Contiguous Zone
A6. Public international law of the seaDefinition
Zone up to 24 nm where the coastal state may enforce customs, fiscal, immigration, and sanitary laws (UNCLOS Article 33).
The contiguous zone is a band up to 24 nautical miles from the baseline, beyond the 12-mile territorial sea, where the coastal state may exercise the control needed to prevent and punish infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration, and sanitary laws committed within its territory or territorial sea. Under UNCLOS Article 33 it is an enforcement zone, not a zone of sovereignty: the coastal state has no general legislative power there, only the four enumerated enforcement competences plus the Article 303 power over archaeological objects.
Source: UNCLOS Art.33 (24 nm)