What did writs of assistance allow customs officers to do?

Writs of assistance were legal documents that granted customs officers broad authority to search for smuggled goods without needing to secure a specific warrant. This meant that customs officers could enter and inspect homes, businesses, and ships in the colonies at will if they suspected that illegal trade was taking place. This practice contributed to colonial resentment toward British authority because it represented an infringement on personal liberties and privacy.

Writs of assistance were particularly controversial because they permitted searches based solely on suspicion rather than probable cause, which many colonists viewed as a violation of their rights. The perception of these writs as vehicles of tyranny was pivotal in the growing unrest that eventually led to the American Revolution.