Tullija

Tullija is a term used in Finnic and Baltic languages to refer to a customs officer, a person employed by a government border or customs authority to regulate the movement of goods and people across a border. In practice, a tullija inspects shipments and travellers, verifies declarations, classifies goods, and applies duties and taxes. They enforce import and export controls, prohibitions, licenses, and sanitary, safety or environmental requirements, and work to prevent smuggling, fraud, and evasion. Depending on the country, tullija may operate at seaports, airports, or land crossings, and may perform risk-based inspections, post-clearance audits, and cooperation with other agencies.

Etymology and usage vary by language. The root tull-/toll- is cognate with customs terms in several Finnic and Baltic languages. In Finnish, related terms include tullimies or tullivartija, and the agency is called Tulli. In Estonian, the national agency is Maksu- ja Tolliamet (Tax and Customs Board), and the general term for a customs officer reflects the same linguistic space. The specific title and authority of tullija vary by jurisdiction and legal framework.

In contemporary usage, tullija is a formal designation tied to border control and trade regulation. Modern systems typically employ jurisdiction-specific titles for customs officers, but the concept remains a standard element of national customs administrations.