The International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s African Capacity Building Centre (ACBC) and the Tanzania Immigration Service Department (TISD) organized a 4-day training (12-15/02) on transnational organized crime (TOC) for 21 government officers from the United Republic of Tanzania.

The participants included officers from the department of immigration, police and intelligence stationed at Sirare, Tanga, Kilimanjaro, Pwani and Namanga border posts.

The training was meant to create awareness and strengthen institutional and human resource capacity of key agencies manning Tanzania’s entry points. It covered topics such as transnational organized crime concepts, terminology and trends, as well as the correlation between TOC and migration. It also covered irregular migration, migrant smuggling and human trafficking, mixed migration routes and traffickers / smuggler modus operandi, TOC threats in the East and Horn of Africa, Legal and policy frameworks to combat TOC, Cooperation in combating TOC. Participants also got an opportunity to share experiences. Trainers were drawn from IOM ACBC and TISD.

“Protecting migrants’ lives and rights, their safety and security and improving their socioeconomic situation are key elements in preventing irregular migration,” said Melissa Tui, IOM ACBC’s Curriculum Development Officer.

She also empathized the need for a “multipronged approach in combating and preventing migrant smuggling and human trafficking.”

The training was organized under the “Enhancing Security Through Improved Border and Immigration Management” project which covers Tanzania, Kenya and Somalia.

Funded by the Government of Canada, the project is aimed at reducing regional security threats by promoting cooperation, dialogue and information sharing, as well as strengthening border management capacities and community awareness in East and Horn of Africa.

Sufi Qasim, IOM Tanzania Chief of Misison said: “IOM would like to use this occasion to thank the Government of Canada for financing this project. It will positively contribute in making migration safer and regular in countries of origin, transit as well in destination countries.”

For more information, please contact:
Gracia Anthony, IOM Tanzania Email: ganthony@iom.int Tel: +255 716 204 156
Melissa Tui, IOM ACBC Email: mtui@iom.int Tel: +255 745 919 355