The use of air travel is skyrocketing and passenger numbers are projected to double in the next two decades. The current projection for 2024 estimates global passenger volume at approximately 9.5 billion, representing a 104% increase compared to the 2019 level and a 10% year-on-year (YoY) growth from 2023. Simultaneously, the international air cargo industry currently accounts for 35% of global trade by value. The growing demand for fast and secure airfreight delivery of high-value, sensitive and perishable goods will continue to drive expansion in this area.
While an increase in connectivity is essential for promoting global trade and mobility, it also creates opportunities for the exploitation of airports by criminal networks. As a consequence, countries and their law enforcement authorities need to be agile and continue to enhance their technical and technological capabilities to manage these evolving security risks.
The UNODC-WCO-INTERPOL Passenger and Cargo Control Programme (PCCP) seeks to address the needs of countries to combat these threats through the provision of advanced training to intercept high-risk passengers and deter illicit trafficking.
From 4 to 8 November, PCCP partnered with the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) to organize an advanced training workshop on profiling, intelligence-led targeting and interception of high-risk passengers for Fijian law enforcement officers working at the airport in Nadi, Fiji. As the first PCCP training on real-time high-risk passenger identification and interception in the Pacific, this activity paves the way for enhanced air security in the region.
The training, delivered by experts from Canada Border Services Agency, Australian Border Force (ABF) and Immigration New Zealand, brought together 22 officers from FRCS, as well as Fiji Immigration, in an engaging showcase of inter-agency cooperation.
Under the guidance and leadership from the trainers, participants developed new targeting briefs, profiles and standard operating procedures to address virtual and real-time targeting of high-risk passengers at airports. The activity concluded with a successful live operation where officers were able to implement skills acquired during the course.
Following an initial mentoring activity delivered for Lautoka Port Control Unit in Fiji in September this year, this event also marked the first official advanced training workshop under a new regional project. Funded by the Government of the United Kingdom, and focusing on Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu, the project aims to enhance customs and law enforcement capacities through specialized training, mentoring and equipment procurement while fostering cooperation and timely information-sharing across borders.
