customs in France. These sales, open to all, are announced in advance with detailed catalogs.
Customs, in partnership with the Ministry of Auctioneers, organizes public auctions, either oral and/or by sealed bids, for various goods originating from seizures, deposits, or abandonments. Customs sales take place throughout France and are open to everyone. Before each sale, a notice is published to inform you of the date and location of the sale and to list the available lots.
The sale catalog is provided for informational purposes only, with the administration reserving the right to withdraw certain goods. Customs also offers certain lots during private organization auctions where not all lots come from customs services.
Customs auctions offer a wide range of rare and precious objects. Whether you are looking for vehicles or high-tech products, you will find a variety of items. Wine enthusiasts can discover great vintages, while fashion lovers will appreciate luxury leather goods and prestigious shoes. Collectors of rare items will have the opportunity to acquire ancient coins, silverware, or refined jewelry. For connoisseurs, precious stones, gold ingots, and prestigious watches complete this exclusive offering. Each sale allows you to discover unique objects, offering a genuine opportunity to acquire valuable goods.
Seizures Auction by the Paris-Airports Interregional Customs Directorate
The Paris-Airports Interregional Customs Directorate is organizing an online auction, coordinated by the DNID. The event offers 259 lots from customs seizures: jewelry, leather goods, alcohol, cosmetics, textiles, sports equipment, and a smartwatch.
The goods mainly come from the customs services of Paris, Roissy airport, and the DNRED.
The sale runs from November 24 at 2:00 PM to November 28 at 10:00 AM, directly on the auction platform indicated by Customs. The complete catalog and participation conditions are available on the website encheres-domaine.gouv.fr:
For more information: https://encheres-domaine.gouv.fr/vente/116?page=1
Customs organizes auctions several times a year. To stay informed, consult our customs sales calendar.
French Customs auctions demonstrate the diversity of goods seized as part of its mission to combat illicit trafficking. Previous sales, organized in partnership with the National Directorate for Domain Interventions (DNID) and the Agency for the Management and Recovery of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AGRASC), have thus offered vehicles, electronic products, luxury leather goods, jewelry, prestigious watches, and precious stones. In other words, objects of certain value are presented to the public.
The sale organized at Bercy in January 2025 thus brought together several hundred lots from judicial investigations conducted by the National Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF).
Find our previous auctions: AGRASC Auction / Customs / DNID (National Directorate for Domain Interventions) Auction
During the auction organized at Bercy by the National Directorate for Domain Interventions (DNID) on behalf of French Customs, nearly 490,000 euros were raised from the sale of seized goods.
395 out of 398 lots found buyers, with the participation of 720 people on-site and over 3,700 internet users. In 2022, more than 1.35 million euros were raised during an exceptional auction.
Customs services fight daily against all trafficking threatening our territory and society to protect citizens and the environment. They also contribute to the protection of our economy, the attractiveness of ports and airports, and support French companies in their international operations.
Most of the goods offered at auctions come from findings made by various customs services and illustrate the plurality of missions carried out across the entire territory. Some goods presented were seized at the border following irregularities detected during their import, while others were apprehended within the territory, including during investigation phases.