Organized crime groups have long focused on speeding up transportation of drugs and other illicit goods by using ships, containers or aircrafts and have been able to transport even larger amounts across the globe. As the global number of air passengers is expected to double in the coming 20 years, the growing connectivity offered by airlines is prone to exploitation by high-risk passengers.

Despite efforts being made, many countries still lack the technical and technological capabilities to undertake comprehensive and efficient profiling, inspections of luggage, or body checks without impacting the smooth operations of commercial airports. In addition, the sharing of information between law enforcement agencies in source, transit and destination countries is often inexistent.

AIRCOP is a multi agency project based on the cooperation between UNODC, INTERPOL and the World Customs Organisations (WCO) that aimed at strengthening the capacities of participating international airports in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East to detect and intercept drugs, other illicit goods and high-risk passengers in both origin, transit and destination countries with the overall objective of disrupting the illegal criminal networks.

A project funded by the European Union under the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace.