Tajik Customs and Drug Control Agency officers trained to identify high-risk containers

UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia organized two-week training for Tajik Customs and Drug Control Agency officers under the "UNODC-World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Programme - Regional Segment for Central Asia and Azerbaijan" during 2-13 March 2015 in Dushanbe. The training aimed at strengthening officer's skills to identify high-risk containers using a combination of high-tech profiling techniques, human intelligence and traditional hands-on methods. Thirty officers took part in the event. The training facilities of the Customs Institute of Advanced Training in Dushanbe was provided by the Tajik Government as in kind contribution.

General-major Turabeg Nazarov, Head of the Operational-Investigative Department of Drug Control Agency, stressed the importance of Container Control Programme (CCP) assistance to Tajikistan as the country is on the frontline of the flow of illicit Afghan opiates.

CCP is a joint UNODC/ WCO initiative aimed at establishing so-called Port Control Units (PCU) comprising Police, Customs and relevant law enforcement authorities in key regional container ports. Tajikistan has joined CCP Programme in March 2014. Tajikistan segment of the programme  is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).