Global Container Control Programme Trains Turkmen Customs Officers in Combating Seal Manipulations

20-22 August 2019, ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan - The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Office for Central Asia conducted a National seal manipulation training course for the officers of the State Customs Service (SCS) of Turkmenistan under UNODC and the World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Programme (CCP). Eighteen Customs officers including members of CCP Port Control Units (PCU) from "Beyik Serdar Yoly" Customs post, "Parom Gechelgesi" Customs post, "Beyik Turkmenbashy" Customs post and other priority Customs posts of Turkmenistan participated in the event which took place at the International Customs Terminal in Ashgabat.

The training is part of a series of CCP capacity building activities in Turkmenistan and aimed to strengthen Customs officers' capacity in combatting seal manipulations, as well as using modern methods and Customs control techniques.

During the opening speech Mr. Atamurad Rahmanov, Chief of International Relations of State Customs Service  of Turkmenistan, expressed his appreciation to UNODC for longstanding partnership under CCP and assured full SCS's support to CCP implementation both at national and regional levels.

Mr. Batyr Geldiyev, UNODC Regional Programme Coordinator, stressed that over the last few years, Central Asia experienced significant increase in international trade volumes. These new developments require Customs administrations and border control agencies across the region to pay greater attention to border security and cargo control systems, as with the larger trade volumes the risks of illicit trafficking and other illicit activities have also increased.

Experienced UNODC and WCO international experts shared their experience and knowledge on seals manipulation types, modus operandi "Rip on - Rip-off", real cases of seal manipulations and conducted practical exercises on the Terminal.

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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