UNODC and WCO Container Control Programme Works to Establish New Port Control Unit in the Kyrgyz Republic  

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) – the World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Programme (CCP) cooperates with Kyrgyzstan since 2015 aiming at building capacity of Kyrgyz Customs Administration and strengthening the knowledge of Customs officers in risk management, supply chain security, and trade facilitation in key land border crossings to prevent the cross-border movement of illicit goods.

 

In 2021, CCP expanded to Batken region and started to work on establishing a dedicated Port Control Unit (PCU) in Batken Customs by conducting technical needs assessment mission and basic theoretical training as well as purchasing specialized equipment.  On 4-8 April 2022, CCP organized a practical training for the officers of the State Customs Service (SCS) under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic, members of the Port Control Units of Batken Customs in Batken, the Kyrgyz Republic in line with the agreed 2022 Work Plan of Activities Kyrgyz Republic.

 

“UNODC in response to the request from the State Customs Service decided to expand its presence in Kyrgyzstan and open a dedicated Port Control Unit in Batken Customs and I am confident that CCP presence in Batken region will contribute to suppressing the attempts of illicit drug trafficking and preventing illegal goods flow through the border”, said Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia during opening of the practical training in Batken on 4 April 2022.

 

According to Mr. Almaz Saliev, Deputy Chair of the State Customs Service of the Kyrgyz Republic – “The establishment of the Port Control Unit in Batken Customs is timely and important for Kyrgyzstan due the large quantities of goods trafficked with violation of Customs regulations in the region”.

 

Mr. Batyr Geldiyev, CCP Regional Programme Coordinator stated that CCP will continue to involve the members of PCU to be opened in Batken Customs in national, regional, and international activities and expressed confidence that joint CCP-Kyrgyz Customs cooperation will yield in concrete results and seizures of illicit goods made by the PCU.

During the training Batken Customs officers gained knowledge on different ways of risk profiling and had opportunity to work with shipping documents, identify suspicious consignments and strengthen their skills through various methods of risk management and physical inspections. UNODC delegation also visited operational PCU in South-Western Customs in Osh to familiarize with its activities.

The CCP Regional Segment for Central Asia is funded by 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 Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,

Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

UNODC ROCA

+996775987817 WhatsApp/cellphone

vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org