24-28 March, 2025, Brussels, Belgium

The 45th session of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Enforcement Committee (EC), held from March 24 to 28, 2025, brought together Customs administrations, WCO Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices (RILOs), and key enforcement stakeholders to discuss critical compliance and enforcement challenges. ROCB A/P remains dedicated to supporting its regional members in enhancing their enforcement capabilities through knowledge-sharing and capacity-building initiatives. This session provided valuable insights into emerging threats and strategies to strengthen enforcement efforts.

A major thematic focus of this year’s session was "Customs Canine Units: Delivering Enforcement in an Era of Technological Change." Delegates were treated to a live demonstration by the Belgian Customs Canine Unit, showcasing the effectiveness of canine teams in detecting illicit goods concealed in luggage or carried by passengers. Additionally, discussions covered the proposed Accreditation Standard for WCO Regional Dog Training Centres (RDTCs), which aims to integrate expert evaluations into the accreditation process. The final endorsement of this standard is expected from the WCO Council in 2026. Our office will actively follow up on this initiative and ensure that the latest developments are shared with Asia-Pacific members and will facilitate their preparation and alignment with the new standard.

Throughout the five-day meeting, delegates engaged in six panel discussions, covering the following enforcement priorities: Challenges and prospects for Customs canine units; Operational insights into combating environmental crime; Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) threats in the 21st century; Risks posed by illicit trade across e-commerce platforms; Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the risk management domain and Challenges and best practices for tackling trade-based money laundering.

A key outcome of the session was the endorsement of six new enforcement tools designed to enhance Customs’ ability to combat illicit trade. These include WCO Standards for Dog Training Centres, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for controlling shipments under the Montreal Protocol, Updated WCO Customs Risk Management Compendium, Guidelines on Customs Responses to Industry Referrals, Customs Targeting Centre (CTC) Guidelines and "Fraud Detected through Post-Clearance Audit (PCA) and its Techniques" tool.

In addition to enforcement strategies, the session highlighted the role of technology in combating illicit trade. Discussions covered the deployment of the WCO GEOPORTAL tool for monitoring drug trafficking via general aviation, improvements to the CENcomm tool, and ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of data within the Customs Enforcement Network (CEN). Delegates also reviewed progress on the forthcoming Illicit Trade Report 2024.

The outcomes of the 45th EC session will continue to support Customs administrations in the Asia-Pacific region in strengthening their enforcement capabilities. By leveraging WCO expertise, enhancing regional cooperation, and adopting advanced technologies, ROCB A/P remains committed to equipping Member administrations with the necessary tools to combat illicit trade and transnational crime effectively.

 For more information, please contact us at rocb@rocbap.org