Experts from the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the United Nations provided a training course on Container Control to staff of the General Directorate of Customs of Argentina (DGA).
Regional training specialists of the Global Container Control Program (PGCC) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Customs Organization (UNODC/WCO), Bob Van der Berghe and César Schaffino, respectively, commented that the scope of the activity is to improve the capacity of law enforcement authorities to identify and curb transnational crime, including drug trafficking and counterfeit smuggling, assist legitimate trade, and secure state profits.
The training actions, free of charge for the Argentine Customs, are financed by the United States and Canada, according to Van der Berghe.
"Staff training is intended to Identify, profile and inspect high-risk cargo containers in tradeor, and legitimate businesses", Schaffino said.
This is a global initiative developed to assist governments in creating sustainable structures in selected ports in order to reduce the risk of containers used for illicit drug trafficking, trademark crime and other black market activities.
Phases of training
Training for the Units is divided into several phases. The first consists of a basic formation to familiarize participants with international legal instruments and the principles of information sourcing, risk analysis and other profiling techniques, cargo inspection, information exchange mechanisms, intelligence and trade facilitation.
After this classroom training, follow the practical training. The third phase will consist of port visits from Buenos Aires and Rosario respectively, to learn first-hand from experienced officials, as well as discover working techniques. At the same time and in order to ensure the sustainability of the program, the staff will have access to tutorials by the instructors.
The inter-institutional units responsible for drawing up the profile of high-risk containers are equipped to: exchange information with their counterparts in other countries, using secure communication developed by the WCO.
"La commonCommunication is key"It allows users in the country and abroad to search and track containers with specific destinations, as well as providing information on high-risk loads, routes and goods," Schaffino said.
"The PGCC has had notable successes, reflected in a significant number of seizures of drugs, precursors, cigarettes, intellectual property, among others," added Schiaffino.
The WCO expert explained that the PGCC is present in the main ports of fourteen countries in the region as well as in fifty operational units in Latin America and the Caribbean.
By being part of this global communications network since 2016, Argentina reaffirms its commitment to fight transnational organized crime and guarantee security in international logistics.
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