SRC and its partners undergo specialized training

Seychelles is preparing to establish a new specialized unit, with officials from the Seychelles Revenue Commission and partner authorities engaging in a 10-day theoretical training program on container control.
Customs officers collaborate with key partners from the Seychelles Police Force, the Biosecurity Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change, and Environment, and the Seychelles Port Authority (SPA). The objective is to collectively acquire knowledge on the requirements for an effective and efficient port control unit, enabling them to detect and prevent cross-border movements of illicit goods.

Customs Commissioner Paul Barrack stresses the significance of training in ongoing efforts to enhance risk management capabilities, bolster border security, strengthen supply chain security, and facilitate trade.

This year, the new interinstitutional unit is slated for establishment, comprising law enforcement officers equipped to exchange information with their counterparts in other countries using a secure communication application developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO). Through this platform, agencies will access a wealth of information and share data on high-risk containers to facilitate verification of their identification numbers.

Mr. Landy Tei, a trainer from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, elucidates that control units are being established in other countries in the region, including Angola, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Uganda. Globally, there are over 180 units spanning more than 80 countries.