From 27 September – 1 October 2020, UNICRI hold a one-week virtual train-the-trainers’ session for Jordanian officers on preventing the trafficking of radiological and nuclear (RN) material. The training was conducted within the framework of the project CONTACT – Enhancing capacities to prevent the trafficking of radiological and nuclear material in the Middle East.
A total of ten participants from different Jordanian agencies, including intelligence, armed forces, police, customs and nuclear regulatory authorities attended the session and discussed a wide range of nuclear security-related issues with the experts of UNICRI. The training was organized in partnership with the Nuclear Security Center at the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC) of Jordan.
“The online training on illicit trafficking of RN materials was very fruitful. It provided the trainees with new knowledge, in addition to the practical scenarios given during the workshop. Furthermore, the practical scenarios and exercises allowed participants to test their knowledge and to discuss coordination techniques amongst all ministries and agencies and the role of the agency itself in this regard” Colonel Saleh Al Sheyab, National CBRN Focal Point of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The CONTACT – Middle East project is aimed at enhancing capacities of state security, law enforcement and nuclear regulatory authority officials of Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan to carry out intelligence and law enforcement operations aimed at thwarting RN trafficking attempts. The project is generously funded by ‘Global Affairs Canada’.
CONTACT is the first project in the Middle East that focuses on intelligence operations to counter RN illicit trafficking. Previous international projects have concentrated efforts on the provision and use of radiation detection equipment to identify illicit trafficking. However, the “human factor” is of equal importance, as demonstrated by the fact that the majority of successful seizures of radiological and nuclear material is attributable to soundly planned and executed intelligence operations. With the CONTACT project, UNICRI is working with countries in the Middle East to share good practices and reinforce capabilities to effectively and carefully plan intelligence and law enforcement operations as well as the exchange of information at the national, regional and international levels.
