Zakarpattia, Ukraine – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) conducted two intensive training sessions on Illicit Weapons Detection for border management and law enforcement officers from four key Ukrainian agencies: the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGSU), the State Customs Service of Ukraine (SCSU), the National Police of Ukraine (NPU), and the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU).
Each training session, lasted two and half days, and was designed to strengthen the capacity of Ukrainian border management and law enforcement officers to trace, detect and intercept illicit weapons, ammunition, and explosives with a focus on inter-agency cooperation. A team of four experienced trainers led the sessions: one international expert from Lithuania and three national trainers who are highly skilled experts from Ukrainian state agencies. The training focused on practical skills, including:
All “Illicit Weapons Detection” training sessions conducted during 2024 have been supported by the Government of France and United States Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program.
In Ukraine, these trainings are part of a broader UNODC initiative to establish and support Passenger and Cargo Control Units (PCCUs) worldwide. These PCCUs are designed to enhance border security and prevent transnational organized crime and terrorism conducting of illicit trafficking of weapons, ammunition, explosives and drugs. These trainings were designed and delivered collaboratively with the UNODC Global Firearms Programme.
By providing specialized training and technical assistance, UNODC aims to equip border management and law enforcement officers with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively detect and interdict these dangerous commodities.