US Helps Customs Officers Struggling with Drug Trafficking Learn English

Baku/16.05.22/Turan: United States Ambassador Lee Litzenberger joined Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan Major General Javad Gasimov yesterday to review an English-language training computer lab and training materials that the U.S. Department of Defense has donated to the State Customs Committee.  This equipment is one part of an ongoing program of security assistance the U.S. Department of Defense has provided to Azerbaijan since 2019in support of counter-trafficking, border security, and maritime security efforts. 

The equipment the U.S. Ambassador reviewed during his visit to the State Customs Committee Academy is part of more than USD 30 million provided to the State Customs Committee through the Title 10 Section 333 Building Partner Capacity program to secure Azerbaijan’s borders.  Since 2019, the U.S. Department of Defense has committed approximately USD 90 million worth of assistance to Azerbaijan security forces to counter illicit trafficking and stop smugglers from violating Azerbaijan’s borders. This is reported by the US Embassy.

Ambassador Litzenberger remarked during the visit that the U.S. Embassy has built a strong relationship with the State Customs Committee.  This visit highlighted the importance of assisting the State Customs Committee to bolster its human capacity as well as its equipment resources.  Ambassador Litzenberger said: “Narcotics smugglers and others seeking to threaten Azerbaijan’s population by bringing illicit goods into the country are a constant problem, especially at the southern border with Iran.  Our Department of Defense, along with other U.S. law enforcement agencies, like the Drug Enforcement Administration, have worked with the SCC and other border security agencies here to help ensure that they have the training they need to defeat the constant threats Azerbaijan faces along its borders.”