Global Container Control Programme Strengthens Port Control Units' Capacities in Identification of Chemicals in Kazakhstan

On 20 August 2019, UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia handed over a portable chemical detector equipment, "HazMatID 360," to the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the Port Control Unit's operations at "Altynkol" customs post in Kazakhstan under the UNODC-WCO (World Customs Organization) Global Container Control Programme (CCP). Representatives of the State Revenue Committee's Regional Department in Almaty region, CCP donors from the U.S. Export Control and Related Border Security Programme, as well as Programme partners from the Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany attended the hand-over ceremony.

Altynkol is an important dry port in the rail and road transport system of Eurasian continent, located on the Kazakh-Chinese border. It is a part of the transport-logistics hub at the major international transportation corridor "Western China-Western Europe" with growing trade turnover with China and Central Asian countries, Caucasus, Russia and Europe through Altynkol dry port.

During handover ceremony Mr. Askar Bekbergenov, Head of Altynkol Customs post, expressed gratitude to UNODC for strengthening technical capacities of Altynkol Customs port and reiterated Port Control Units' commitment to strengthen the efforts in detecting high-risk consignments at national, regional and international levels.

PCU at Kazakh-Chinese border became a vital chain in the network of PCUs in the region and plays an important role in fostering practical cooperation and information sharing among Customs and border control agencies in Central Asia and worldwide to identify and suppress high-risk consignments.   

The equipment handover was followed by a 3-day interactive training on the use of the specialized equipment guided by international expert from the Federal Criminal Police of Germany (BKA) for PCU officers from Altynkol dry port and Aktau seaport from 20-22 August 2019. During the sessions, PCU officers learned about procedures on software and operation of Infrared technology, conducted practical exercises on analysis of solid, liquid samples and mixtures, as well as were trained in data and equipment maintenance.  

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.

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