Text 16.2. The wco's enforcement strategy
Intelligence is a vital element of enforcement for Customs administrations which have to perform control missions whilst at the same time facilitating trade.
In order to prevent control and search operations from impeding the free movement of persons, goods and means of transport, Customs services are implementing intelligence-based selective and targeted controls. Information exchange on potential or real risks of offences is therefore vital if Customs Services are to implement their enforcement strategy.
To enable its Members to combat transnational organized crime more effectively, the WCO has developed a global network of Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices (RILOs).
The RILO network currently comprises 11 Liaison Offices covering the WCO's six regions.
Each RILO is a regional centre for collecting, analysing and supplementing data as well as disseminating information on trends, modus operandi, routes and significant cases of fraud. They employ Customs officers coming from different countries in a region. This ensures that the entire dynamics of a region is fully reflected.
The RILO mechanism is surported by the Customs Enforcement Network (CEN). The aim of this mechanism is to enhance the effectiveness of global information and intelligence exchange as well as co-operation between all the Customs services tasked with combating transnational crime.
The CEN is one system with many functions:
ü a database of Customs seizures and offences;
ü a website for the information and intelligence needs of Customs Services;
ü a communications network to facilitate international exchanges and contacts;
ü a concealment picture database to highlight exceptional seizures and exchange X-ray pictures.
The CEN uses modern technology for reliable, secure and inexpensive operation. It is internet-based and has effective database protection, only permitting access to authorized users. Users require a login ID and password to access the CEN, these being granted on request by Member States. Furthermore, users have to install a Certificate issued by the Certificate Authority to ensure that the system remains secure.
CEN relies on encryption technology to protect communication and data transfers. Its main characteristics are simplicity, user- friendliness and low-cost communication, which is rapid and secure.
The CEN contains 13 different headings and products covering the main fields of Customs enforcement activity: drugs, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, CITES, Intellectual property rights (IPR) –counterfeiting, precursors, tax and duty evasion, weapons and explosives, currency, nuclear materials, hazardous material, pornography / paedophilia, other
prohibitions and restrictions (including works of art, stolen vehicles, anabolic steroids, etc.).
The activity of the RILO network is carried out at:
· national level, the Member administrations' National ContactPoints (NCPs) gather information on seizures made from existing sources at national level, electronically input data into the CEN or transmit the said data to RILOs by fax or post, analyze the information collected at national level to ascertain new trends, produce Alerts and transmit them to the RILOs for regional circulation, and co-operate nationally with the full gamut of enforcement agencies or services;
· regional level, the RILOs study and evaluate international seizures,verify the accuracy of the CEN data supplied by the NCPs, prepare and circulate Alerts and intelligence profiles, issue periodicals or ad hoc analysis bulletins, devise, organize and support regional intelligence-based operations, facilitate mutual assistance and co-operation with other enforcement services and provide technical or other assistance to NCPs;
· international level, the WCO Secretariat is responsible for thecentral management of the CEN by using, operating and maintaining the system as a global information and intelligence tool for the RILO network, periodically conducts global strategic and tactical analyses based on information available in the CEN, circulates a summary of its analyses in its annual reports, offers training and technical assistance to the RILOs and their Members, and shares strategic information with other international organizations engaged in combating organized crime.
EXERCISES
I. Find the words/phrases in the text which follow the verbs below.
1. to perform 6. to highlight
2. to implement 7. to exchange
3. to combat 8. to provide
4. to disseminate 9. to share
5. to facilitate
II. Make phrases by matching words from the left with words from the right and translate them.
1. vital a. exchanges and contacts
2. free b. assistance
3. selective and targeted c. technology
4. enforcement d. assistance and cooperation
5. transnational organized e. controls
6. global f. information
7. international g. movement
8. reliable, secure and inexpensive h. crime
9. encryption i. network
10. mutual j. element
11. technical k. strategy
12. strategic l. operation
III. Speak on the WCO's enforcement strategy.
FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES
I. Match left to the right to make a word/phrase combination.
1. drug enforcement a. countries
2. manufacturing and assembly b. interdiction
3. pre-shipment c. procedure
4. market economy d. collection
5. cargo time delivery e. strategy
6. narcotics f. techniques
7. revenue g. study
8. policy h. facilities
9. harmonized Customs i. makers
10. public communication j. inspection
II. Translate into Russian.
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
«Shared responsibility» increases the legal responsibility of a better-informed importer to comply with Customs laws and regulations. Basically, shared responsibility stands for the proposition that importers and Customs have a joint responsibility to ensure that international traffic flows smoothly.
III. Working in pairs fill in the details of the following story. Reference words:
| Federal police | glass paintings | $ 75 | |
| Customs officers | sachets | paintings | |
| Thailand | carbon | possessing, supplying | |
| the paintings and | 5 | or aiding | |
| backing sheets |
(1) men, three Canadians, a Hong Kong national and an Australian have been charged with a number of drug offences in connection with the seizure of 55 kg of heroin with an estimated potential street value of
(2) million. The five are facing charges of being involved with the drug shipment either by (3) in the importation.
The heroin was discovered hidden in the back of 29 (4) which had been imported into Australia from (5). The (6) had been packed in four wooden crates and had arrived as air cargo. After locating the crates (7) examined the cargo which was then transferred to the (8) for a controlled delivery.
The drugs were described as «professionally» concealed in small plastic (9) covered in (10) and sandwiched between (11).
IV. Read the following text. What is the main idea of the text? Discuss it in class.
The impact and consequences of counterfeiting and piracy are far-reaching. It is not only about infringements of intellectual property rights, it is also about the direct threat these goods pose to consumer health and
safety, infractions of labour legislation, unfair competition and revenue losses for national governments and the business community.
In early 2004, the need to address the rapidly growing global problem of counterfeiting and piracy had emerged as a key priority for national governments and intergovernmental organizations concerned about the myriad adverse costs to social welfare and economic development that was resulting from the rampant theft of intellectual property. Notably, trade in counterfeit goods was rising dramatically worldwide and had spread to almost every conceivable type of product. Billions of dollars in revenues were being lost to the black economy. Counterfeit drugs were putting lives at risk. And there was growing evidence that transnational organized crime networks were using profits from trade in counterfeit and pirated goods to fund their activities.
It was clear that better strategies – based on more effective cooperation between stakeholders at national and international level – were needed to combat the multiple threats posed by this damaging trade. To this end, the Seventh Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy was convened in Istanbul, Turkey from 24–26 April 2013 by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and INTERPOL with the support of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
The three intergovernmental organizations, each with a wealth of experience in different aspects of combating counterfeiting and piracy, called together representatives from governments, industry and enforcement agencies. Together they determined to pool their forces with the objectives of pushing the fight against counterfeiting and piracy up the global political and business agenda; of establishing a high level public-private partnership to pursue collective action; and of generating conditions which would lead to greater investment of human and financial resources in enforcement measures. Their overall goal was to improve the understanding of the full range and extent of these costs so as to assist member governments confronting decisions on how investments in IP protection (through legislation and regulatory enforcement) are related to and can improve other social and development priorities, such as economic development, employment, tax base, consumer health and safety, technology transfer, law enforcement and fighting organized crime.
A Steering Group was established with key partner organizations from the Intergovernmental Organizations and the global business
community in order to build the global public-private partnership and to ensure that recommendations were carried through.
V. Fill in the gaps with a suitable name of the organization from the list.
A. European Committee to Combat Drugs.
B. International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
C. World Customs Organization (WCO).
D. The Pompidou Group.
E. North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA).
F. Vienna Convention.
G. OECD.
1. … is involved in a wide range of matters of police interest in criminal activity. On the drugs side, it provides information about illegal movements of drugs and money internationally. It also co-ordinates extradiction warrants.
2. Established by the Council of Europe, … has a membership of 34 states. The Group looks at addiction in Europe and aims to work at reducing demand and maintaining contact points for drug trafficking control at Europe's international airports. It seeks to widen Customs co-operation throughout Europe. With the opening up of Eastern Europe, the Group has been at the forefront in co-ordinating control efforts in the wider trading area, with the easier travel and transport facilities now available.
3. There are currently 179 countries in the … and it includes all the major Customs authorities. The … operates to standardize Customs procedures and legislation through international agreements, working in co-operation with the UN. It also has a significant part to play in Customs enforcement through its own enforcement committee by an exchange of information, particularly in the anti-drug field.
4. Did you know there is a …? The Association has offices in Washington, D.C., and in Mexico City. There are future plans for an office in Canada. The Association helps members in all three countries put … and its provisions to the best possible use. It also provides advice on distribution options, import-export concerns, Customs procedures, and licensing and foreign investment regulations.
5. This organization exists to co-ordinate all EC anti-drugs work. It meets six times a year. It established the European Plan which is the basis for anti-drugs work throughout the EC; a European Drugs Intelligence Unit for exchange of information between EC states; and a European Drugs Monitoring Centre for researching drugs statistics. The name of this organization is …
6. The … calls for states to implement legislation for international co-operation between signatories in drug trafficking matters to: eliminate conflicts, freeze or seize proceeds of drug trafficking, ease extradiction, allow controlled deliveries, control traffic on the high seas, monitor precursor chemicals.
7. Formed in 1989 as an informal dialogue group of 12 economies, … has since become the primary regional vehicle for promoting open trade and practical economic co-operation. Today … is an economic forum composed of 18 of the world's most dynamic and diverse economies, all of which rim the Pacific. Collectively, the 18 members have a GNP of 56 percent of the world's annual output and more than 46 percent of the world's total merchandise trade.
VI. Fill in the missingwords. Choose from:
| profiles | consult | prohibited |
| seizures | cooperation | share |
| combat | well-coordinated | encrypted |
| secure | enhance | key |
| update | organized | illicit |