From 15 to 19 January 2021, the World Customs Organization (WCO), in cooperation with the Customs Department of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), held a virtual workshop on the implementation and use of the WCO National Customs Enforcement Network (nCEN).

The main objective of this virtual train-the-trainer workshop was to enhance the capacities of Lao PDR Customs officers from the central office and regional Customs houses who will be responsible for managing the nCEN system, especially within the enforcement units. It was designed to give them a better understanding of how nCEN works and an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the latest version thereof, following its successful upgrade and the incorporation of Lao language options.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Saymanolinh SINBANDHIT, Director of the International Cooperation Division in the Lao PDR Customs Department, emphasized that nCEN use would boost the risk management capabilities of Lao PDR Customs, in line with Customs modernization and trade facilitation measures, thus contributing to economic sustainability and national security. 

The workshop consisted of a combination of theoretical and practical sessions and brought together 23 participants from the country’s different provinces. During the workshop exercises, participants used real cases of seizures made at Wattay International Airport (Vientiane). This practical approach afforded a greater understanding of the system, with officers getting used to nCEN by inputting detailed data into it.

During the closing ceremony, Mr. Phoukhaokham Vannavongxay, Director General of the Lao PDR Customs Department, awarded each participant a certificate. He noted that throughout the course of the workshop, participants had learned how to access intelligence, record seizure cases and analyse cases using the system.

The next step for the Lao PDR Customs Department will be to produce and issue a local nCEN User Guide, guidelines and relevant legislation in the Lao language, and then to officially implement the system at the country’s borders. Lao PDR Customs also hopes that the WCO will provide further national training both virtually and in-person, in order to benefit from the Organization’s useful insights and make best use of the nCEN system.