COLIBRI

MONITORING AND CONTROLLING GENERAL

AVIATION ALONG THE COCAINE ROUTE
CONTEXT

GLOBAL ILLICIT FLOWS PROGRAMME

The World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the European Union (EU) join forces to tackle the COUNTRIES COVERED
challenge represented by organised crime in Latin America, the Caribbean and Western/Central
Africa. Latin America: Argentina, Brazil,
Colombia, Dominican Republic,
The new COLIBRI project, implemented within the framework of the Cocaine Route Programme Uruguay, Peru
and funded by the EU, specifically targets General Aviation (GA), a vector that concerns all the
operations of civil aviation for purposes other than commercial transport. Africa: Ghana, Mali, Mauritania,
Cape Verde, Nigeria, Senegal, the
Although most civil airports are open to GA, many secondary aerodromes are not subject to Gambia, Ivory Coast
administration fees, landing or parking charges, operating restrictions or controls. Moreover,
general aviation is not subject to the same police or customs inspection mechanisms, and DURATION
flight security measures are substantially relaxed, even in highly regulated areas. This means
that GA represents an opportunity for organised crime, and offers a number of advantages to 36 months:
traffickers. This is a discreet, fast mode of transport, which can use smaller airports where the January 2019 – December 2021
law enforcement agencies are often absent.

The COLIBRI Project was conceived to help tackle the challenge of improving security in this IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS
specific channel, which is sensitive and relevant in terms of both trafficking and security, as well
as for tax reasons. • World Customs Organisation

OVERALL OBJECTIVE FACTS AND FIGURES

• Scoping and evaluation
COLIBRI aims to more effectively fight against organised crime by establishing a better security
missions: 10 (6 LAC and 4 West
environment for the transport of goods and people within the vector of General Aviation. Africa)
• Training activities: 10 (6 LAC and
The overall objective is to build the capacities of customs officials and their relevant law enforce-
4 West Africa)
ment partners by strengthening the international and interdepartmental coordination of information
sharing in order to protect the rule of law and thus contribute to sustainable development and • Officials trained: 260 (approx).
peace. • Transregional events: 3 expert
meetings.
PURPOSE • An international handbook for
training, monitoring and control
of general aviation.
1. Monitor and control GA along the entire length of the cocaine route.
• A Geoportal developed
2. Assist Customs administrations and their partners involved in combating cross-border fraud by as a communication tool
building the technical expertise and coordination required for the successful implementation of and database with mobile
effective and professional control procedures. application and available in
4 languages (English, French,
3. Step up the regional, international and interdepartmental cooperation that is so essential in the Spanish and Portuguese).
fight against drug trafficking.
4. Development and implementation of modern risk analysis, targeting and control techniques.

ACTIVITIES
CONTACT:
There are three main components to COLIBRI: European Commission Service for
Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI)
1. Capacity building for national administrations through training and tutoring; FPI 1 – Global Threats
E-mail: FPI-1@ec.europa.eu
2. The creation of a worldwide database devoted to general aviation and a geoportal incorporating
dynamic technical data;
3. The organization of coordinated international operations for the control of private business and
Funded by the European Union
recreational aviation.

Foreign Policy
Instruments