The 5th Expert Coordination Meeting of the COLIBRI Project took place from 6th to 10th November 2023, at the World Customs Organization (WCO) headquarters in Brussels. The event marked the launch of the project’s second phase, focusing on Monitoring and Controlling General Aviation (GA) in countries along illicit trafficking routes. Attended by 30 experts from Latin America, the Caribbean, West and Central Africa, and European countries, the meeting brought together a variety of national administrations, including Customs, Police, Gendarmerie, Air Force, and Civil Aviation Authority.
The focus of the meeting was on updating the COLIBRI training modules and outlining mentoring and IT tutoring programmes. These tools provide comprehensive support and guidance to frontline officials involved in GA monitoring and control. Emphasis was placed on enhancing capacities within partner administrations, particularly through the integration of IT tools such as the Geoportal and CENcomm, into the capacity-building programme.
Discussions during the meeting covered a wide array of topics, including international regulatory frameworks, risk assessment, insider threats, and leveraging open sources. In its second phase, COLIBRI plans to implement a strategic plan at national, regional, and international levels. This comprehensive approach aims to empower partner administrations and officials in combatting organised crime and transnational illicit trafficking within the GA sector, ensuring a safer operational environment.
The commitment demonstrated by experts and their respective administrations reaffirmed their dedication to the project’s objectives. Their efforts are expected to significantly enhance the effectiveness and outreach of the COLIBRI community, contributing substantially to global initiatives in monitoring and controlling GA while disrupting organised crime activities worldwide.
For further information on COLIBRI visit the COLIBRI project page.
