UNODC trained Turkmen mid-level law enforcement officers on modern control techniques for vehicle, cargo and goods inspection

On 30 August - 3 September, UNODC conducted an online training course on modern control techniques for vehicle, luggage, cargo and goods inspection for mid-level officers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, State Customs Service and State Border Service of Turkmenistan.

The training aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of the officers to effectively respond to challenges during an inspection at checkpoints and strengthen their capacity to combat cross-border crime.

The training provided both theoretical and practical sessions. It was delivered by Mr. Lauris Krivans, the customs expert from Latvia who has extensive experience in conducting search operations and training customs officers.

During the training, the participants learned about advanced cross-border vehicle inspectionprocedures and control techniques, including inspection of cargo and trains, risk analysis and assessment, profiling, operational psychological assessment, among others. 

In the course of the practical sessions, the participants prepared and delivered presentations on ways to carry out an inspection at the checkpoints effectively. They shared their experience in seizing contraband items and exchanged views on how to ameliorate their work.

The feedback received from the participants at the end of the training was very positive. They thanked UNODC for organizing the training and requested to conduct similar highly informative and useful courses in the future.

The training was conducted within the framework of Cross-Border Cooperation Component of Sub-programme 1 “Countering transnational organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and preventing terrorism” of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia designed to counter the trafficking of Afghan opiates through the northern route by establishing Border Liaison Offices (BLOs) at the key border crossing points (BCPs) in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan. It is the first project to establish BLOs in Central Asia, and its stakeholders are the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Border Troops, Customs and Drug Control Agencies of each country.

The establishment of BLOs in Central Asia builds a strong foundation for further effective interagency and cross-border cooperation. To date, 19 BLOs have been established on the Tajik-Afghan, Uzbek-Afghan, Tajik-Uzbek, Kyrgyz-Tajik, Kyrgyz-Uzbek, Kyrgyz-Kazakh and Kazakh-Uzbek borders. Each country assigned staff for the establishment of BLOs and allocated premises at the BCPs, while technical assistance was provided by UNODC through organizing training courses and providing equipment to support the operation of the offices.

The implementation of the component in Turkmenistan is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). 

 

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For further information, please contact:
Nurangez Abdulhamidova
Communication and External Relations Officer
UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia (Dushanbe)
Email: nurangez.abdulhamidova[at]un.org