Turkmen and Georgian Customs officers share experience on containers control

Representatives from the State Customs Service of Turkmenistanvisited Georgia in February in the framewok of "UNODC-World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Programme (CCP)". The visit aims at holding consultations between Turkmen and Georgian Customs and other law enforcement agencies responsible for container control to share best practices and strengthen regional cooperation. Turkmen delegation met with their counterparts from the Customs Department of the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance, the Patrol Police Department, Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs as well as visited Poti seaport to familiarize themselves with the operation of the Port Control Unit established with the assistance of the CCP.

The Container Control Programme aims at assisting countries in minimizing risks of shipping containers being exploited for illicit drug trafficking and transnational organized crime at selected sea and dry ports. At the heart of the CCP is the establishment of port control units (PCUs) at selected container terminals staffed by front line trained and equipped personnel while free flow of legitimate trade will be further facilitated.  As a member of CCP Turkmenistan is in the process of establishing similar units in the country.