As part of the COPES¹ Programme, a fourth Train-the-Trainer Workshop was held in Brussels at the WCO Secretariat from 16 to 20 September 2019.

The event was involved in promoting the COPES concept in the six WCO regions.  This workshop included nine participants from the following countries: Albania, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, North Macedonia, Senegal and Slovakia. It was an opportunity for the participants to gain high-level experience in the techniques of running courses, as well as facilitating learning and teaching.  The participants were also called upon to demonstrate their strategic and operational competencies in enforcement and exhibited their ability to work in an international environment.

COPES Expert Trainers are specialized in Customs issues.  They must have a strong expertise in risk analysis, intelligence gathering, field operations, fraud detection, evidence collection, seizures and administrative and/or judicial investigations.  With their experience as trainers, they must be capable of presenting and promoting good professional practice in line with WCO standards.

The ultimate objective of accrediting COPES Expert Trainers is to provide the organization’s Members with solid support for building the capacity of their staff.  In this particular case, it was a question of sharing expertise with these experts; who were keen to hone their skills in the area of border security and its associated challenges, as well as seeking to boost their enforcement regime.  The experts are those that are active in the surveillance of movement of goods, people as well as capital at border control.

For more information on the COPES Programme, please contact copes@wcoomd.org.