SVG Customs Officers Receive Specialised Firearms and Border Security Training

Customs officers during a Project BOLT training session. Photo credit: Customs and Excise Department (CED).

By S.Browne. Updated 3:14 p.m., Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Customs officers in St Vincent and the Grenadines have received specialised training in firearms interdiction, border security and intelligence-led enforcement as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s ability to combat illicit trafficking.

The training was delivered through Project BOLT, a World Customs Organization (WCO) initiative aimed at enhancing Customs enforcement capabilities across the Caribbean.

According to a June 23rd press release from the Customs and Excise Department (CED), officers participated in a series of capacity-building activities focused on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), advanced vehicle search techniques and strategic risk management.

The department said the SALW training equipped officers with skills to identify and interdict illicit firearms, firearm components, ammunition and emerging trafficking methods affecting the region. Participants also examined regional trafficking trends and the role of intelligence sharing and inter-agency cooperation in tackling transnational organised crime.

Customs officers additionally took part in practical vehicle search exercises designed to improve the detection of concealed firearms, narcotics and other prohibited goods. The training covered systematic search procedures, officer safety and operational best practices relevant to the Caribbean environment.

Photo credit: Customs and Excise Department (CED).

A Strategic Risk Management workshop was also conducted to support the department’s efforts to strengthen intelligence-driven Customs controls. Areas covered included risk profiling, targeting methodologies, data analysis and regional information exchange aimed at improving enforcement effectiveness while facilitating legitimate trade.

The Customs and Excise Department said the activities support St Vincent and the Grenadines’ efforts to enhance border security capabilities, strengthen strategic risk management and adopt more risk-based business processes associated with a modern Customs service.

The department noted that all activities were delivered by regional trainers and technical experts from Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago, including WCO-accredited trainers developed through Project BOLT initiatives.

According to the CED, Project BOLT continues to support Customs administrations across the Caribbean through training, mentoring and regional coordination designed to combat illicit trafficking in firearms, narcotics and other high-risk commodities.

St Vincent and the Grenadines became the 187th member of the World Customs Organization on September 17th, 2025. Since joining the organisation, the country has participated in several regional Customs cooperation initiatives aimed at strengthening enforcement capabilities and enhancing regional collaboration.

The department said the latest training activities reflect the country’s ongoing commitment to improving Customs operations and supporting regional security priorities under the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap.

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