U.S., Poland Host International Nonproliferation Workshop
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Energy Department/National Nuclear Security Administration and the State Department partnered with the Polish Customs Service to host the first joint field operation workshop for law enforcement personnel June 20-22, 2017, at the Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport near Jasionka, Poland.
The regional workshop consisted of classroom-based lectures on commodities that are subject to export controls and a hands-on cargo inspection exercise at the airport. Participants included 22 customs officials and technical experts from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania.
“Investing in these programs with partners is an important part of the global effort to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to counter terrorist access to nuclear and other WMD-related material, equipment and technology,” said David Huizenga, NNSA’s acting deputy administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation.
Instructors from DOE/NNSA, Polish customs and the United Kingdom’s Border Force led the workshop designed to strengthen the ability of enforcement agencies in partner countries to prevent and detect illicit transfers of WMD-related commodities. Additionally, participants learned how to plan and execute similar joint field operations exercises in their own countries.
As an outreach partner of the State Department’s Export Control and Related Border Security Program, Poland continues to share its expertise and best practices of export control enforcement with other countries.