New Port Control Units opened in Tajikistan and Kazakhstan

Three new Port Control Units (PCUs) were opened in Dusanbe-2 and Nizhniy Pyanj dry ports in Tajikistan and Aktau seaport in Kazakhstan under the "UNODC-World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Programme - Regional Segment for Central Asia and Azerbaijan". Opening of these PCUs marked logical culmination of two years the UNODC-Governments of Tajikistan's and Kazakhstan's efforts and partnership. Tajikistan has joined CCP in March 2014, Kazakhstan in July 2014. Since then, both countries participated in all stages of capacity building measures provided by the Programme including theoretical, practical and advanced training, regional meetings, study tours and exercises aimed to information exchange. The PCUs were renovated and equipped with the computers, ContainerComm secure communication tool, search and detection equipment as well as Hazmat360ID chemical detectors.

During the opening ceremony in Tajikistan Mr. Azim Khaidar Tursunzoda, Deputy Head of the Customs Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan mentioned that CCP strengthen regional cooperation among Customs and other law enforcement agencies in the region.  

Senior government officials from the Customs Service, the Drug Control Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the State Revenues Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan as well as representatives of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS), attended the event.

Mr. Marat Kabdushev, Deputy Head of the Customs Checkpoints Unit of the State revenues Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan expressed hopes that the newly opened Port Control Unit (PCU) will increase counterfeit and drug seizures.

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