UNODC -WCO Container Control Programme enhances Kazakh and Kyrgyz Customs capacity in effective cargo controls

 

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Office for Central Asia (UNODC ROCA) conducted online specialized training courses on procedures for seizing goods and collecting evidence to support effective border security practices and allow efficient investigations and prosecutions under UNODC – World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Programme (CCP) in partnership with the World Customs Organization’s Customs Operational Practices for Enforcement and Seizures (COPES) Programme on 21 - 25 June in Kazakhstan and 19 - 23 July 2021 in Kyrgyzstan.

More than 40 officers  from the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan (SRC), members of the Port Control Units (PCUs) and Air Cargo Control Unit (ACCU) as well as from the State Customs Service of the Kyrgyz Republic, PCU members in Bishkek and Osh participated in the training-courses led by experts from WCO COPES Programme.

“For the first time CCP programme conducts specialized COPES training in Central Asia covering the entire spectrum of Customs control activities including risk analysis and profiling, making seizures, collecting the evidence and conducting investigations”, emphasized Mr. Batyr Geldiyev, UNODC Regional Programme Coordinator.

UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme has established a long-term successful collaboration with WCO COPES Programme on improving the capacity of port control teams to identify high-risk consignments, improving standards for evidence collection and Customs operational practices to create effective mechanisms for ensuring the security of trade and organizing border controls.

“Our COPES Programme encourages Customs administrations to look beyond their traditional functions of gathering evidence and making seizures. We promote professional practices which provide Customs services and other border agencies with a better understanding of flows of persons, goods or capital and enhance their capacity for evidence collection to further conduct investigations and prosecutions”, said Mr. Gilles Thomas, WCO COPES Programme Manager.

Customs officers, members of PCUs/ACCU expanded their knowledge on the types and tools of investigation, types of intelligence and how they can be used to detect offenses. The control measures on Strategic Trade and Export Control, cash smuggling, money laundering, and the importance of joint work of all law enforcement agencies as a prerequisite for success in the investigation of crimes.

UNODC--WCO Global Container Control Programme aims to build capacity in countries seeking to improve risk management, supply chain security and trade facilitation in seaports, land-borders and airports to prevent the cross-border movement of illicit goods.

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.

***

For more information, please contact Vasilina Brazhko (Ms.)

UNODC Communication and PR Specialist in Central Asia

At +996775987817 WhatsApp or Telegam or by

e-mail: vasilina.brazhko[at]un.org