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Newly accredited WCO experts poised to help strengthen Customs controls and build resilient cargo supply chains

• The WCO has accredited four Technical and Operational Advisors (TOA) improving access to technical capacity building activities and advisory support to WCO Members seeking to build resilient supply chain controls.
• Addressing criminal infiltration of global cargo supply chains, and the associated insider threats, is a key challenge across WCO Member regions and requires detailed expertise and intricate knowledge of the contemporary threat landscape.
• Towards the end of 2027, the Project will aim to accredit Spanish speaking TOA further expanding the reach of WCO capacity building activities on the topic.

The integrity of international supply chains is challenged by sophisticated and constantly evolving threats. To remain effective as custodians of global borders, Customs administrations must remain vigilant, informed, and be prepared to respond.

Building on the success of a comprehensive regional seminar series which delivered targeted capacity building initiatives for over 100 WCO Member administrations, the Project, now part of the WCO Secretariat’s Supply Chain Integrity Unit, has established the WCO’s first pool of English-speaking TOA in Risk Management with a specialization in Supply Chain Integrity.  

These new TOA bring contemporary frontline knowledge in detecting insider threats, designing strategies to counter criminal infiltration, and undertaking supply chain related risk assessments. This new area of expertise can assist Members to strengthen Customs-controls, minimize interference from criminal exploitation, and improve the flow of legitimate trade.

Addressing contemporary supply chain threats

The integrity of cargo supply chains depends largely on Customs' capacity to identify and counter evolving criminal tactics. Internal conspirators who deliberately misuse their authority to facilitate illicit activity represent a persistent and pervasive vulnerability across all Member regions. Such a complex, and often opaque, threat landscape demands specialized expertise that many administrations are still building.

Complementing WCO activities and capacity-building resources

The accreditation of new TOA further strengthens the WCO’s comprehensive capacity-building ecosystem and technical support on offer to Members. Additionally, the WCO CLiKC! platform includes e-learning courses on supply chain integrity, available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic. The Project intends to accredit Spanish speaking TOA towards the end of 2026 further expanding the scope of Member capacity building activities.

Coordinated action in support of Members

The SCI Project operates under the WCO Secretariat's newly established Supply Chain Integrity Unit which seeks to actively collaborate with industry stakeholders, national enforcement authorities, and the international trade community. This collaborative approach continues to foster trust and active dialogue across the global cargo supply chain.

The most recent capacity building workshops held in Fiji and Singapore exposed participants to current and emerging threats impacting on the broader Asia/Pacific region and invited a speaker from the CMA CGM shipping line to contextualize what risk means for the company and how treatment options are coordinated and implemented.  

Moving forward in 2026 and beyond

The SCI Project will continue delivering tailored activities to Members and remains committed to strengthening the collective resilience of Customs administrations, promoting information-sharing mechanisms, joint operational activities, and supporting evidence-based interventions to enhance the integrity of international trade systems.

(Workshop held in Fiji)

(Source: https://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2026/may/newly-accredited-wco-experts-poised-to-help-strengthen-customs.aspx)