In partnership with the Container Control Programme (CCP) operated jointly by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the WCO COPES Programme¹ organized a training course which was delivered online from 13 to 16 June 2021 in Iraq.

The training course brought together 28 officials from Iraqi Customs, Police, Border Ports Commission and other law enforcement agencies in three locations.

In its fight against the transportation of illicit goods in sea or air containers, the CCP is setting up Port Control Units and Air Cargo Control Units at key seaports and airports of recipient countries. Personnel working in these units are therefore benefiting from training courses provided for the purpose of improving their capacity in relation to risk management and targeting to detect illicit cargo and, subsequently, to establish Customs infringements and gather evidence. Trained officers are thus able to expedite effective controls while minimizing disruption to the flow of legitimate trade.

This COPES training was organized to strengthen the enforcement capacities of the participants. The agenda for the week was structured around the full spectrum of Customs enforcement activities, from the establishment of a violation, its documentation, methods for gathering evidence and conducting seizures, storing seized evidence material all the way to presenting the case in legal / judicial proceedings.

The participants appreciated the training which assisted in broadening the understanding that detections of illicit goods need sound and proper investigative and documentary procedures to become successful cases in the legal / judicial proceedings to follow. 

The CCP-COPES training for Iraq was funded by the US Department of State – Export Control and related Border Security programme / EXBS – and the European Union (Instrument for Stability and Peace).

For further information about the COPES Programme, please send your request to: COPES@wcoomd.org.

For further information about CCP, please send your request to:Norbert.Steilen@wcoomd.org.