Ukraine trains customs and postal officers in x-ray detection to counter firearms trafficking
During 4-5 April 2026, the Global Firearms Programme delivered a two-day training course for 11 officers from the State Customs Service of Ukraine and JSC Ukrposhta. Conducted under Project Hermes Ukraine and funded by the Government of France, the course focused on enhancing the officers' capabilities to detect firearms, parts, and ammunition trafficked via postal and express courier channels.
The training combined classroom lessons with hands-on practical sessions using the UNODC's x-ray image interpretation platform. This enabled participants to practice identifying improperly concealed firearms and related components under operationally realistic conditions.
Experts introduced common typologies and modus operandi for firearms trafficking in Ukraine and Europe, highlighting key indicators for secondary inspections. Significant attention was given to the detection of disassembled firearms and separately shipped parts, a prevalent concealment tactic challenging frontline officers in the region.
Practical exercises involved scanning parcels of escalating complexity, replicating real-world scenarios with overlapping items and visual clutter. The program reinforced coordination between Ukraine's State Customs Service and Ukrposhta at sorting hubs and border crossings, crucial to disrupting illicit firearms flows within and through Ukraine.
This training builds on prior Project Hermes activities including a study visit of Ukrainian customs officials to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. UNODC plans to continue supporting Ukraine with further specialized training, provision of detection equipment, and development of inter-agency procedures for firearms-related seizures in postal channels.
