UNODC continues to strengthen the border control and management capacities of law enforcement agencies in Central Asia 

UNODC continues to strengthen the capacities of law enforcement agencies in Central Asia to support their efforts in countering cross-border crime and ensuring effective border control and management.

On 18-22 April, UNODC conducted in Almaty (Kazakhstan) a hybrid regional training course on risk profiling and management at state border checkpoints for twenty-six border and customs officers from Central Asian countries.

The training aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of the border and customs specialists in profiling potential offenders, vehicles and goods crossing the state border at international air, road and railway checkpoints and risk identification using relevant risk management tools.

Mr. Yusuf Kurbonov, UNODC International Programme Coordinator, opened the training and thanked the Government of Japan for the continued support in the implementation of the Cross-Border Cooperation Project in Central Asia and the Central Asian governments for long-standing partnership with UNODC in countering drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, corruption and terrorism.

“Despite the pandemic, illicit drug markets have recovered rapidly from the initial slowdown recorded at the start of the COVID pandemic, and countries around the world have reported record seizures of heroin and cocaine over the past year. Threats are growing, and illegal drugs are becoming more accessible than ever before due to the steady growth of online sales and contactless delivery methods. In the current context, this training is highly relevant,” said Mr. Kurbonov. 

The training was delivered by international and national experts who have extensive experience in risk profiling and management - Ms. Lola Shakimova, a psychologist from Kazakhstan, Mr. Azamat Sabyrbekov from Kyrgyzstan and Mr. Mustafa Erten, Head of the UNODC Programme Office in Tajikistan. 

The training covered a wide range of topics – basics of the profiling system, features of drug couriers, psychological and physiological signs of deception and lie, psychodiagnostics, speech analysis, and non-verbal behavior of individuals, among others.

Trainers shared their knowledge on how to untangle the behaviors, emotions, and personalities of alleged offenders. During the practical sessions, the trainees learned how to identify and prevent risks of illegal activities at the state border.

The feedback received from the participants at the end of the training was very positive.

The participants thanked UNODC for organizing such highly informative and useful training that would enhance the efficiency of their day-to-day job. They commended the high level of organization of the event and competence of the instructors, as well as an interesting and comprehensive way of presenting educational materials. Considering existing internal as well as external challenges and threats caused by international terrorism and extremism, illicit drug trafficking and other smuggling activities, the increased number of persons, vehicles and cargo crossing international checkpoints, the officers stressed the high need for continued capacity-building in profiling and risk assessment at the border checkpoints.

The training was organized within the framework of the Cross-Border Cooperation Project of Sub-programme 1 “Countering transnational organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and preventing terrorism” of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia. The project is funded by the Government of Japan.

 

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Nurangez Abdulhamidova
Communication and External Relations Officer
UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia
Email: nurangez.abdulhamidova[at]un.org