Project profile — Establishing real-time Operational Communication between International airports

• Algeria (16.67%)
• Jordan (16.67%)
• Lebanon (16.67%)
• Morocco (16.67%)
• Tunisia (16.66%)
• Turkey (16.66%)

• Conflict Prevention And Resolution, Peace And Security: Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) and Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF) (15296) (100.00%)

This project aims to build capacities at selected international airports in the Middle East and Africa. It does so to detect and prevent high-risk passengers, including foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs), and illicit commodities in origin, transit, and destination countries. Project activities include: (1) supporting inter-agency cooperation by establishing Joint Airport Interdiction Task Forces or empowering existing structures; (2) providing essential Information technology equipment; (3) organizing workshops and mentoring activities focused on pre-arrival risk assessment and targeting of FTFs; (4) supporting participating beneficiary countries in the Airport Communication Project global meeting; and (5) training staff on using international law enforcement databases and communication networks to encourage real-time information transmissions aimed at intercepting FTFs. The database and networks include the International Criminal Police Organization’s (INTERPOL) I-24/7 and the World Customs Organization’s (WCO) Customs Enforcement Network Communication Platform (CENcomm) This project primarily benefits law enforcement agencies operating at select airports in Algeria, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, and Turkey. These agencies are responsible for immigration, counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism, intelligence, security, and customs. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime implements this project in partnership with INTERPOL and the WCO.

The expected outcome of this project includes strengthened capacities at selected international airports in the Middle East and North Africa. This helps to detect and deny travel of FTFs and contributes to implementing the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2178.

Results achieved as of March 2020 include: (1) established and fully operationalized a Joint Airport Interdiction Task Forces in Jordan with a trained team of 20 officers; (2) engaged 5 agencies in Algeria, 4 in Lebanon and 7 in Morrocco. This helped to strengthen inter-agency joint efforts by linking and sharing Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record data at the national level; (3) delivered 2 specialized courses on risk assessment for postal parcel and air-freight units in Morocco; (4) organized 2 regional workshops on countering terrorism threats, and detecting and interdicting cash couriers at international airports; and (5) facilitated the national focal points in Algeria, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia in the 6th Airport Communication Project (AIRCOP) Global Meeting.

• Proactive disclosure