On 1 December, BOMCA 10 handed over the distance learning equipment to the Specialised Training Customs under the State Customs Service of the Kyrgyz Republic. The official handover ceremony took place during the meeting with Mr. Samat Isabekov, Chairman of the State Customs Service under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic.
On 27-29 November, BOMCA once again joined efforts with Law enforcement programme in Central Asia (LEICA) this time for a workshop in Bishkek gathering investigators and crime intelligence officers specialising in investigations of cross-border crimes such as trafficking of firearms, their parts, explosives, ammunition, currency and other goods. The expert team from the Customs Criminal Service of Lithuanian Republic together with LEICA experts introduced the EU good practices and novel methods of investigation of such crimes, presenting relevant case studies and helped review national procedure.
From November 22 to 24, BOMCA 10 worked on advancing cooperation between Customs and Phytosanitary, Veterinary and Sanitary-Epidemiological services involved in border control at border check points. Inter-agency cooperation leads to more efficient processes at the border, which individual travellers but also businesses benefit from.
A rapidly evolving technology landscape is increasingly exploited by criminals, aggravating the human trafficking situation, demanding our immediate, comprehensive and effective counter-trafficking response. From 20 to 21 November, BOMCA 10, in co-operation with OSCE Programme Office and Karaganda Police Academy, conducted a workshop in Astana on combating trafficking in human beings (THB) using modern technologies. 15 police officers from the Western regions of Kazakhstan learnt about information and communication technology tools for detection, investigation and combating technology-facilitated THB and trained in analytical intelligence and data collection tools, methods of operational-search activities in the cyberspace, and the maintenance of data collected online.
Some 35 participants, officials from international and regional organisations, international experts, as well as representatives of civil society and relevant government agencies from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan attended the workshop “Law Enforcement Agencies Cooperation with Civil Society in the protection of Children and the Engagement of Women in Countering Violent Extremism” and shared their insights on early detection of radicalisation and protection of minors from violent extremism. The workshop took place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on 20-22 November 2023, and was jointly organised with Law enforcement programme in Central Asia (LEICA).
In Tashkent the award ceremony for the handicraft contest, “Local traditions for economic prosperity in the border regions”, was held in Uzbekistan with the participation of the European Union Delegations to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, BOMCA and CADAP Programmes.
Funded by the European Union Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA 10) held the third Regional Steering Group (RSG) meeting. This event serves as a steering instrument of the programme, which defines and monitors the strategic direction of the programme implementation. RSG held in Tashkent on November 14 and gathered donor, an implementing consortium and regional counterparts directly involved in the project’s implementation.
On November 13, the Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA 10) officially handed over specialised equipment to the Customs Committee under the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, accounting for a total value of EUR 9,986.
From November 7 to 9, the EU-funded Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA 10) held a workshop in Ashgabat for customs and border control agencies, including veterinary, phyto-sanitary agencies and their training institutions.
