TOT Training on SINCB Intelligence tools, Awareness raising and Safety handling of Dangerous substances for Viet Nam Customs and Police
11 - 12 May, Hung Yen and 16 - 17 May, Ha Noi - The International Narcotics Control Board's (INCBs) Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme organized two back-to-back trainings of trainers (TOT) on SINCB GRIDS Intelligence tools, Awareness raising and Safe interdiction approaches for Intelligence purposes for Customs from 11 - 12 May and Police from 16 - 17 May in Viet Nam.
The training was organized in person for 16 Customs officers coming from Customs School and provincial customs departments in the North of Viet Nam and 14 Police officers from People's Police Academy and Counter-Narcotic Police Department.
Photo: The opening ceremony of the events
These were the first TOT training courses, within the framework of GRIDS programme, being held in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific in general, and in Viet Nam in particular. The events were highly appreciated and appraised by the President of Viet Nam Customs School and senior officer of Counter-Narcotic Police Department who delivered the opening remarks at these events. They both recognized the necessity of raising awareness on NPS, non-medical synthetic opioids and other dangerous substances which posed great threat against law enforcement officers. The participants attending these courses were expected to become the core trainers on NPS, synthetic opioids and continued sharing knowledge with their colleagues as well as students. The Program Manager of INL in Viet Nam office emphasized that the inclusion of 'TOT component into our counternarcotics training, we broaden the program sustainability, reach, and the effectiveness of Vietnamese law enforcement partners to detect and deter this illegal activity wherever and whenever it occurs'.
GRIDS Regional Technical Officer provided an overall overview of GRIDS programme and its main strategy as well as global activities to address New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), non-medical synthetic opioids. He also conducted sessions on Project ION Incident Communication System (IONICS), the GRIDS Intelligence tool to support domestic and international trafficking investigations, risk profiling. The participants shared updated information on drugs trafficking trend and cases identified in their respective geographical areas of responsibility. They also learnt about the controlling system of legal activities relating to NPS in Viet Nam which includes the relevant legislation and responsibilities of state management authorities in handling drug related issues.
Photo: Participants practised IONICS and GRIDS Intelligence tool
The participants had the chance to practise using IONICS, GRIDS Intelligence, a state-of-the-art targeting tool that transforms IONICS information into actionable intelligence for use in daily operations and risk profiling.
A session on NPS identification was delivered by GRIDS consultant who was a chemist, that helped the participants to understand more about new substances and its dangerous impacts in case of exposure. Thus, it enhanced their attention in safe handling and the use of PPE for Opioids and other dangerous substances.
Photo: Hands-on exercise with protective gears with test kit
PPE kits and training materials were handed over to each agency to support their daily work to stop trafficking of these substances as well as to deliver training to their colleagues.
The Board's Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme and Project ION and OPIOIDS Project support Governments' capacity to respond to changing trafficking, illicit manufacture, marketing and sales of NPS, non-medical synthetic opioids and fentanyl-related substances by providing real-time communication, facilitating information exchange and intelligence development that interdict distribution of dangerous substances at the source.
These events were made possible through generous support from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, Department of State, U.S. Government.
Click here to learn more about the GRIDS Programme
Click here to learn more about the OPIOIDS Project
Click here to learn more about the Project ION