The First Air Cargo Control Unit in Central Asia opens in Kazakhstan under UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme

On 19 February, 2021, the official opening ceremony of the Air Cargo Control Unit (ACCU) took place at the “Zhetysu” customs post of the Almaty International Airport within the framework of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Program (CCP). The unit consists of representatives of the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance, the Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Almaty International Airport.

In her opening speech, Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative to Central Asia highlighted that “this is the First Air Cargo Control Unit in Central Asia comprised from officers from Customs, Civil Aviation, and airport facilities. Such partnership will strengthen the cooperation between Government and business community towards secured global trade supply chain, sustainable development, and enhanced economies”.

The main function of the ACCU is to control air cargo traffic in order to minimize the use of cargo and other means of transportation for drug trafficking, transnational organized criminal activities and other forms of illegal trade while respecting legal trade and promoting aviation security. With the support of UNODC and WCO, the Air Cargo Control Group received theoretical and practical training on customs control in the field of air cargo transportation, risk indicators, methods of detecting any type of smuggling (in particular, goods restricted in handling, as well as prohibited goods), as well as measures to combat internal threats to identify high-risk goods, using special analysis tools, information support and intelligence.

“I encourage this new ACCU to be an active member of CCP cross-border activities and IREN Network and to strengthen its partnerships with other CCP participating countries and ACCUs around the world”, said in his turn Mr. Ketil Ottersen, UNODC Global Container Control Programme Coordinator who joined the ceremony via Zoom videoconference platform.

During the ceremony, the official opening of the ACCU office at the “Zhetysu” customs post and the handover of computer equipment and means of inspection, purchased under the UNODC programme, took place.

The event was attended by representatives of management from the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance, the Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Department of State Revenue for Almaty and Almaty International Airport, as well as one of the programme donors, Mr. Eric Meyer, the U.S. Consul General in Almaty.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Meyer underlined, that “as a significant donor to the UNODC Container Control Program, the United States believes that the establishment of this Air Cargo Control Unit will assist by not only helping prevent the import of dangerous and illegal goods into the Republic of Kazakhstan but also by supporting Kazakhstan customs enforcement and aviation security”.

The CCP Regional Segment for Central Asia is funded by the Government of Japan, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), and the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program.

 

For any queries, contact:

Ms Dinara Yerniyazova,

UNODC National Program Coordinator in Kazakhstan

Tel. +77029252152

Email: dinara.yerniyazova[at]un.org