The Caribbean is a major hub for air and sea travel, welcoming hundreds of thousands of passengers annually on various modes of transportation, including aircraft, vessels, yachts, rigs, and cruise ships. In light of this, effectively targeting the movement of passengers between air and sea transport is crucial for regional security. Enhanced cooperation and communication among key law enforcement agencies and teams are essential in achieving this goal.
On 30 August 2023, in Bridgetown, Barbados, AIRCOP, SEACOP, and CARICOM IMPACS, concluded a highly successful Regional Workshop focused on Targeting High-Risk Air-to-Sea Passengers. This collaborative event brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including national, regional, and international partners, as well as law enforcement agencies from several countries in the Caribbean. Participants included AIRCOP JAITFs and SEACOP MIUs from Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Additionally, attendees included representatives from GIFP MASIF and COLIBRI, Barbados Port Inc, the Regional Security System, CARICOM IMPACS Joint Regional Communication Centre (JRCC), and Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre (RIFC). International partners such as the UK National Crime Agency (NCA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (MAOC), the Maritime Unit of the International Labour Standards Department (NORMES) of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Maritime Technical Cooperation Centre of the University of Trinidad and Tobago also contributed to the workshop’s success.
The Regional Workshop aimed to equip participants with the necessary tools and insights to bridge gaps in the effective targeting of Air-to-Sea passengers in the Caribbean. It emphasised the importance of addressing potential gaps in information and intelligence to enhance border security significantly. Through a dedicated session, the workshop also underscored the importance of upholding human rights and considering gender-related aspects throughout the targeting process.
The success of this regional workshop was made possible through funding provided by the European Union via the Global Illicit Flows Programme (GIFP) and the Government of Canada through the Anti-Crime Capacity Building Programme. These generous contributions underscore the international community’s unwavering commitment to strengthening global security measures and combating illicit activities.
For additional information please see AIRCOP’s article on the workshop.
