Colombo, Sri Lanka and Kathmandu, Nepal/31 March 2026: As international travel volumes grow and transnational crime networks become more sophisticated, traditional border control methods are increasingly under strain. Airports face the dual challenge of ensuring security while facilitating the smooth movement of legitimate travelers. In this context, intelligence-led approaches that enable authorities to focus on high-risk individuals are critical for effective border management.
As part of UNODC’s Passenger and Cargo Control Programme (PCCP), feasibility assessments were conducted at Bandaranaike International Airport in Sri Lanka and Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal to explore the establishment of inter-agency passenger targeting units. These assessments mark an important step toward strengthening coordinated, data-driven responses to transnational threats.
Inter-agency passenger targeting units bring together multiple enforcement bodies to analyze passenger data, travel patterns, watchlists and risk indicators in real time. Integrating intelligence from different agencies, these units enable authorities to identify high-risk individuals more effectively, including those linked to human trafficking, drug smuggling, and terrorism-related activities.
Experience from other countries participating in the PCCP highlights the impact of such approaches. In 2025, countries with established inter-agency targeting units intercepted 673 high-risk travelers, demonstrating the effectiveness of coordinated, intelligence-led operations in disrupting criminal activity.
The feasibility assessments in Sri Lanka and Nepal reviewed existing institutional frameworks, coordination mechanisms, and resource capacities, while identifying practical steps for implementation. In both countries, where major international airports are handling growing passenger volumes and face increasing exposure to transnational crime routes, the importance of such units is particularly significant.
This activity contributed to SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/
(Supported by US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs)
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