Twenty representatives from the Transport Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan, the State Border Service, the State Customs Service, and the Aviation Security Service of "Turkmenhowayollary" Agency participated in a training workshop on contraband risk analysis and airport inspection methods. The event was held in Ashgabat from August 3 to 7, 2026.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized the training in cooperation with the Turkish International Academy against Drugs and Organized Crime (TADOC). The objective was to equip participants with essential knowledge and practical skills needed to effectively counter contraband activities at airports.

TADOC experts introduced participants to various anti-smuggling strategies and techniques. The curriculum focused on risk assessment, profiling flights, passengers, cargo, and luggage. Attendees explored methods to identify suspicious passenger behavior, profiling procedures from airport entry to boarding, as well as effective interviewing and questioning techniques.

In his welcoming address, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat William Leaf referenced the Tirana Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation in Countering Transnational Organized Crime (MC.DOC/1/20, December 4, 2020), emphasizing the vital importance of national coordination and international partnership.

"This training course clearly demonstrates how the OSCE and its participating states translate political commitments outlined in the Tirana Declaration into concrete practical support," said William Leaf.

"All our efforts underscore a fundamental truth: exchange of expertise and established regional cooperation are crucial in the fight against transnational organized crime," he added.

The course also covered methods for inspecting passenger documents, tools used during security checks, and techniques for detecting common drug concealment methods. Practical exercises conducted at the Ashgabat International Airport allowed participants to apply comprehensive, systematic inspection techniques in a real-world environment.