Port Control Units in the Region Demostrate Results in Drug Seizures and Undeclared Consumer Goods

In May-June, a series of national mentorship programmes took place in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan under the UNODC-World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Programme's (CCP) Regional Segment for Central Asia.

Members of CCP Port Control Units established in Kyrgyzstan (Bishek and Osh dry ports), Tajikistan (Dushnabe-2 and Nizhniy Pyanj dry ports) and Turkmenistan (Ashgabat International Customs Terminal) participated in the practical training delivered by the World Customs Organization's experts. 

Mentorship aimed at sustaining the programme outcomes and ensuring continuity of training of newly recruited CCP staff. Experts facilitated practical exercises to identify high-risk container. Trainees learned how to select containers in the pre-arrival (imports) and/or pre-departure (exports) phases taking into consideration the specific needs of relevant countries.

Since the launch of the Regional Segment for Central Asia and Azerbaijan of the "UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme", 11 Port Control Units (PCUs) were established. 571 customs officers of beneficiary countries improved their skills on profiling and inspection of high-risk cargos at national and regional multi-level training activities. As a result, the PCUs officers in the region seized: 1313, 38 kg of narcotic drugs (heroin, hashish, opium, methamphetamine etc.); 33 tons and 360 liters of sulfuric acid; 138,000 packs of cigarettes; 

More than 800,000 false cigarette marks and 23 tons of tobacco goods and its component parts (filters, paper, foil etc.); 825 undeclared golden items for the total amount of 50,000 US dollars;

Various types of undeclared consumer goods for the total amount of 1.883.322, 00 US dollars.

The CCP Regional Segment for Central Asia and Azerbaijan 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) Program.