Strengthening the SRS Capacity in Combatting Smuggling

ended

The overall objective is to protect financial interests of the Union and strengthening control, thus enhancing competitiveness of the Union’s economy by strengthening and intensifying execution of covert operations and customs intelligence tasks to reduce level of smuggling. For raising efficiency of covert surveillance and effectively monitor activities with goods subject to customs clearance and ensuring covert operations by running long-term observation posts near suspect’s residential area, workplace, industrial areas, etc. 2 specialized long-term surveillance vehicles (LTSV) equipped with video and audio recording system, and automated number plate recognition system (ANPRS) are required. To widen the range of execution of monitoring and surveillance tasks the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to be used in places where physical presence of customs officers is not possible or the object is out of sight, e.g., over the aquatorium, is required. Acquisition of LTSVs and UAV will facilitate execution of criminal intelligence tasks and customs control measures to prevent and disclose smuggling of excise goods and illegal substances across the EU external border and facilitate prevention and disclosure of criminal offences in matters of the state revenue. Surveillance of the marine fuels supply will diminish fuel smuggling cases and provide effective control of ships. Customs control, executed by using sophisticated equipment, will raise operational and technical capacity of Latvian customs beyond current levels enabling the customs authority to conduct real-time controls. Less man hours will be spent when executing customs control and customs monitoring tasks at the port and water area. Deliverables: 2 LTSVs and 1 UAV purchased; guidelines and operating procedures elaborated; 12 officials trained; 1 seminar organized; 25 officials participated in seminar.