The World Customs Organization has launched a Synthetic Drug Detection Project - and this week they've brought it to Belize.
The training is important because with advancements in making technology it can be harder for law enforcement, customs officers and other border officials to pick up on drug trafficking schemes - even when it's happening right in front of them. In order to keep them informed and updated on what they can expect, the training is designed to give these officers the tools and capacity to monitor and detect illegal activities. Here's what we gathered on day 1 of the training.
Froilan Blanco Fernandez, Technical Expert, World Customs Organization
"We are trying to provide some new skills and new techniques officially for law enforcement and customs units here in Belize to improve their capabilities to detect illicit trafficking in synthetic drugs but specifically in generalization for small aircrafts that are nowadays used by criminals for trafficking not only drugs but all kinds of illicit merchandises. So what we are trying to do is to help them to work and coordinate and cooperate internationally at the same time giving them some more knowledge, skills and tools for combatting this threat."
"We were previously here just starting and we chart the procedures they are applying and the ways, the different entrance points through the ones criminals are introducing drugs let me tell you that Belize is not a final destination country for drugs it is more like a transit place and thanks to our previous visit what we did was specifically design this training for improving those parts in which officers need to improve their capabilities."
Therese Martinez, Assistant Comptroller, Belize Customs & Excise
"So customs play a critical role at the border and also in terms of inspecting goods, inspecting people and inspecting conveyances and so when we look at the synthetic drugs and the possiblity of entering the country it is customs role to ensure that the public remains safe, the customs is safe and the officers are safe and also the trade remains in, there is integrity in the trade that occurs, importing and exporting through the country and so for customs having that knowledge and continually trained is important for us to be ahead of those that traffic these substances."
The triangle runs until Friday.
