Uzbek Customs officers trained on container control methodologies

2-6 February training aimed at strengthening knowledge and skills of Customs officers on "profiling" of the container movements and using modern methods of customs control including secured communication system "ContainerComm" was organized in Tashkent under the "UNODC-World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Programme - Regional Segment for Central Asia and Azerbaijan". Twenty-seven officers from the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, its Central apparatus, regional Customs departments and the Higher Customs Military Institute participated in the event hosted at the Higher Customs Military Institute in Tashkent. WCO and UNODC representatives  facilitated the training.

Mr. Saidodil Gulyamov, Deputy Chief of the Higher Customs Military Institute welcomed the participants and stressed the importance of the Container Control Programme (CCP) in tackling the illicit drug trafficking in the region. Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia stated that CCP is uniquely placed to assist Governments to create sustainable enforcement structures in selected sea and dry ports in order to minimize the risk of shipping containers being exploited for illicit drug trafficking and  transnational organized crime.

CCP is a joint UNODC/ WCO initiative aimed at establishing so-called Port Control Units (PCU) comprising Police, Customs and relevant law enforcement agencies in key regional container ports. These JPCU will receive training  as well as specialized equipment. Uzbekistan has joined CCP Programme in December 2013.