BEIRUT (LEBANON), 12 JULY 2022 -
The CCP is excited to announce that, on 20 June 2022, the first Air Cargo Control Unit (ACCU) was opened in Beirut at Rafic Hariri International Airport. Launched by the Lebanese Minister of Finance, His Excellency Mr. Youssef al Khalil, in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Customs Organization (WCO), the ceremony was attended by many high-level guests. These included Ambassadors of Germany and Australia (who actively support the CCP’s work at Tripoli seaport, Beirut seaport, and Masna land border crossing) and a representative of the Government of Norway, whose country provided primary funding for the unit. The Director of the General Directorate of Civil Aviation also attended, whose work under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport provided the ACCU’s premises.
As Lebanon’s main airport, the CCP hopes this project will strengthen the country’s capacity to fight against illicit trafficking. And the unit is well set up for success; all officers manning the ACCU from Lebanese Customs have been trained by the CCP in risk analysis, profiling, targeting, and inspecting suspicious containers and will receive ongoing training and support from the Programme. Further, and in line with global best practices, liaison officers from all relevant law enforcement agencies involved in cargo control at the airport can be added to the unit at a later stage.
According to Mr. Svenn Marius, Chargé d’Affaires of Norway, “border management is key for the country’s security and stability and consequently prosperity.” Wolfgang Aigner, the UNODC Regional Coordinator for the CCP in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), shares this sentiment. He believes that although the nature of the project is technical, the establishment of the unit and its work to set up transparent and secure customs and cargo control procedures will send a strong message to the international community. Although the CCP has been active in Lebanon since 2019, this new unit will give the country an added boost to regain confidence from business corporations and investors. During the event, Mr. El Khalil and Mr. Assaad Tfaily, President of the Higher Council of Lebanese Customs, also emphasised their appreciation for the assistance and support from the UNODC, Lebanese partners, and donors during the project in re-establishing sustainable economic growth and revitalizing confidence and trade in the country.
The MENA region is now home to 9 Port Control Units (PCUs) and ACCUs. As of 2021, these units included 776 trainees, 114 of which are women, and participated in 63 CCP-led training activities. Because of this, significant seizures have been made, including 94 kg of synthetic drugs and 86 kg of cocaine. Beirut’s new ACCU is now part of the CCP’s global network of units contributing to global security, health, and economies.
The CCP would like to extend its gratitude to Lebanese partners and the donor countries of Norway, Germany, and Australia for their support in the region and congratulate all parties involved for their contribution to this important step towards deterring organized crime within the global supply chain.
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