UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme promotes regional cooperation among Port Control Units in Central Asia and Black Sea region

The UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme has organized on 09-11 November 2021 the exchange visit for representatives of the Customs Service under the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Kyrgyz Republic and the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Georgian Revenue Service (Georgian Customs).  

 

The exchange visit aimed at sharing best practice of Georgian container/cargo control and risk management included the demonstration of operation of ACCU Tbilisi, Lazare Terminal, Poti PCU, Batumi Sea Port, and Sarpi Customs checkpoint.

 

The ACCU Tbilisi members have shared their best practices in the areas of risk profiling and targeting of suspicious and high-risk consignments. During the visit to PCU office, the Kyrgyz and Kazakh PCU delegations discussed with Georgian Customs officers the possible drug trafficking routes between Central Asia and Caspian Sea. Various possible routes have been analyzed, with different alternative diversion scenarios in the event of closure of main border crossings assumed in light of current political changes in Afghanistan and resultant impact of the potential changes in the conventional drug trafficking routes.  

The Georgia Customs officers have also demonstrated the risk management and pre-arrival information systems and capitalized on the importance of having in place the pre-arrival information exchange mechanisms for the effective fast targeting the suspicious shipments.

The visit to the Poti PCU has provided the representatives of Kazakh and Kyrgyz PCUs with an opportunity to improve understanding of Customs operations at the Poti Seaport. Poti PCU members have shared their successful cases, as well as ways of how they managed to reach the success in their operations. Quick and trust-based interaction between Georgian Customs and other law enforcement agencies has been a key for the many large seizures.

 

The visit to the  TIR-ready Sarpi border crossing - a major trade route linking Georgia and Turkey - made it possible to learn about new cargo tracing technology, which ensures seamless cargo flow through Customs. The Sarpi Customs checkpoint serves over 150 cargo trucks and over 1,000 other vehicles crossing the border.

 

The CCP Regional Segment for Central Asia is funded by the Government of Japan, 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.

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For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko(Ms.)

Communication and PR Specialist at 

UNODC in Central Asia 

+996775987817 WhatsApp 

vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org