Tonga has launched the UNODC-WCO-INTERPOL Passenger and Cargo Control Program to strengthen its border security.
The initiative, part of the ‘Strengthening Maritime Borders and Supply Chain Security in the Pacific’ project, aims to enhance the capacity of Tongan authorities in monitoring and controlling passenger and cargo movements.
British High Commissioner to Tonga, His Excellency Philip Malone, attended the launch, expressing pride in the UK’s support. He stated, “This effort brings Tonga for the very first time into a long-standing global program of work by UNODC, known as the Passenger and Cargo Control Program.”
The program, running for two weeks, includes training and provision of equipment, leading to the establishment of Tonga’s first Port Control Unit.
By joining this program, Tonga aligns with 87 other countries enhancing their skills and resources to aid intelligence-led detection and improve connections to global information-sharing networks.
The Passenger and Cargo Control Program, established in January 2025, merges the Container Control Program and the Airport Communication Program. Its objective is to improve the capacity of member states to disrupt illicit flows of containers, cargo, and mail, intercept high-risk passengers, and identify victims of trafficking, while facilitating legitimate trade and movement.
This development represents a significant step forward in strengthening Tonga’s border security and its integration into global efforts to combat transnational crime.
