Countering illegal trafficking through containerized cargo in Angola and Namibia

Angola 10-14 June 2024 – In June, the UNODC Passenger and Cargo Border Team (PCBT) organised several trainings for the Port Control Units in Luanda, Angola and Walvis Bay, Namibia respectively to strengthen the port law enforcement officers’ skills in countering illegal trafficking through containerized cargo.

These trainings are part of the assistance that UNODC is delivering in nine countries in Eastern and Southern Africa under the EU funded Programme on Port security and safety of navigation, coordinated by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) implemented jointly with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), INTERPOL and UNODC.

In Namibia 17-21 June 2024, the training focused on Seal Tampering techniques. Participants focused on the identification of manipulated container doors, doorhandles and container seals.

In Angola on the other hand, the training was dedicated to wood identification and endangered timber trafficking which is a growing issue in the region. High-value species including Pterocarpus angolensis (Kiaat), Baikaiea plurijuga (Zambezi Teak) and Guibourtia coleosperma (Rosewood) are used domestically for construction but most of the wood extracted in the country is being exported to supply markets in Asia and South Africa.

The officers trained were drawn from the national Port Control Units of both ports, made up of officials from Customs, Police, Wildlife and Environment, Forestry and Port Authority departments.

This activities are being carried out in line with The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16.4 and the 2050 African Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS 2050) as well as UNODC’s Strategic Vision for Africa 2030, under investment area 3 ‘Protecting Africa’s Resources and Livelihoods’, contributing to the Sustainable Management and Protection of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems.

For more information

Pooyan Shateri pouyan.shateri@un.org

United Nations

UNODC ROSAF

Countering illegal trafficking through containerized cargo in Angola and Namibia

For more information