From 17 to 20 March 2025, the UNODC Passenger and Cargo Control Programme (PCCP) conducted a Regional Training on Investigative Interviewing for 20 law enforcement officers from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, funded by Canada and the European Union. This initiative, carried out in partnership with the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) and the Laboratory of Teaching and Research in Cognition and Justice (CogJus) in Brazil, aimed to enhance ethical and effective investigative techniques in border security operations.
Effective interviewing is a cornerstone of fair and reliable criminal investigations. The methodology employed in questioning victims, witnesses, and suspects significantly impacts the quality of evidence gathered and the integrity of judicial proceedings. The investigative interviewing framework promotes:
This methodology aligns with international human rights instruments such as the Kyoto Declaration, General Assembly Resolution 78/229, and the UN Secretary-General's Call to Action for Human Rights. It fosters ethical investigations, upholds due process and enhances the reliability of information obtained during interviews.
AIRCOP, an inter-agency project implemented under the PCCP, strengthens the capacity of Member States and their law enforcement agencies at international airports to detect and intercept high-risk passengers, cargo and mail, contributing to the global fight against illicit trafficking, drug smuggling and transnational organized crime. With 41 Joint Airport Interdiction Task Forces (JAITFs) established around the world, the strategic placement of these task forces makes them optimally positioned to conduct crucial interviews on high-risk passengers and potential victims travelling through the airport.
As a response, PCCP delivered a regional training in Bridgetown, Barbados,to equip law enforcement officers from five Caribbean countries with practical tools to implement human rights-compliant investigative interviewing techniques in their daily operations. In preparation, prior to the in-person activity, each officer had completed the UNODC e-learning modules on Investigative Interviewing– a self-paced, three-module online course aligned with the 2024 Manual on Investigative Interviewing for Criminal Investigations – which reinforced their understanding of ethical investigative techniques, ensuring their ability to conduct interviews that withstand judicial scrutiny.
The in-person training, which was made possible by financial contributions from the Government of Canada and the European Union Global Illicit Flows Programme (EU-GIFP), underscored a shared commitment to promoting human rights-sensitive border security.By equipping law enforcement officers with the skills to conduct fair and effective interviews, the initiative aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and enhancing efforts to disrupt illicit cross-border activities.
Looking ahead, UNODC and its partners remain committed to supporting further capacity-building initiatives in investigative interviewing across the region. The success of this training is promising for future collaborations aimed at institutionalizing these practices within national law enforcement agencies. By integrating investigative interviewing methodologies into their standard operating procedures, border control agencies can enhance their operational effectiveness, contribute to the fair administration of justice and build greater public trust in law enforcement. With sustained training and knowledge exchange, AIRCOP and its partners will continue working towards a border security environment that is both effective and aligned with international human rights standards.
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.
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