New U.S. Funding to UNODC’s Container Control Program Helps Afghanistan Secure its Borders

The United States is pleased to announce a $3.4 million contribution to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to assist the government of Afghanistan in combating the trafficking of illicit drugs and goods.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) will fund UNODC’s Container Control Program (CCP) to facilitate better border controls which will lead to increased interdiction, speedier clearance of legitimate trade, raised state revenues, and a stronger national economy for Afghanistan.

This U.S. contribution supports ongoing CCP projects at Herat International Airport and Afghan Port Control Units (PCU) in Hairatan, Jalalabad, Shirkhan Bandar, Islam Qala, Aquina, and Zaranj. The CCP provides the Afghan authorities responsible for border control with the skills to identify and stop land and air consignments of interest, while confidently releasing the bulk of goods into commerce.

In 2019, Afghan port control units trained by CCP staff conducted 131 significant seizures. This includes over 6,000 grams of heroin, 75 metric tons of precursor chemicals, 100 kilograms of explosives, four rocket launchers, 2,000 boxes of falsified medicines, and over 650,000 USD, 90,000 Euros, 128,300 Saudi Riyals, 75,800 AED, 140,000 Indian Rupees in undeclared currency.

UNODC was established to foster international cooperation in combatting drugs, crime, and corruption. The United States is proud to partner with UNODC to support Afghanistan’s efforts to more effectively combat illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, precursor chemicals, chemical, biological, radioactive, or nuclear (CBRN) materials, and other illicitly trafficked goods such as protected wildlife and contraband.