Minister of National Security, the Honourable Stuart R. Young M.P. held a meeting with Ms. Bo Shakira Harris, AIRCOP Project Specialist for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Regional Programme Office for the Caribbean in Barbados on July 12, 2019 at the Ministry of National Security’s Head Office on Abercromby Street, Port of Spain.
The AIRCOP is a multi-agency project implemented by UNODC in partnership with INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO). It aims at strengthening the capacities of international airports to detect and intercept drugs, other illicit goods and high-risk passengers, including foreign terrorist fighters, in origin, transit and destination countries with the overall objective of disrupting criminal networks.
Minister Young welcomed Ms. Harris to Trinidad and Tobago and stated that the meeting was another opportunity for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to further its collaboration with the UNODC on national security issues and more specifically with matters relating to border security.
Ms. Harris thanked Minister Young for his warm welcome and indicated that the increased capacity and knowledge of trained personnel has led to the expansion of the project scope to cover the multiple threats targeting airports, including all illicit drugs, illicit goods, fraudulent documents and as of late, terrorism and trafficking in persons.
Also attending the meeting was Deputy Director of the International Affairs Unit, Ministry of National Security, Major Richard Lynch.
The discussions ended with both parties pledging to continue working together, in the interest of strengthening Trinidad and Tobago’s border security framework towards the increased security and safety of our citizens.