Global Customs Agencies Tackle Ocean Plastic Pollution

Global Customs Agencies Tackle Ocean Plastic Pollution

The World Customs Organization (WCO) actively participates in UN World Oceans Day, highlighting customs' crucial role in marine environment protection. Through enforcing the Basel Convention, upgrading trade tools, and implementing the Asia Pacific Plastic Waste Project, customs are committed to combating illegal plastic waste trade and protecting marine ecosystems. The WCO calls for global collaboration, urging everyone to contribute, even in small ways, to safeguard our blue planet. This includes preventing plastic waste from entering waterways and promoting responsible consumption habits to reduce overall plastic pollution.

02/12/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Papua New Guinea Strengthens Anticounterfeiting Measures

Papua New Guinea Strengthens Anticounterfeiting Measures

The World Customs Organization (WCO) conducted an online training for Papua New Guinea Customs on combating counterfeiting and piracy. This initiative aims to enhance their intellectual property enforcement capabilities, protecting public health and economic development. With tools provided by the WCO and funding from Japan, PNG Customs will strengthen border controls to combat counterfeit goods and create a safer trading environment. The training focuses on practical skills and knowledge necessary to identify and seize counterfeit products, ultimately contributing to a more secure and legitimate global trade system.

02/12/2026 Customs Knowledge
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TIA Blasts FMCSA Over 1B Freight Fraud Inaction

TIA Blasts FMCSA Over 1B Freight Fraud Inaction

The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) criticizes the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Broker Transparency Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for neglecting freight fraud. TIA argues the NPRM fails to address the industry issue that costs the U.S. supply chain over a billion dollars annually. TIA urges FMCSA to prioritize combating freight fraud and implement more effective measures to protect consumers and businesses. They believe the current proposal overlooks a critical vulnerability in the freight transportation system, hindering fair competition and potentially increasing costs for shippers.

02/03/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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US House Passes CORCA Act to Tackle Retail Crime

US House Passes CORCA Act to Tackle Retail Crime

The House Judiciary Committee passed the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 (CORCA), aiming to strengthen federal law enforcement, establish crime coordination centers, increase penalties for cargo theft, and enhance public-private partnerships. This legislation addresses the growing problem of organized cargo and retail theft, seeking to protect supply chain security and consumer interests. CORCA aims to provide better tools and resources to combat these crimes and deter future offenses by improving collaboration and increasing accountability for those involved in organized retail crime.

02/03/2026 Logistics
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Middle East and North Africa Crack Down on Customs Fraud

Middle East and North Africa Crack Down on Customs Fraud

A regional workshop in Amman, Jordan, focused on customs valuation and anti-fraud, aiming to enhance the capabilities of customs officials in the Middle East and North Africa. The workshop covered the WTO Valuation Agreement, WCO's Revenue Package tools, and anti-fraud strategies. Key discussions centered on Decision 6.1 and valuation risk management. Emphasis was placed on international cooperation, capacity building, legal improvements, and technological innovation. The goal was to foster a fairer trade environment by strengthening customs practices and combating fraudulent activities in the region.

02/03/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Mozambique Strengthens Environmental Laws with WCO Backing

Mozambique Strengthens Environmental Laws with WCO Backing

WCO co-organized a workshop to enhance Mozambican officials' awareness of environmental conventions, combat the illegal transfer of hazardous waste, and promote environmentally sustainable development. The workshop aimed to strengthen enforcement capabilities and foster collaboration to address environmental crime. By improving understanding of international agreements and customs procedures, the initiative seeks to protect Mozambique's environment and contribute to global efforts in combating illegal waste trafficking. This joint effort highlights the importance of customs cooperation in safeguarding the environment and ensuring compliance with multilateral agreements.

02/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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UAE Customs Boosts Workforce Training with WCO Partnership

UAE Customs Boosts Workforce Training with WCO Partnership

At the invitation of the UAE Federal Customs Authority (FCA), the World Customs Organization (WCO) assisted in unifying the recruitment and training processes for customs inspectors across seven local customs administrations. Through a diagnostic mission, the WCO developed unified standards and an action plan for the FCA. This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency, consistency, and international competitiveness of the UAE's customs system, facilitating trade and combating cross-border crime. The project focuses on streamlining procedures and building capacity within the UAE customs workforce.

02/06/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Americas Caribbean Boost Customs Cooperation on Risk Management

Americas Caribbean Boost Customs Cooperation on Risk Management

The World Customs Organization held a risk management workshop in the Americas and Caribbean region to enhance the risk management capabilities and cooperation of customs administrations. The conference reviewed the successful experience of 'Operation Dragon', emphasizing the importance of information exchange. It also designed new regional target projects to jointly address trade risks and maintain regional economic security. The workshop aimed to foster a collaborative environment for customs officials to share best practices and strengthen regional partnerships in combating illicit trade and securing the supply chain.

01/22/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Customs Key in Fighting Illegal Wildlife Trade CITES COP15 Insights

Customs Key in Fighting Illegal Wildlife Trade CITES COP15 Insights

The 15th meeting of the CITES Conference of the Parties highlighted the crucial role of customs in combating cross-border environmental crime. The WCO contributes to the protection of endangered species by raising awareness among customs officers, providing enforcement tools, and strengthening international cooperation. Data analysis reveals a persistently high violation rate, necessitating enhanced data-driven enforcement and technological innovation to build a global environmental security defense. Further efforts are needed to improve detection and prevention measures, fostering a collaborative approach to effectively combat illegal wildlife trade.

01/22/2026 Customs Knowledge
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AI Enhances Customs Fraud Detection Curbing Tax Evasion

AI Enhances Customs Fraud Detection Curbing Tax Evasion

The DATE neural network model, developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO), leverages a dual attention mechanism and tree-aware embedding techniques to effectively identify potential customs fraud transactions and improve inspection efficiency. Successfully piloted in Nigeria and open-sourced for use by customs administrations worldwide, this model has the potential to become a new tool in combating cross-border tax evasion. It offers a data-driven approach to detecting irregularities and enhancing risk assessment in international trade, ultimately contributing to fairer and more secure global commerce.

01/27/2026 Customs Knowledge
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