The Container Control Programme highlights success in preventing the exploitation of the global trade supply chain

BRUSSELS AND VIENNA : The Container Control Programme (CCP) released its Annual Report for 2022. The CCP continued to deliver impressive results by making a wide variety of seizures, including cocaine, firearms, ammunition and parts of explosives, cigarettes, and products related to crimes that affect the environment. Translating these outcomes into impact, the CCP continues to improve the security, health, and economies of countries and people around the world.  

Director of the World Customs Organization (WCO), Mr. Pranab Kumar Das, highlights that “the results and impact are thanks to a multitude of partnerships with countries and their law enforcement agencies through interagency cooperation, the private sector, international organizations, academia, and the media.” Mr. Das emphasizes that “due to the recent years of a pandemic, conflict, and economic recession, we have all realized our vulnerability and understood more than ever before, that we can only prevent global challenges together. Similarly, organized crime, illicit trafficking and terrorism and their threat to health, economy, and security, must be tackled by a spirit of joint responsibility while leveraging everyone’s strength and mandate”.

Alan Cole, Chief of the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Border Management Branch, echoes this sentiment. He said that “recognizing the fragility of traditional supply chain systems and the necessity of remaining relevant by looking into the future, we aligned our border management programmes; placed staff close to operations; advanced the “CCP’s Women’s Network”; launched new training curricula on emerging threats; upgraded technologies and modes of analysis and information sharing; delivered advanced and specialised equipment; expanded into new geographical regions; contributed to the Black Sea Grain Initiative; and strengthened international cooperation”.

As the CCP takes a first glimpse into its 19th year of existence, it invites countries, the private sector, and international organizations to join the Programme. To remain relevant, sustainable, and effective, the CCP has developed a strategy for 2022-25.

Container and cargo trade through seaports, airports, dry ports, rail terminals, and land border crossings are the lifelines of the globe, but they are also exploited for illicit trafficking, organized crime, and terrorism.

The CCP was established as a partnership between the UNODC and WCO in 2004. In 2015, the UNODC also signed a partnership Memorandum of Understanding with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The goal of the CCP is to build capacity in countries seeking to improve risk management, supply chain security, and border management to prevent the trafficking of illicit goods, organized crime, and terrorism and support trade facilitation. In doing so, the mission of the CCP is to safeguard the health, security, and economic situation for people and countries around the world.