Customs officials to beef up border interdiction
Customs officials to beef up border interdiction
Lao customs authorities are undergoing training in Vientiane to improve their knowledge of international border interdiction techniques. Five customs officers are participating in the course, which runs from June 8-19. It is supported by United States Customs and Border Protection.
In the first week participants will learn lessons and gain experience on international border interdiction techniques such as goods inspection, vehicles and passengers, using technology and equipment, document analysis and management.
They will also learn about inspections for explosives, human trafficking, falsification, and arrest analysis.
In the second week there will be training of the trainers, teaching techniques and training analysis.
During the course, participants will have the opportunity to learn and exchange experiences with trainers from the United States of America.
Goods transportation and border trading in Laos is increasing all the time so it is important to be able to check for illegal imports, the Customs Department's Deputy Director General, Mr Somphit Sengmanivong, said at the opening of the course
He believed the course would be highly effective in terms of introducing the new border interdiction techniques.
The Lao Customs Department and the US Embassy have worked together since 2011, assisting Lao customs authorities in terms of study and exchange.
Previous training courses have included real estate protection, women and law enforcement, inspection and border management, and combatting illegal trading.
The current course will also include a field trip and friendly football match between trainees and organisers.
The course received good collaboration from the US Embassy and the Customs Department of the Ministry of Finance.
