The UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme (CCP) has been named the winner of the 2018 BIC Award for safety, standardisation and sustainability in container transport, the Bureau International des Containers (BIC) announced on Wednesday (13.3.2019).
This Programme is jointly administered by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to strengthen international supply chain security by developing the capacities of national border agencies to address threats related to maritime, land and air cargo. It develops cooperation between national law enforcement authorities and private sector entities, such as port operators and shipping companies.
The CCP's efforts have led to the seizure of a wide range of prohibited goods, including weapons, fishery resources, forestry, wildlife and other environmental crimes, prohibited drugs, strategic goods, counterfeit or unlicensed medicines, drug and weapons precursors, cigarettes, and goods that are counterfeit or otherwise violate intellectual property laws.
Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary-General of the WCO and John Brandolino, Director of the UNODC Division of Treaty Affairs, received the BIC Award on the opening day of the annual meeting of the Compliance Committee on 11 March 2019 at WCO Headquarters.
Each year, the BIC Board of Directors selects a unique candidate from a pool of industry nominees. The BIC Award honors individuals or organizations for their notable contributions to safety, standardization or sustainability in container transportation.
Presenting the BIC Award alongside Douglas Owen, BIC Secretary General, Giordano Bruno Guerrini, BIC Board Chairman commented: “The Container Control Programme has been selected for its successes in enhancing security and mitigating smuggling in container transport. BIC believes that the capacity building efforts of the PCC, and its important work in promoting advanced risk assessment worldwide, should be applauded and encouraged.”
Currently, the PCC is operational in 50 countries and has started operations in 12 additional countries. More than 80 Port Control Units (PCUs) and Air Cargo Control Units (ACCUs) have been established since the PCC was established in 2004.
“Since its inception in 2004, the PCC has been a perfect example of the excellent cooperation between the two international organizations in the fight against illicit trafficking.. “For 15 years, the PCC has maintained a delicate balance between protecting public health and security and facilitating trade to ensure uninterrupted processing of products at borders. This BIC award recognises the effectiveness of the PCC’s approach to fostering constructive dialogue between Customs, other law enforcement entities and the business community to achieve common goals. We are honoured to receive this award from a long-standing partner of the World Customs Organization,” said WCO Secretary-General Kunio Mikuriya.
Meanwhile, Mr. John Brandolino, Director of the UNODC Division of Treaty Affairs, stressed that “transnational organized criminal groups and terrorists conceal their activities by exploiting the scale, diversity and complexity of global trade.
An efficient, holistic and multi-sectoral response is needed. The Container Control Programme is a good example of this approach. The PCC consistently makes seizures of all types of illicit goods, using modern information-sharing and risk analysis methodologies to efficiently target high-risk containers and minimise disruption to legitimate trade. I am pleased to see them receive the BIC award in recognition of these efforts.”
The WCO and UNODC Global Coordinators stressed that “WCO and UNODC are honoured to receive this award from the BIC. This recognition is a testament to the skill and determination of our national counterparts and staff; we are proud of this cooperation. We would like to express our gratitude for the recognition of the contribution of the Programme, and therefore of both Organizations, to international efforts against transnational organized crime.”
Source: Bureau International des Containers (BIC)
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