Border officials from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan trained on chemical precursors with OSCE support

Participants from Kyrgyzstan test chemical precursors. Dushanbe, 28 November 2013 (WCO/Joao Rodrigues)

DUSHANBE, 29 November 2013 – The identification and seizure of chemical precursors that have the potential to be used by terrorists, insurgents and criminals to create explosives was the focus of a training course for border and customs officials that concluded in Dushanbe today.

The five-day training course, organised jointly by the OSCE Border Management Staff College and the World Customs Organisation (WCO), brought together 17 mid- and senior-level border officers from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Participants were familiarized with risk assessment processes, targeting, and identification methods for explosive precursor chemicals, as well as basic investigative techniques. The course also focused on the practical skills required to use applications developed by the Global Shield Programme for the examination and identification of chemical precursors.

“By helping to identify and intercept falsely declared precursor chemicals, initiate investigations, and uncover smuggling networks, the Global Shield programme aims to better protect our citizens,” said Henryk Raczkowski, Director of the OSCE Border Management Staff College. “We trust this training course will help the participants use the possibilities more widely and effectively.”

“Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan border staff play a vital role in reducing cross-border crime and trafficking of explosive precursor chemicals that may be used in the manufacturing of improvised explosive devices in the region,’ said Jeffrey Wickett, Project Manager of the World Customs Organization’s Global Shield Programme, adding that the course helped develop practical skills of the border staff.

This is the second Global Shield training organized at the OSCE Border Management Staff College since 2012. The course was delivered by experts from Armenia, Belgium, Canada, and Georgia.