UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme Further Enhances the Capacity of the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan

On 11 November 2021 the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Office for Central Asia (UNODC) conducted a handover ceremony of the specialized equipment to the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan (SCST) attended by high-level Customs officials as well as donor and UNODC representatives under UNODC-World Customs Organization Global Container Control Programme (CCP).

The procured equipment aimed to contribute to the efficient operation of existing Port Control Units (PCUs) in Ashgabat International Customs and Turkmenbashy International Seaport as well as new PCU in “Farap Avtoyollary” Customs post to be established in identifying and suppressing high-risk consignments.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Dovlet Bayryyev, Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan commended UNODC’s work and assured that “the equipment handed over to our Customs Service today will serve for the efficient operation of Port Control Units to counter goods smuggling across the borders and ensuring proper Customs control”.

During the opening ceremony Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODС Regional Representative for Central Asia thanked SCST and CCP donors for their continued support to the Programme and stressed the importance of further promoting and institutionalizing the practical regional and interregional cooperation between Customs authorities in Central Asia and the wider region under CCP.

“I hope that Turkmenistan will further operationalize the Interregional Network of Customs Authorities and Port Control Units to become a full-fledged information exchange platform which will be actively utilized to suppress illicit container and cargo movements and facilitate the legitimate trade across the region” stressed Ms. Mittal.

Mr. Batyr Geldiyev, UNODC Regional Programme Coordinator mentioned that today’s equipment handover is part of capacity building measures along with training courses, mentorship progarmmes and other activities envisaged by the Programme and expressed hope that the joint efforts will result to more seizures of illicit goods by PCUs in Turkmenistan.

Following the signing of hand-over reports by SCST and UNODC representatives, Mr. Gandym Jumayev, Head of the Department, SCST delivered presentation and briefed the participants on PCUs operation in Turkmenistan. STST and UNODC participants also conducted a working meeting and discussed implementation of the Programme in the country, as well as future cooperation within CCP.

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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