Regional Meeting for Heads of JAITFs: Strengthening Airport Security to Combat Illicit
Trafficking in West and Central Africa
2 to 6 December 2024 - Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Illicit trafficking by air is a pressing challenge in West and Central Africa. Criminal networks exploit vulnerabilities in aviation security to smuggle drugs, counterfeit goods, firearms, wildlife products, synthetic drugs and several other types of illicit commodities. Traffickers are constantly adapting their methods to evade detection, underscoring the need for enhanced global measures to disrupt illicit flows. Airports, as key nodes in the movement of goods and people, confirm their essential positioning in the fight against transnational organized crime.
The Airport Communication Programme (AIRCOP), funded by a coalition of international partners, is part of UNODC global Passenger and Cargo Control Programme (PCCP). Implemented in partnership with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and INTERPOL, AIRCOP is designed to enhance the capacity of international airports to target and intercept high-risk passengers, cargo and mail. A key component of the Programme is the establishment of the Joint Airport Interdiction Task Forces (JAITFs), which - thanks to the longstanding support of
the European Union’s Global Illicit Flows Programme - are operational in 14 airports across 12 countries in the region, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroun, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo.
To continue fostering cooperation and operational coordination in the region and beyond, the heads of all JAITFs from across West and Central Africa, alongside JAITFs counterparts from Barbados and Jamaica – reflecting the growing illicit flows by air between the Caribbean and West Africa – convened for a strategic meeting in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, from 2 to 6 December. This critical event aimed at: (i) providing an overview of the PCCP AIRCOP’s evolution in the region, (ii) highlighting current trends and emerging threats in illicit air trafficking and (iii) discussing strategies to strengthen and sustain JAITFs’ operations.
Representatives from INTERPOL, WCO, the European Union, SEACOP (a GIFP programme focused on the fight against maritime illicit trade and associated criminal networks) and regional partners participated in discussions at the meeting, which also involved experts from Senegal, Ivorian and French customs, as well as representatives from Chad, which is preparing to join the Programme. Highlighting its ongoing efforts to improve intelligence-sharing mechanisms, INTERPOL delivered a presentation on the current landscape of new trends in the air flow of narcotics and evolving resources to support the work of JAITFs. Meanwhile, heads of JAITFs from the region shared exceptional results from recent years, including seizures of drug, CITES-listed species, gold and more. Working groups also drove discussions on management, interagency coordination, ethics and integrity, enriching exchanges on collective problem solving resulting in actionable solutions.
As highlighted by the programmes and Member States represented, and in line with the objective of the most recent AIRCOP VI funding agreement between UNODC and the European Union, a strong emphasis was put on transatlantic cooperation, with important interventions from Caribbean partners, the fostering of South-South cooperation with the participation of experts from the West and Central Africa region and the connection with other GIFP programmes and partners.
The outcomes of the critical discussions held during the meeting once again underscored the importance of international commitment to enhancing airport security in West and Central Africa. The results of the Programme demonstrate the critical need for sustained investment and global cooperation to secure aviation routes. As criminal networks adapt their methods, initiatives like AIRCOP are vital to ensuring that airports remain safe and secure points of entry. AIRCOP remains committed to pooling resources, expertise, and best practices, with stakeholders working together to create a robust framework that counters evolving threats, fostering both regional stability and international security.
This activity was funded by the European Union under the Global Illicit Flows Programme of the EU Foreign Policy Instrument
Further Information
The Passenger and Cargo Control Programme is the result of a recent merger of two flagship UNODC Programmes, the Container Control Programme (CCP) and the Airport Communication Programme (AIRCOP). The Programme has established, trained and equipped over 170 units and task forces in 86 countries.
