25/04/2016
The security forces of Antigua and Barbuda held courses to improve their training related to the fight against illegal maritime trafficking and to combat criminal networks in the region.
Practical activity during the course in Antigua and Barbuda.
The SEACOP project, managed by FIIAPP and funded by the European Commission, is aimed at improving the “Maritime Control Units”, whose work is focused on intercepting and controlling vessels suspected of carrying drugs or illicit substances, and improving the “Maritime Investigation Units”, which are working to establish a database for controlling all interceptions and seizures, as well as sharing information with the different Maritime Investigation Units and exercising greater control and monitoring.
The two training courses on the Maritime Control Units were organised by FIIAPP with the collaboration of the UK Border Force. In relation to the selection of attendees for the course, the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) was in charge of selecting the 12 experts. One of the objectives of the course was to ensure that the trainees establish a rapid-response team.
The project, funded by the European Commission with a grant of €6 million, has the specific aim of providing equipment, computer instruments, and professional qualification to agents in the Caribbean region in order to strengthen port control and intelligence capabilities, improve control systems and local maritime information, strengthen delivery operations, and cooperate at the national, regional, and inter-regional level.
