New Port Control Units in Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan receive first training under Container Control Programme  

The United National Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Regional Office for Central Asia organized a National Basic Trainingfor the officers of the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan and the State Customs Service under the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic under UNODC and the World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Programme (CCP) from 14 till 17 December 2021 .

This event is the first training activity for new Port Control Units (PCUs) to be established in Batken Customs in Kyrgyzstan and Farap Avtoyollary Customs post in Turkmenistan conducted in different phases in a logical sequence. The training itinerary that combines onsite classroom training, practical field training, e-learning modules, exchange visits, and work study tours to benchmarking seaports/dry ports/airports with an outstanding experience in this area is delivered by technical experts from WCO, UNODC, and other international organizations.

During his opening remarks by Mr. Batyr Geldiyev, UNODC Regional Programme Coordinator stressed that the training aimed at strengthening theoretical and practical skills of new PCU members to be established and refresh the knowledge of operational PCUs in Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan in profiling and suppressing high-risk consignments as well as utilizing modern Customs control techniques.

The training was delivered by the experienced WCO experts in a hybrid mode for some twenty-seven Customs officers from new PCUs to be established in Batken Customs and Farap Avtoyollary Customs post and existing PCUs in Ashgabat International Customs Terminal, Turkmenbashi International Seaport as well as Lebap Customs Department.

During the training the participants refreshed their knowledge on WCO Container Convention 1972, Container specifications and identification, risk analysis on commercial documents and Customs declarations, manipulation of seals, concealments, selection and examination of containers/cargoes. The participants discussed the current Customs procedures and work, learned how to use Container Comm and other CCP tools and established working contacts between Kyrgyz and Turkmen frontline Customs officers.

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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For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko 

Communication and PR Specialist at 

UNODC in Central Asia 

+996775987817 WhatsApp

vasilina.brazhko[at]un.org