The Republic Customs Office served as the organization tasked with the interdiction of unlawful commerce involving spices and other prohibited items within the Galactic Republic. This was their function during the era of the Cold War with the opposing Sith Empire.
The responsibilities of the Republic Customs Office included the regulation of goods moving within the Republic's borders and the prevention of trafficking in illegal substances, such as spice. As part of their economic oversight duties, Customs officers possessed the authority to impound starships if they deemed the vessel or its crew to be suspicious.
Established prior to the outbreak of the Cold War between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire, this office maintained agents stationed across various planets throughout the galaxy. Around 3643 BBY, Agent Soganti was posted to the planet of Taris, where he unsuccessfully attempted to investigate the activities of smuggler Beryl Thorne, failing to gather sufficient evidence against her.
In 3642 BBY, when the combat medic Archiban Kimble found himself blackmailed by criminals on the planet Alderaan to deliver a spice shipment in exchange for saving his ex-fiancée Prudy, he reached out to Republic Customs. In response, Customs deployed Kimble, more famously known as Doc, as an undercover operative with the goal of apprehending the criminals. However, the operation went awry, necessitating the intervention of hostage negotiators from Customs to secure the safety of both Prudy and Doc.
Republic Customs made its initial appearance in the 2011 video game Star Wars: The Old Republic, developed by BioWare. They are featured within the Smuggler and Jedi Knight class story arcs. Agent Soganti is encountered twice during the Smuggler storyline on Taris, actively pursuing Beryl Thorne. Furthermore, Customs is referenced in the conversation "The Best Intentions" with Doc, the Knight class's companion. The scenario involving Republic Customs in that conversation replaced an earlier version of the mission where the player would accompany Doc to Alderaan to confront the criminal Cazzush, but this original concept was removed before the game's launch.