The 147th and 148th sessions of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council, the in-person yearly gathering of its 187 member customs administrations, were held from June 25 to June 27 at the organisation’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

There were three key outcomes and focus areas: protecting society, strategic plan execution, and green customs and supply chains. The ‘Protecting Society’ session focused on the role of customs in combating transnational drug trafficking, money laundering, and illicit trade, with addresses from the International Criminal Police Organisation, commonly known as Interpol, and the International Narcotics Control Board. The ‘Strategic Plan Execution’ session reviewed the implementation of the WCO’s Strategic Plan (2025–2028), and the ‘Green Customs and Supply Chains’ session further advanced environmental sustainability through the Baku Declaration on Green Customs and discussed integrating the private sector more closely through the Private Sector Consultative Group.

The focus of this article is on ‘Protecting Society’, which the WCO referenced in a media release titled ‘From border to bust: sharpening customs’ role in protecting society against drug trafficking’. You might recall that the WCO theme for 2026, announced on Customs Day, January 26, is ‘Customs protecting society through vigilance and commitment’.

The session’s focus was on how to combat drug trafficking more effectively, and it was argued that collaboration and cooperation between customs, police and the judiciary are essential to stop transnational organised crime. This needs to be supported by intelligence, timely information sharing, and data analysis, which facilitate both seizures and prosecutions, leading to the successful dismantling of criminal networks.

A panel was convened, with representatives from customs, law enforcement and the judicial system to discuss how customs can better respond to the ever-present threat of drug trafficking. The panel discussion was moderated by the commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, with the chairperson of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs of India, an assistant director of Interpol, and the Special Prosecutor of Benin as panellists.

According to delegates, drug trafficking continues to be a leading threat requiring greater resources to ensure interdiction, enforcement and cooperation between customs administrations and partners around the world.

Despite sustained and determined efforts by customs authorities, criminal organisations are becoming increasingly well resourced and highly adaptive, operating with ever-evolving sophistication across borders and developing new trafficking methods. The rapid rise of synthetic drugs, which are cheaper to produce, easier to conceal and constantly modified to evade detection, has further intensified this threat. At the same time, the infiltration of legitimate supply chains by criminal actors presents an additional and critical layer of risk.

The discussion highlighted the need to move beyond drug seizures, emphasising stronger collaboration between customs authorities, police and the judiciary to intensify investigations and prosecutions aimed at dismantling transnational organised criminal networks.

Panellists noted the challenges customs administrations face in ensuring the timely movement of legitimate goods while addressing the rising volumes of illicitly traded goods moving through the global supply chain. They underscored customs’ unique position in the supply chain and its strategic role in shaping and implementing effective enforcement strategies. Panellists pointed to the need for customs administrations to shift towards intelligence-based targeting and risk-profiling models, invest in innovative technology, and ensure that frontline officers receive regular training in inspection methods, data analysis, and risk profiling.

The partnership between customs and police and the critical need for coordinated engagement were key messages throughout the discussions.

Coordinated enforcement operations and intelligence sharing to support investigations were widely mentioned as essential to dismantling criminal networks involved in drug trafficking.

Intelligence Sharing

Access to secure information-sharing networks, such as the WCO’s Customs Enforcement Network or Interpol’s Purple Notices, enables customs administrations and police to share intelligence and promote early warning of smuggling risks.

Panellists stressed that to ensure successful prosecutions and permanently dismantle criminal networks, the process from the initial seizure of illicit drugs to legal proceedings must be coordinated and supported both nationally and internationally across agencies.

The discussions reaffirmed customs’ strategic role in disrupting the trade in illicit drugs. The critical importance of continued vigilance, strong cross-border collaboration and coordination, and sustained commitment to strengthening customs’ role in combating drug trafficking was underscored by all concerned.