Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 11, 2019 (RSCNPF): Several Law Enforcement Officers are now more knowledgeable in the area of International Passenger Interdiction at International Airports after completing a one-week training course. The course ran from September 16 – 20, 2019.

The participants were from the Police Force, the Customs and Excise Department and Immigration. The training was designed specifically for law enforcement officials to improve the ability of front-line officers at international airports to intercept illicit cross-border activities of both goods and people.

Local Course Facilitator, Ivor Wrensford, said that the training was very important as it brought together law enforcement officers from across the region “who could learn from each other’s experiences.” He further stated that it will aid in the establishment of a network for information sharing and support.

“The course also helped to showcase trainers from the region which is important in building confidence in the region’s ability to produce officers of the highest quality,” he added.

The officers now have additional skills and knowledge as border security officials with a specific focus on interviewing and targeting, and now have the tools to better detect, arrest and prosecute persons involved in illicit cross-border activities.

Some of the areas of focus during the course were passenger selectivity, behavioural analysis and interviewing techniques, interrogation techniques, post seizure analysis, airport searches and integrity.

The course was conducted using the CBSI-Connect Learning Management System which allows for training to be conducted in several territories simultaneously through an internet connection. CBSI-Connect is a project which is wholly funded by the American people under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI). The CBSI is a partnership between the United States and Caribbean nations working together to reduce illicit trafficking, increase public safety, and promote social justice.