Enhancing capacity of Air Cargo Control Unit at Almaty International Airport under UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme

From 15 to 18 February 2021, UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia jointly with the State Revenues Committee of the Ministry of Finance and Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural development of the Republic of Kazakhstan conducted online Briefing on Standard Operating Procedures and online Theoretical Refresher training for the Air Cargo Control Unit (ACCU) at “Zhetysu” Customs post operational in Almaty International airport under the UNODC-WCO (World Customs Organization) Global Container Control Programme (CCP-Air cargo segment).

In particular, on 15 February 2021, the UNODC jointly with WCO experts and representatives of the State Revenues Committee and the Civil Aviation Committee and ACCU members at “Zhetysu” Customs post discussed the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) developed by CCP regulating ACCU’s activities, setting up legal provisions for the Unit’s operations, and determining the scope and procedures for the systematic profiling, identification and inspection of high-risk goods, whilst facilitating legal trade. The main outcome of the meeting was the approval of the final draft of the SOP of ACCU with due consideration of the provisions of the Customs legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the expert level.

Following the briefing the ACCU participated in the Theoretical Refresher training “Operational Reediness” from 16 to 18 February 2021. During opening of the training, Mr. Batyr Geldiyev, UNODC Regional Programme Coordinator recalled CCP’s first assessment mission to Almaty International Airport jointly Kazakh authorities in 2019 and stressed that today he is happy to see that ACCU is trained and equipment to conduct to systematically target consignments in the air cargo environment (incl. air cargo and fast parcels) whilst facilitating the free flow of legitimate trade. During the training experienced WCO trainers provided the guidance to the Unit’s members and practical steps for the further efficient operations to undertake selection and examinations of high-risk air freight consignments and unit loaded devices. The officers had been familiarized with reporting and record keepings tools, useful for day-to-day operations; practiced in profiling and targeting on the example of air way bills; learned about insider threats and its countermeasures as well as received introduction to x-ray image analysis, including interactive exercises and quizzes. They also gained access to secure WCO channel AirCargoCOMM for information sharing and data exchanges with other ACCU worldwide.

An official launch of ACCU took place on 19 February 2021 at “Zhetysu” Customs post in Almaty International airport.

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

 

For media queries, please contact:

Shakhnoza Zafari

Communication and External Relations Officer

UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia

Email: shakhnoza.zafari[at]un.org

Mobile: +998935547895