The illicit trafficking of radiological and nuclear (RN) materials poses a significant threat to global security, potentially leading to the development and use of nuclear weapons or radiological devices such as Radiological Dispersion Devices (RDDs), Radioactive Explosive Devices (REDs), and Improvised Nuclear Devices (INDs). This threat is central to the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004), as it calls upon all UN Member States to apply effective controls over trade of commodities with a potential to be used in the development, manufacture, and use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their delivery systems.

In response to this imperative, many Customs and border agencies have introduced the screening of goods for radiation at their borders and deployed fixed and mobile radiation detection equipment at their ports of entry. As the focus was on the provision of detection infrastructure and equipment to Customs, less emphasis is given to the threat and how this new activity complements existing Customs mandates and security focused activities. Customs frontline officers are often trained to operate this equipment but are not familiar with the materials they are attempting to detect, their transport and concealment methods. More importantly, the officers do not understand why they are performing these roles and how this activity fits in with Customs security mandate highlighted in the WCO’s Punta Cana Resolution. The RANDA Project aims to address these issues and bridge knowledge gaps.

The RANDA Project is the newest area of activity available to Members of the WCO Security Programme since 2023. It is a WCO initiative which runs in partnership with the US Department of Energy (DoE), National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and is designed to address the threats posed by RN materials with the aim of raising awareness amongst the frontline officers undertaking their duties in countering nuclear smuggling activities.

The overall objectives of the RANDA Project are to raise global awareness of the increased threat posed by RN materials out of regulatory controls; train Customs officers in the detection/handling of RN materials; and identify and share best practices to combat the illicit diversion and trafficking of RN materials.

Project RANDA activities include regional and national awareness raising workshops, as well as a global RN detection operations to be executed by the conclusion of the project in September 2025.