BARBADOS – Some 20 officers from the Barbadian Customs and Immigration departments are now better equipped to detect and prevent the international movement of terrorists and trafficking in arms or other materials intended to support terrorist activities.
This is as a result of a five-day training program on border security which was sponsored by the Organisation of American States (OAS) Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism. The programme, which was held in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office, took place last week at the Warrens Office Complex.
Some of the border management techniques in which the officers received formal instruction as well as hands-on experience, included: risk management and effective targeting; passenger profiling; interviewing techniques; seizure of restricted, prohibited and illegal items, with due emphasis on items that might be related to potential terrorist activities; and tactical issues related to inter-agency coordination at ports.
The customs and immigration training program is one aspect of the OAS assistance to Caribbean countries which hosted Cricket World Cup 2007. Over 236 customs, immigration and other law enforcement officials across nine countries in the region have been trained and security assessments have been conducted at more than 15 airports and sea ports.
