Central Asian and Azerbaijani Customs and other law enforcement agencies set up priorities on container control

UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia organized the Third Regional Meeting for Central Asia and Azerbaijan under "UNODC-World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Programme - Regional Segment for Central Asia and Azerbaijan", which is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program as well as the Government of Japan.

At the opening ceremony Mr. Shamil Berdaliev, Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Service of the Kyrgyz Republic said:"UNODC-WCO Global Container Control (CCP) represents one of the most solid programmes in the area of securing international container supply chains as well as exercises an effective fight against illicit drug trafficking and the other criminal activities." H.E. Mr. Takayuki Koike, Japan Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan noted that "Japan, as a donor of the Container Control Programme is proud to provide assistance in this field".

Participants representing Customs, other law enforcement agencies from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as UNODC, WCO representatives, donors and external partners took part in the meeting in Bishkek. 

 "Container Control Programme is an important element in promoting regional cooperation against trafficking of drugs and the other dangerous substances including WMD, radioactive materials, IED components and precursors", emphasized Mr. James Callahan, Senior Program Advisor from the United States' Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. Mr. Fred Carter, Programme Advisor from the United States' Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) in Kyrgyzstan stated, "EXBS is very pleased to be a donor and we anticipate that we will be actively participating in this effort for quite some time".

CCP member states, donors and external partners addressed issues regarding the priorities and the needs in the area of container control as well as strengthening regional and inter-regional cooperation among customs and the other law enforcement agencies in identifying high-risk consignments. 

Participants adopted the outcome document, which will guide UNODC/WCO's support under CCP in Central Asia and Azerbaijan.