Turkmen Security Forces Completed a Specialized OSCE and Turkish Academy for Combating Smuggling (TADOC) Course on Countering Smuggling
A five-day training course on risk analysis and screening techniques at the international airport, organized by the OSCE Centre jointly with the Turkish International Academy for Combating Smuggling and Organized Crime (TADOC), concluded in Ashgabat.
Twenty representatives from key agencies participated in the training: the Transport Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Border Service, the State Customs Service, and the Aviation Security Service of the Turkmenistan Airlines Agency.
During the course, international experts from TADOC trained Turkmen specialists in modern strategies for detecting smuggling crimes. Particular emphasis was placed on profiling: risk assessment methods for analyzing flights, passenger traffic, cargo, and baggage; psychological methods: identifying signs of suspicious behavior in citizens from terminal entry to boarding, as well as interview and interrogation techniques; and documentary and security screening: methods for verifying travel documents and identifying common methods for concealing narcotics.
The theoretical part was reinforced by a practical exercise at Ashgabat International Airport, where participants practiced systematic search and inspection methods in real-life conditions. Speaking at the opening of the course, William Leaf, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, recalled the key provisions of the Tirana Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation in the Fight against Transnational Organized Crime.
"This training event clearly demonstrates that the OSCE and its participating States have translated the political commitments of the Tirana Declaration into concrete and practical support. All our efforts confirm one thing: sharing experiences and cooperating within the region play a crucial role in combating transnational crime," William Leaf emphasized.
