Seminar-training “Latest Trends in Profiling and Targeting Techniques in Combating Illicit Trade”
On November 16–17, SGS company, in cooperation with Moët Hennessy, organized a seminar-training titled “Latest Trends in Profiling and Targeting Techniques in Combating Illicit Trade” for employees of the RA SRC Anti-Smuggling and the Customs Control Departments.
SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance) is a Swiss company providing services in independent inspection, verification, testing, and certification.
The training was conducted by Christopher Zimmerman, who led the World Customs Organization’s efforts to combat counterfeiting and illicit trade for 10 years.
The objectives of the training were:
- to enhance the skills and knowledge of SRC employees in detecting illicit trade and counterfeit goods through modern risk assessment and cargo targeting/profiling techniques,
- to support Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) in developing a more coordinated response to the growing global threat of counterfeiting and illicit trade by encouraging the exchange of best practices and expertise between experts and private sector representatives.
A total of 40 employees from the Anti-Smuggling and the Customs Control Departments participated in the training. Acting Head of the International Cooperation Department, Nerses Zeynalyan, welcomed the participants and noted:
“The State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia and its Training Center highly value their employees’ work and emphasize the importance of creating continuous learning opportunities by engaging both local and international experts.”
Christopher Zimmerman began the training with the following remarks: “Do not trust declarations and X-rays — I will explain why,” and “You are here to unlearn everything you know and to start seeing what is invisible in your work.”
He then presented analyses of recent fraud trends, global developments, sectors related to illicit trade, as well as the three key conditions for risk analysis:
- Coherency
- Similarity
- Logic
Together with the trainer, participants also discussed mechanisms applied within Armenia’s customs system to combat illicit trade and counterfeiting.
In conclusion, Mr. Zimmerman emphasized that despite all existing approaches, techniques, and modern solutions, the most effective system is the human brain.
Head of the Anti-Smuggling Department, Yerjanik Hakobyan, expressed gratitude to the organizers, stating:“In any country, employees of every institution need to periodically participate in training programs that provide relevant knowledge and practical experience. I would like to highlight Mr. Zimmerman’s high level of professionalism and the effectiveness of this training.”
Director of the SRC Training Center, Arusyak Mirzakhanyan, added:
“We are grateful and pleased with another productive and impactful collaboration. The Training Center remains committed to organizing targeted training programs for its partners, and the mutual initiative and coordination in implementing such programs are evident.
