From 21 to 31 March 2022, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) delivered its Interdicting Small Arms, Ammunition, Parts and Components (ISAAPC) course in hybrid format in Grenada. Twenty-nine (29) officials, including 12 women, from Grenada Customs and Excise Division, Royal Grenada Police Force and Grenada Airport Authority actively participated in the course. This course was delivered to officials in Grenada for the first time.
The ISAAPC course forms part of the technical assistance provided by UNLIREC within its ‘Securing Borders and Preventing and Combating Illicit Trafficking of Firearms and Ammunition’ project. The specialized course aims to strengthen the capacities of States to combat and prevent the illicit trafficking of small arms, ammunition and explosives that is carried out through postal shipments, packages, parcels and luggage at entry, exit, and transit points in the country.
Based on a mix of theory and practical elements, participants were trained on the fundamental aspects of X-ray technology, technical specifications of small arms, their parts and components, ammunition, explosives, and less lethal weapons. The course also included an interactive session on concealment methods being employed by traffickers in the region. Furthermore, participants received practical training on an X-ray simulation programme developed by the Centre for Adaptive Security Research and Applications (CASRA), thereby enhancing and developing their capacities to detect illicit trafficking through X-ray scanners.
This specialized course, developed in line with 2001 UN Porgramme of Action on Small Arms, Arms Trade Treaty and Sustainable Development Goal target 16.4, contributes towards regional efforts to prevent illicit trafficking of firearms and ammunition, thereby reducing firearms-related crimes and armed violence in the Caribbean. This course also contributes to Goal 2 of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap under the title ‘Reduce the illicit flow of firearms and ammunition into, within and beyond the region’.
The implementation of the ISAAPC course was made possible with the financial support from the Government of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
