The Cargo and Container Security Program seeks to strengthen the border security capacities of OAS Member States, particularly for those authorities responsible for securing and inspecting commercial cargo and conveyance crossings through marine, air and land-based ports of entry.

Additionally, the program aims to promote cooperation and information sharing between Customs, Border Police and other Law Enforcement and government agencies as well as other key stakeholders in the region by fostering opportunities for open dialogue.


Contact: [email protected]


Follow the conversation and news on this program at #CICTE_CCS

Objectives
  • Augment existing ability to assess and manage risk, contributing to a more secure and efficient flow of goods across borders and through national ports of entry in OAS member states.
  • Increase the use of safe working procedures and personal protective equipment to reduce injury and sustain capacity.
  • Strengthen national capacities to address security threats that exploit potential vulnerabilities in the supply chain and the borders of OAS Member States.
  • Promote national and regional efforts to empower women and reduce gender inequalities in participating Customs and Border Security Agencies.
  • Provide knowledge and skills to government officials and security officers to combat more effectively the smuggling and trafficking of illicit goods contaminating the global supply chain.
  • Increase cooperation, communication, and national and international coordination among customs and border security agencies, law enforcement and other government agencies and relevant actors.
  • Raise awareness of the risks that terrorist and criminal organizations pose to the global supply chain and to the safety of citizens of OAS Member States.
Activities
The Cargo and Container Security program, with the support of its strategic partners, conducts technical analysis missions to participating countries to determine current capacities of training, policy, procedure, and resources. Throughout that analysis, CICTE identifies opportunities to collaborate and strengthen existing teams through supported comprehensive training courses for frontline officers, delivered by experts and partners, and supported by external donors and in-kind contribution. This process allows CICTE to design and deliver courses specifically tailored to the needs and capabilities of participating member states, combining existing practices and tested strategies of interdiction and enforcement to both secure the supply chain and facilitate the flow of legitimate cargo through the region’s ports.
 
These activities also represent excellent opportunities for regional agencies with overlapping responsibilities to communicate, share information, and design strategies for seamless integration of resources in border security.
 
The execution of these activities has evolved with technology to reach even more participants in more member states, through hybrid training in virtual classrooms and in-person skills development.
 
Topics may include:
Commercial Cargo inspection at land, air and marine ports of entry.
Conveyance examination (trucks, ships, trains, airplanes, etc.).
Intermodal Container Contraband Examination.
Recent trends in concealment and criminal modus operandi.
Exploration of case studies and exchange of good working practices and lessons learned.
Profiling of cargo and risk analysis.
Health and Safety assessment, protective equipment, and safe-working procedures.
Training in the use of detection, examination, and imaging equipment.
Tabletop exercises, incident response simulations and working groups, among others.


More Results
Results
20 Cargo and Container Contraband Physical Examination Courses
2 Non-intrusive Examination Courses
17 Commercial Vessel Rummage Courses
4 Introductory courses in Commercial Cargo Security
568 Trained frontline Customs, Navy, and Intelligence officers
Beneficiary Countries
Belize
Belize
Chile
Chile
Colombia
Colombia
Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Ecuador
Guatemala
Guatemala
Haiti
Haiti
Honduras
Honduras
Mexico
Mexico
Peru
Peru
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
More Publications
Publications
February, 2024
One Pager Cargo and Container Security Program
One Pager Cargo and Container Security Program
Team
Hugo Reyes Hernandez
Project Officer
Chrystian Valerio
Program Manager
Jared Greenwood
Project Officer
Strategic Partners