Caribbean L 30 ife, November 8-14, 2019 BQ
Two TTCE Marine Interdiction Unit vessels participate in maritime interdiction
training off the coast of Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago. CBP
US trains Trinidad Customs
and Excise officers
By Nelson A. King
The United States Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) agency said on
Friday that, for the first time ever,
officers from its Air and Marine Operations
(AMO) have conducted a maritime
enforcement training for Trinidad and
Tobago Customs and Excise (TTCE)
officers.
CBP said a decade has passed
since TTCE officers “received any formal
marine training from the United
States.”
“The two nations determined that
a joint interagency training was necessary
to enhance the capability to
interdict, stop, and arrest those that
are smuggling a wide variety of illegal
importations into Trinidad,” said
CBP in a statement. “Both agencies
have similar missions in the maritime
domain.
“With AMO serving as the nation’s
experts in airborne and maritime law
enforcement, the instruction focused
on some of the best practices and lessons
learned from detection, interception,
interdiction and boardings,” it
added.
CBP said four specialized Marine
Interdiction Agents from various locations
throughout the United States
provided the training to give a better
understanding of tactics and authority.
“The Maritime Capacity Building
Initiative for Trinidad involved sound
training principles, which resulted in
their increased vigilance and domain
awareness,” said lead instructor Alex
Rodriguez, Marine Interdiction Agent
with AMO. “They now have some new
tactics in their fight to better protect
their maritime border.
“The Customs and Excise officers of
the Marine Interdiction Unit demonstrated
professionalism, motivation and
an esprit de corps only found in tightly
knit units,” he added. “The hospitality
of the officers and senior leadership
was truly memorable, and it is great
to know that the Customs and Excise
brotherhood is alive and well.”
CBP said the training, given to 19
Trinidadian law enforcement officers,
lasted two weeks in September in the
town of Chaguaramas, Trinidad, a mere
eight-mile boat ride from Venezuela.
“After the full course, the Trinidad
and Tobago Customs and Excise Marine
Interdiction Unit had a full understanding
of methods and tactics that will be
applied to their ever-growing regional
marine threat,” CBP said, stating that
some tactics included vessel pursuit and
interception, post-boarding procedures,
arrests and firearms.”
Lucia Foglia, CBP International
Officer, said the United States remains
“a strong friend and partner to the government
of Trinidad and Tobago”
“We share similar visions in the
fight against smuggling illegal goods
across our borders,” Foglia said. “This
collaboration has helped us to successfully
join operations and facilitation on
trade.”
With about 1,800 US federal agents
and mission support personnel, 240 aircraft
and 300 marine vessels operating
throughout the United States, Puerto
Rico, and US Virgin Islands, CBP said
AMO serves as “the nation’s experts
in airborne and maritime law enforcement.”