Posted: 03/02/2021

IOM conducted an online joint training on Counter-Smuggling under the framework of the European Union and Turkey funded ‘’Regional Cooperation on Border Management with Greece and Bulgaria Phase 2” Project with the participation of 20 officials working in the field of border management in Turkey, Bulgaria, and other stakeholders on the 20-22 January 2021 via Zoom application. The aim of the meeting was to strengthen the capacities of customs agencies on topics not limited to the following: supply chain security, post customs control and audit, a shipment of strategic and dual-use goods, prevention and cross border crime, detection of smuggling of drugs, tobacco and other commodities. Officials from the Turkish National Police, Ministry of Trade and Customs Enforcement in Turkey delivered presentations about counter-smuggling, trafficking of certain goods, seizure statistics and cooperation with other authorities. During the training, representatives of two countries discussed developments in their common area of responsibility covering the previous period, share statistics and information on irregular migration and other cross-border crime and prepare cooperation plans for the upcoming period.