Expanding Container Control Programme to new Port Control Units in Tajikistan

From 5-16 March 2018, UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia organized a two-week Theoretical Training for Tajik Customs Service and the Drug Control Agency's officers under the UNODC-World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Programme (CCP) in Sughd region, Tajikistan.

In line with the agreement with the Government of Tajikistan, CCP together with Tajik beneficiary agencies is working on establishing new Port Control Units in Khujand and Khorog cities. And this training course was a first phase of capacity building measures. The training delivered by UNODC and WCO experts provided an excellent opportunity for the trainees to learn wide range of international legal instruments pertaining to drugs and crime and the principals concerning information sources, risk analysis and other profiling techniques, cargo inspection, information exchange mechanisms, post seizure investigations and trade facilitation.

During the opening ceremony, Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia stressed that UNODC's recent research reports a strong increase in opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan and this development requires Customs, Drug Control and other relevant agencies across the region to pay greater attention to border and container control.

Mr. Jamshed Oripov, the Deputy Head of the Customs Control Department of Sughd region appreciated UNODC's efforts in delivering the training course and CCP contribution in fighting illicit goods trafficking in Tajikistan. Mr. Matthew Siuda, U.S. Export Control and Related Border Security Programme's Advisor delivered opening remarks and expressed support to CCP as a donor.

During opening ceremony, Tajik Customs officials also conveyed a letter of appreciation signed by the First Deputy Chairman of the State Customs under the Government of Tajikistan to UNODC recognizing CCP's efforts in the country.

The CCP Regional Segment for Central Asia and Azerbaijan is funded by the Government of Japan, as well as by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program, the U.S. Department of State.