Finnish and Polish customs officers train their Ukrainian colleagues and border guard officers in vehicle inspections
In May this year, Finnish and Polish customs officers trained their Ukrainian colleagues and border guard officers in vehicle inspections. The training was arranged in cooperation with the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM).
The training focused for example on risk analysis, vehicle characteristics and methods of smuggling. The training is an element in the preparation by Ukrainian customs authorities for future customs enforcement challenges and the time following the war when the capacity of authorities to prevent the entry of illegal weapons, ammunitions materials and other high-risk materials to Europe becomes increasingly important.
– The focus of our aim was to strengthen Ukraine’s customs and border capacities in terms of identifying and uncovering methods of concealment used in smuggling, to developed risk-based enforcement, and to improve enforcement activity. With the training we have provided, the participants will be able to develop their own national training systems, and to enhance vehicle inspection skills in their organisations, says senior customs officer Immo Kilpinen.
Cross-border crime is prevented with similar methods
The training supports the operative capacities of Ukraine’s customs and border guard authorities especially in preventing crime, smuggling and illegal transports. Identifying concealment spaces built in the structures of vehicles requires special skills which can be developed efficiently through international training cooperation. At the same time, we are strengthening the exchange of skills between authorities, as well as joint methods and the ability to respond to changes in the security environment in Europe.
The objective for EUAM is to support the development of the capacities and skills of Ukraine’s civil safety authorities. The training took place at the Malhowice border crossing point in Poland. Finnish Customs has previously trained Ukrainian customs authorities in Finland, and has strong expertise and modern training resources for high-standard vehicle inspection training. Finnish Customs regards international training cooperation as an important element in the development of customs enforcement on a European scale.
The EUAM Ukraine operation supports Ukraine’s civil safety and law enforcement authorities in promoting work methods that are more professional and responsible than in the past. Another central objective of the operation is to build up the trust that citizens have in authorities and in Ukraine’s status as a nation of laws.