New Port Control Unit Established in "Altynkol" Dry Port on the Kazakh-Chinese Border under UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme

On 30 November 2018, UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia jointly with the State Revenues Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan held an official Opening ceremony of a new Port Control Unit (PCU) at "Altynkol" dry port on Kazakh-Chinese border as a part of the UNODC-WCO (World Customs Organization) Global Container Control Programme (CCP).

The Unit is dedicated to conduct systematic profiling, risk analysis, selection and inspection of high-risk consignments to prevent drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and other forms of black-market activity with minimum disruption to legitimate trade. The newly established PCU in Altynkol is fully staffed, trained and equipped with IT and detection tools, as well as connected to WCO ContainerComm secure communication for effective profiling of high-risk consignments.    

Representatives of the State Revenues Committee from Headquarters in Astana and Regional Departments in Almaty, CCP donors from the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Export Control and Related Border Security Programme in Kazakhstan, as well as local mass media participated in the Opening ceremony.

During opening ceremony Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia, stressed on significance of PCU operation in Altynkol at Kazakh-Chinese border due to its location at the "Western China-Western Europe", a major international transportation corridor, with growing turnover with China and Central Asian countries, Caucasus, Russia and Europe though "Altynkol" dry port.

It is expected that the newly established PCU at Kazakh-Chinese border becomes a vital chain in the network of PCUs in the region and plays an important role in fostering practical cooperation and information sharing among Customs and border control agencies in Central Asia and worldwide to identify and supress high-risk consignments.   

Kazakhstan joined the CCP in 2014. Since then CCP has established the first PCU in "Aktau" seaport in the Western part of Kazakhstan (2016) and made numerous successful seizures of illicit drugs, cigarettes, counterfeit and hazardous goods. The setup of the second PCU in "Altynkol" dry port in the Eastern part of the country is a logical continuation of capacity building measures envisaged by the Programme confirming successful UNODC-Kazakhstan partnership under CCP.

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

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