DrugsMaritimeOrganised Crime

United States Provides $400,000 to UNODC to fight illicit trafficking in Vietnam

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) contributed $400,000 to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vietnam for the Container Control Program, enhancing the abilities of major Vietnamese ports to fight illicit narcotics trafficking.

This UNODC project facilitates legitimate trade and provides border control officials with the skills to correctly identify and stop cargo consignments of interest, while confidently releasing the bulk of goods into commerce. The U.S. contribution will result in more effective checks, leading to increased interdiction, speedier clearance of legitimate trade, raised state revenues, and a stronger national economy for Vietnam.

The United States promotes the fight against illicit trafficking. Roughly 90% of world trade moves around the globe in shipping containers. The sheer scale of global containerized trade, as well as increasingly sophisticated smuggling and concealment techniques, make it difficult for customs and other law enforcement agencies to detect contraband. Faced with this problem, international cooperation, timely information sharing, and advanced risk-profiling techniques are essential.

This project will assist the Government of Vietnam in maintaining and strengthening container cargo controls at existing ports, preventing container cargo from being exploited by those involved in the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, precursor chemicals, protected wildlife, and other contraband.

This funding is provided by INL through appropriations made by Congress to the U.S. Department of State that support efforts to increase trade security worldwide.

More information on the UNODC-WCO Container Control Program is available on the UNODC website at https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/ccp/index.html.