UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme strengthens the capacities of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan

On 25 June 2020, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Central Asia handed-over computer, office, search and detection equipment to the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan under UNODC-World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Programme (CCP) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The hand-over ceremony was conducted on the eve of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as 'World Drug Day', which is annually marked on 26 June.

The set of equipment will be used by the Port Control Unit (PCU) to be established at “Yallama” Customs post in Uzbekistan.  In 2017, Uzbekistan supported the expansion of the Programme to additional PCUs at “Yallama” Customs post. Since then Customs and Border Force officers from this post have been successfully participating at different capacity development events, envisaged by CCP, including theorical, practical, and advanced training, as well as, regional/international activities. 

Along with CCP national focal points, officials from the State Customs Committee and the National Information-Analytical Center on Drug Control under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, CCP donor representatives from the Japanese and the U.S. Embassies in Tashkent attended the event. During opening ceremony, Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia expressed her confidence that the provided equipment will complement the knowledge gained during the trainings, and will further support Uzbek Customs and PCU members to identify and suppress high-risk consignments. Mr. Ramil Kontyukov, Deputy Chief of the Risk Assessment and Monitoring Department of the State Customs Committee highlighted the fruitful cooperation between the State Customs Committee and UNODC, and stated that “The provided equipment for PCU to be established at “Yallama” Customs post will certainly strengthen Customs’ capacity, expedite Customs procedures and contribute to identification of high-risk consignments”. 

The joint UNODC and WCO Container Control Programme is uniquely placed to assist participating Governments to create sustainable enforcement structures in selected sea, dry and air ports in order to minimize the risk of shipping containers being exploited for illicit drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and other forms of black-market activity.

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.