Uzbek Customs and Aviation Security Service officers trained on Air Cargo control techniques

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Central Asia organized the First Basic Online Training on Air Cargo Component under the UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme (CCP) from 19 to 23 October 2020 for the officers of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Aviation Security Service of Tashkent International Airport.

In 2020, the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan supported the inclusion of Tashkent International Airport named after Islam Karimov into CCP Air Cargo component and the training is a part of a series of capacity building measures that will facilitate the establishment of dedicated Air Cargo Control Unit (ACCU) at this priority airport. The Unit will be staffed and equipped to perform systematic profiling and inspection of high-risk consignments and promote legitimate trade at the same time. The trained officers from Customs and the Aviation Security Service will represent the core part of the ACCU.

Addressing the participants during the training, Mr. Batyr Geldiyev, UNODC Regional Programme Coordinator, mentioned that while airfreight represents only a small percentage of the worlds’ trade by volume, however in value this transport medium is estimated at more than 6 trillion U.S. dollars. Due to its geographical location, Tashkent International Airport is the main gateway not only for Uzbekistan, but also for Central Asia and wider region. In view of that, Mr. Geldiyev stressed the importance of capacity building measures and establishing effective air cargo profiling and control mechanisms.

The training was led by experienced WCO and UNODC international experts where participants had an opportunity to strengthen their knowledge and skills in targeting high-risk air consignments related to illicit drugs, dual use items, small arms, CITES objects, abandoned shipments as well as learnt about modern trends in smuggling, concealments and examination techniques. The participants also have been familiarized with advanced software applications related including flight tracking systems and WCO AirCargoCOMM to be used in ACCU operations.

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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Shakhnoza Zafari

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