The WCO Secretary General meets the Executive Director of CARICOM IMPACS

On 4 May 2022, the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, met with Colonel Michael Jones, the Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS). They discussed areas of future cooperation and how the WCO and CARICOM IMPACS could support Customs administrations from Small Island Economies in implementing's risk assessment and targeting processes and reinforce the Security Mandate of Customs.

The meeting followed Secretary General Mikuriya's visit to Barbados to formally open the WCO Project Hammer's office, hosted by CARICOM IMPACS in their Bridgetown office. Project Hammer is a two-year Project that aims to build capacity for Customs administrations in the Caribbean region to address the trafficking of firearms and narcotics. Dr. Mikuriya thanked Col. Jones for the logistical support provided to the WCO and Col. Jones highlighted the importance of Customs Security Mandate through the Punta Cana Resolution.

Dr. Mikuriya praised CARICOM IMPACS for embracing a digital culture and their leadership in developing a data ecosystem involving AYSCUDA data, advanced cargo data, and Advanced Passenger Information (API) to support Customs administrations in the Caribbean to identify high risk shipments and passengers. He stated that this approach was a great example that could be followed by Small Island Economies in other.

The meeting closed with both leaders looking forward to closer cooperation in the region, and welcoming the Project Hammer and other WCO Enforcement capacity building activities that will be delivered in the coming months in the Caribbean region.