From 22 to 25 April 2024, a Scoping Mission was conducted with the support and coordination of the EU Delegation, ensuring the smooth implementation of the mission. The primary aim was to engage with the heads of various administrations identified as crucial to the project. These administrations hold responsibilities in surveillance, control of general aviation, risk analysis, or managing transnational crime activities associated with this mode of transport.
The mission also provided an opportunity to present the project’s objectives and planned activities, assess interest and willingness to benefit from the project, and showcase the Geoportal—a geolocation tool—and the WCO CENcomm secure real-time communication system. Understanding the national structure, administrative competencies, and capacities in controlling the sector was a key focus.
During the meetings, the demonstration of the platform’s functionalities captured the attention of the attending administrations. The Geoportal was highlighted as an excellent instrument for creating synergies, strengthening alliances between administrations, and facilitating information exchange. The tool’s capabilities were well received, indicating strong potential for future collaboration. The WCO COLIBRI regional Coordinator discussed the general aviation threat and provided detailed information about the COLIBRI II project, its approach, and its components.
The mission provided high visibility for the COLIBRI project as part of the WCO Drugs and Precursors programme and the EU’s Global Illicit Flows Programme, increasing awareness of the threats posed by the specific sector of General Aviation. The agenda of meetings was coordinated between the Delegation of the European Union in Ecuador, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility (MREMH), and the COLIBRI project team. Meetings were held with the Ministry of Institutional Relations and Human Mobility, the Ministry of the Interior (representing the National Police), the Air Force (with representatives from the Ministry of Defence and the Air Force), the DGAC (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), the Attorney General’s Office, SENAE (National Customs Service of Ecuador), and the Delegation of the European Union. A visit to the COAD premises (Air Operations and Defence Command) was organised on the last day of the mission.
All administrations showed strong interest and willingness to use the Geoportal, essential for information exchange and activating inter-agency coordination and collaboration at national and international levels. Follow-up actions include the designation of Focal Points, signing the Memorandum of Cooperation, and organising foundational national training on the control of General Aviation. The mission underscored the importance of coordinated efforts in enhancing General Aviation security and set the stage for strengthened cooperation and information sharing among national and regional partners.
