Corruption in the customs services is a significant enabler for activities of criminal organizations involved in illicit drug trafficking. While only specific areas/regions specialize in production of drugs, their consumption spreads worldwide. This brings the customs services to the forefront of the international community's efforts to prevent and detect illicit drug trafficking.
IACA’s side event “Prevention of Drug Trafficking through Anti-Corruption Measures in the Customs Service” in the context of the 65th regular session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs highlighted different ways of limiting and detecting corruption in custom settings. The event presented international and regional practices to prevent corruption in customs. It focused on relevant initiatives concerning anti-corruption education, capacity building, and technical assistance.
The event was moderated by Mr. Pawan Kumar Sinha, IACA Director of Academic Programmes.The panel was formed by Ms. Nicole Quijano-Evans, Crime Prevention Expert at the UNODC, and Ms. Andrea Hampton, Manager of the WCO’s flagship Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion Programme for Customs and Mr. Anthonius Huitema, Timber-Trafficking & CITES Expert CCP LEAP with 40 years’ experience in the Customs Service of the Netherlands.