Imagine customs officers operating like seasoned detectives, anticipating smugglers' moves and precisely targeting transnational crimes. This vision is becoming a reality in West and Central Africa. From September 7 to 18, 2020, the World Customs Organization (WCO) for the region (WCO-WCA) conducted an online workshop focused on intelligence, the Customs Enforcement Network (CEN), and their practical applications. Hosted through its Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices (RILO) in Dakar, Senegal, and Douala, Cameroon, the event aimed to elevate participants' analytical skills and operational tactics to more effectively combat customs fraud and organized crime.
Workshop Overview: A Regional Capacity-Building Initiative
The workshop brought together approximately forty customs officers specializing in fraud prevention, with representatives from the WCA Vice-Chair, Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB), and Regional Training Centre (RTC). Led by RILO and WCA experts, the program comprised ten modules delivered over ten working days, each lasting two hours—a structure designed to maximize knowledge absorption and collaborative discussion.
Core Objectives: Enhancing Intelligence Capabilities and CEN Utilization
The workshop addressed critical regional challenges through focused objectives:
- Deepening understanding of WCO intelligence policies: Ensuring alignment with global frameworks for cohesive operations.
- Strengthening intelligence units' role in customs management: Positioning these units as central to risk assessment and decision-making.
- Optimizing national RILO liaison points: Improving risk analysis proficiency at the country level.
- Mastering CEN applications: Enhancing officers' ability to leverage this global enforcement data system for information collection, analysis, and sharing.
- Improving CEN data quality: Establishing protocols to ensure reliable data for actionable insights.
Curriculum: Bridging Theory and Practice
The training covered comprehensive aspects of intelligence work:
- Intelligence cycle: Detailed breakdowns of demand identification, collection, analysis, dissemination, and evaluation.
- Collection techniques: Methods for gathering open-source and confidential intelligence.
- Analytical tools: Instruction on trend analysis, link analysis, and network mapping to extract actionable insights.
- Risk assessment: Processes for identifying, analyzing, evaluating, and mitigating risks.
- CEN operations: Hands-on training in data entry, querying, and analytical functions.
- Data quality control: Best practices for validation, cleansing, and standardization.
Outcomes: Strengthened Skills and Regional Collaboration
The workshop yielded measurable improvements:
- Enhanced comprehension of WCO intelligence frameworks.
- Greater institutional prioritization of intelligence units.
- Improved risk assessment capabilities at national RILO offices.
- Increased proficiency in CEN utilization and data management.
- Stronger regional networks for future cooperation.
Future Directions: Sustaining Momentum Against Transnational Crime
This initiative marks a strategic advancement for WCO-WCA in countering increasingly sophisticated cross-border threats. Ongoing investments in training and collaboration will further equip customs authorities to safeguard regional economic security. The workshop represents not merely upskilling but a systemic upgrade toward more secure and efficient trade environments.
As globalization intensifies, so too must the capabilities of customs agencies. The WCO-WCA's focus on intelligence-driven enforcement exemplifies a proactive approach to dismantling criminal networks and fostering stable, prosperous trade ecosystems.