Hurgada - The International Organization for Migration in Egypt (IOM Egypt) continues its collaboration with the Ministry of Finance’s Egyptian Customs Authority, for the second year with its first capacity-building activity of this year on Counter Smuggling.

This four-day training activity was held in Hurghada, Red Sea governorate from 16 to 19 January 2023. The training targets 27 customs officers from the seaport of Safaga and airport of Hurghada including field front-line and desk officers, as well as capacity-building officers and representatives from the Headquarters of the Egyptian Customs Authority.

“Irregular movements are often linked; human and goods smuggling networks are often the same. Hence, techniques to identify them have similarities.” Said Mr. Carlos Oliver Cruz, Chief of Mission of IOM Egypt. “IOM Egypt is committed towards the new collaboration with the Ministry of Finance’s Egyptian Customs Authority, and I look very much forward to the development of this rich and successful cooperation.”

In line with IOM’s objectives to enhance the capacities of its counter parts in the areas of protection of people on the move and upholding their rights as well as combating cross-border crimes, the training aimed at highlighting the close link between counter-trafficking and counter-smuggling of migrants and counter-smuggling of goods. In addition, the training shed light on best practices from other countries in addition to ones based on the guidelines of international organizations.

This capacity-building activity was made possible with the generous support of the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark through “Strengthening the Sphere of Protection for Victims of Trafficking and Vulnerable Migrants in Egypt while Preventing Irregular Migration and Human Trafficking” (SPHERE II).

The training activity contributes to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely, Goal 3: ‘Good Health and Well-being’, Goal 10: ‘Reduced Inequalities’, Goal 16: ‘Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions’, and Goal 17: ‘Partnerships for the Goals’. It also aligns with the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), namely, Objective 7 ‘Address and reduce vulnerabilities in migration’, Objective 9 ‘Strengthen the transnational response to smuggling of migrants’, Objective 10 ‘Prevent, combat and eradicate trafficking in persons in the context of international migration’, Objective 11’ Manage borders in an integrated, secure and coordinated manner’ and Objective 23 ‘Strengthen international cooperation and global partnerships for safe, orderly and regular migration’.

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For more information, please contact Salma Okasha at IOM Egypt, email: sokasha@iom.int