Imagine stepping off a plane with your luggage—how do customs officers identify potential smugglers among thousands of passengers? This isn't about intuition but a sophisticated risk management system.
In September 2017, the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos PDR) took a significant step toward enhancing its customs capabilities. Under the World Customs Organization (WCO) framework and funded by Japan's Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF), 29 Lao customs officers participated in a four-day Airport Compliance and Enforcement Officer (ACEO) training workshop. The program aimed to strengthen risk management skills to combat smuggling and regulatory violations more effectively.
From Theory to Practice: A Comprehensive Curriculum
The training blended classroom instruction with hands-on exercises. For the first three days, officers studied in Vientiane's Anti-Smuggling Training Room, mastering risk assessment methodologies, profiling techniques, and targeting strategies. The curriculum emphasized intelligence-driven analysis—teaching officers to detect subtle clues like seasoned investigators.
The final day shifted to on-the-job training at Wattay International Airport, allowing participants to immediately apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios.
The Science Behind Customs Screening
Risk management serves as customs' "intelligent brain"—a systematic approach to maximizing efficiency by focusing limited resources on high-risk travelers. The process involves five critical phases:
1. Risk Identification: Analyzing factors like travel history, departure/destination points, and declared items using passenger manifests, passports, and customs declarations.
2. Risk Evaluation: Assessing the probability and potential impact of identified risks (e.g., higher contraband likelihood from specific regions).
3. Profiling: Creating behavioral and demographic "fingerprints" of high-risk individuals, analogous to criminal suspect sketches.
4. Targeting: Deploying inspection technologies (X-rays, detector dogs) and manual checks (interrogations, searches) based on risk profiles.
5. Risk Mitigation: Implementing enforcement measures including confiscations, fines, or detentions.
Behavioral Detection: The Art of Observation
Beyond technical skills, the training equipped officers with practical behavioral analysis techniques:
• Verbal/Nonverbal Assessment: Identifying suspicious indicators like evasive eye contact, inconsistent statements, or nervous mannerisms.
• Interview Tactics: Employing open-ended questions, repetition, and strategic silence to elicit truthful responses.
• Systematic Inspection Protocols: Standardized procedures for examining personal items, carry-ons, checked baggage, and physical searches.
Simulation Drills: Stress-Testing Skills
Role-playing exercises immersed participants in realistic scenarios—alternating between customs inspector, passenger, and smuggler roles. These simulations reinforced risk assessment principles while building muscle memory for high-pressure situations.
Japan's Role in Capacity Building
The program was made possible through Japan's CCF initiative, which supports customs modernization in developing nations. By providing funding, technology transfers, and training, Japan helps partner countries strengthen border security while facilitating legitimate trade.
For Laos, this training marked a milestone in professionalizing its customs operations—equipping officers with 21st-century tools to balance security and efficiency at its borders.