Applying Containers' Profiling and Search Techniques in Practice

UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia organized a five-day mentorship programme for officers of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan to enhance sustainability of the programme and equip officers of the CCP Port Control Units of Astrara dry port and Baku seaport with necessary skills and knowledge. Programme was conducted on 26-30 October 2015 under the UNODC - World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Programme (CCP) hosted by Azeri Government at the Astara Customs Post.

Customs officers were trained in profiling and selection of containers in the pre-arrival (imports) and/or pre-departure (exports) phase, using Internet, as a source of information and "ContainerComm" as a secured communication tool.

The trainees inspected a high-risk container at Astara Custom's terminal in real time. During these exercise participants revealed some discrepancies between commercial documentation and actual consignment using modern profiling and search techniques in practice.

The CCP Regional Segment for Central Asia and Azerbaijan is funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program.