Heads of Law Enforcement Divisions of the Council of Heads of Customs Services of CIS member states met in Gabala.

On September 20 the 16th meeting of the Committee of the Heads of Law Enforcement Divisions of the Council of Heads of Customs Services of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members has been held in Gabala city of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Heads of Law Enforcement Divisions of the Customs Services of CIS member states - Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and as observers Latvia’s and Estonia’s customs service representatives participated in the event. Before the event, meeting participants visited the monument of the National Leader of Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, erected in the center of Gabala city. Making a speech at the opening ceremony of the event, Chairperson of the State Customs Committee, and customs service Colonel-General Aydin Aliyev greeted the participants and expressed his gratitude to the Council’s Management for conduction of the meeting of Heads of Law Enforcement Divisions of the Council of the Heads of Customs Services of CIS member states in Azerbaijan for the 3rd time. Aydin Aliyev referred to the great leader Heydar Aliyev’s speech of programmatic nature sounded during the ceremony held on the occasion of 5th anniversary of the establishment of customs authorities, specifying the main directions of activity of the customs authorities, and brought to the attention that one of these directions is prevention of smuggling. Speaking about the progressive reforms carried out by the President Ilham Aliyev in recent years for effective organization of customs affairs, Aydin Aliyev said that significant achievements have been obtained in the prevention of smuggling, as in all fields of the customs affairs, thanks to the innovations performed upon the initiative of the Head of State. Chairperson of the Committee mentioned the importance of the law enforcement in the activity of customs authorities, and emphasized the necessity of international cooperation in the field of law enforcement. Aydin Aliyev highly appreciating the activities of the Law Enforcement Divisions of the Customs Services of CIS member states, and the steps taken on the basis of reciprocal cooperation, said that the efficient cooperation pave the way to get achievements in the fields of prevention of smuggling and provision of border security. Deputy Head of the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation Anatoliy Seryshev, making speech at the meeting, expressed his gratitude for the conditions created with the purpose of efficiently holding the meeting, as well as for the attention and care to the Government of Azerbaijan and to the Management of the State Customs Committee. According to the agenda of the meeting chaired by the Deputy Head of the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation Anatoliy Seryshev, firstly, the presentation of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan was held on the subject of “organization of Azerbaijan Customs Services in the field of fight against violation of law and smuggling”. Then, during the meeting, the issue of approving candidacy for the position of Chief of Staff of the heads of offices combating law violation in the customs field was reviewed, as well as the Secretariat’s information on the execution of the work plan for 2017 and the resolutions of 15th meeting of the Committee of the Heads of Law Enforcement Divisions of the Council of Heads of Customs Services of CIS member states were heard. Information on the issues of development of action strategy of the Committee of the Heads of Law Enforcement Divisions until 2020, formalization of regional approach of the Committee to the issue of fight against financing terrorism and extremism, as well as the conduction of specific global customs operation "Goalkeeper" of the Federal Customs Service of Russia under the auspices of the World Customs Organization, and organization of intercommunication of Law Enforcement Divisions of the Customs Services of CIS member states in 2018, were provided during the meeting. Furthermore, at the meeting, reports have been submitted on improving mutual cooperation for the fight against illicit drug trafficking through "northern route" in the direction of Caucasus, detection of law violations in the field of customs, elimination of them and on up-to-date issues of investigation, initial consequences of the execution of plans for organization of events on increasing qualification for employees of Law Enforcement Divisions of the Customs Services of CIS member states and activities of the working group on the issues of canine unit services. At the end of the meeting, issues on reviewing the approval of the work plan project of Committee of the Heads of Law Enforcement Divisions for 2018, as well as the work plan on the fight against economical crimes and law violations in the field of customs of the Committee for 2018-2019 and the work plan of the RILO-Moscow regional communication center for CIS member states related to the law enforcement activities of the World Customs Organization for 2018.