The UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme enhances information exchange through the Inter-Regional Group on Urgent Queries 

On 26-27 July 2022, UNODC jointly with the State Customs Service under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic organized the Fourth Inter-Regional Expert-Level Meeting. This event was conducted under the UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme (CCP) Inter-Regional Network of Customs Authorities and Port Control Units (IREN Network) in Cholpon-Ata, the Kyrgyz Republic. 

The event brought together over 60 experts from Customs Services and other competent authorities of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives and experts from UNODC and WCO.  

 

Welcoming the participants of the meeting, Mr. Almaz Saliev, the Deputy Chairman of  the State Customs Service under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic noted that the CCP IREN Network has made it possible to establish a practical cooperation mechanism between the Customs Services of the countries participating in CCP through the regular exchange of relevant information on high-risk cargo movements in the region.

Mr. Batyr Geldiyev, UNODC Regional Programme Coordinator in his welcoming remarks stressed that this regular engagement within the CCP IREN Network in 2022 serves as evidence of a strong united alliance and commitment in combating drugs, organized crime, and terrorism. In this regard Mr. Geldiyev recommended further operationalization of IREN Network by improving analytical work and reporting, performing more targeted operations, as well as sustaining IREN Network to ensure collaborative work on a regular and permanent basis.

As a result of the meeting, the participants approved the functional tasks of the IREN Inter-Regional Group on Urgent Queries in accordance with the recommendations of the IREN Inter-Regional Expert-Level Meeting held on March 15-16, 2022, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan to ensure operational communication between Port and Aviation Cargo Control Units (PCUs/ACCUs), agreed on preparatory aspects of the next Inter-Regional operation, as well as reviewed the activities of IREN Network

On the margins of the event, the State Customs Service under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic organized a friendly football tournament as a team building activity for the Customs and the border control officers of the CCP IREN Network participating countries. The tournament provided an excellent opportunity for informal and friendly interaction. This was greatly appreciated by the participants.

 

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