September 1, 2026
- The World Customs Organization (WCO) concludes the successful Project BOLT focused on combatting illicit trafficking of weapons and narcotics in the Caribbean.
- Through targeted capacity building and coordinated enforcement operations, Customs administrations across the region strengthened their ability to combat transnational organized crime.
- Project BOLT enhanced frontline capabilities in firearms enforcement, intelligence-led targeting, risk management, X-ray analysis, and emerging threats such as 3D-printed firearms.
Project BOLT embodied the WCO’s 2026 theme of “Customs protecting society through vigilance and commitment” by strengthening the operational capability of Caribbean Customs administrations to combat the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW), narcotics and other transnational organized crime threats. As an implementing partner of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, the WCO has advanced the Roadmap’s objectives while leaving a lasting legacy for regional security, cooperation and institutional resilience across the Caribbean.
Implemented with the support of the United States Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), Project BOLT’s second phase was delivered between March 2024 and June 2026 from the Project’s headquarters in Barbados. Through intelligence-led enforcement, strategic risk management, operational cooperation and institutional capacity building, the Project strengthened Customs administrations’ ability to detect, deter and disrupt illicit trafficking, reinforcing Customs’ role as a frontline agency in protecting society.
Commenting on the conclusion of Project BOLT, WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders said: “Project BOLT demonstrates how targeted investment in Customs capacity building, combined with strong regional partnerships, delivers tangible results in protecting society. By strengthening Customs administrations, advancing intelligence sharing and deepening operational cooperation, the Project has made a significant and lasting contribution to regional security across the Caribbean.”
Project BOLT Phase 2 – At a glance
- More than 1,500 Customs officers trained across the Caribbean.
- Seven regional technical webinars delivered on priority enforcement topics.
- National capacity-building programmes delivered in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.
- Regional support given to The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominican Republic.
- Support provided for Operations CALYPSO and CALYPSO 2, strengthening regional operational cooperation against the illicit trafficking of firearms and narcotics.
- Establishment of the Caribbean Regional Risk Management Working Group.
- Enhanced implementation and use of the National Customs Enforcement Network (nCEN) and CENcomm – key WCO tools to facilitate the real-time sharing of data and intelligence.
- Development of a regional cadre of four WCO-accredited SALW trainers, strengthening long-term regional training capacity.
- Improved regional intelligence sharing, operational cooperation, and institutional sustainability.
Over the course of the Project, more than 1,500 Customs officers participated in regional webinars, national workshops, and specialized technical training. In addition, the Project brought together hundreds of representatives from other law enforcement and border security agencies from across the region, reinforcing the multi-agency partnerships essential to combating the illicit trafficking of firearms, narcotics and other transnational organized crime threats.
Project BOLT Phase 2 delivered a comprehensive programme of regional and national activities designed to strengthen operational capability in firearms enforcement, vehicle examination, intelligence-led targeting, X-ray image analysis, strategic risk management and the application of WCO enforcement tools. The programme also addressed emerging threats, including the illicit use of express consignment channels and the trafficking of 3D-printed firearms and their components.
Strengthened regional operational cooperation
A significant achievement of the Project was the strengthening of regional operational cooperation in partnership with CARICOM IMPACS. Through support for Operations CALYPSO and CALYPSO 2, Customs administrations worked alongside regional and international partners to target illicit firearms, narcotics and other prohibited goods. These coordinated operations demonstrated the value of intelligence sharing, joint risk analysis, and real-time communication through WCO platforms all while reinforcing professional networks throughout the Caribbean.
The Project also strengthened the practical use of WCO enforcement tools. Through support for the implementation and enhancement of nCEN and increased use of CENcomm, participating administrations improved the collection, analysis and exchange of enforcement information, enabling more effective intelligence-led targeting and regional cooperation. In Barbados, the use of CENcomm evolved from no recorded operational reporting prior to the Project to regular reporting of enforcement cases. Trinidad and Tobago similarly expanded the reporting of firearms and other enforcement cases through CENcomm, contributing to a stronger regional intelligence picture and closer operational collaboration between Customs administrations.
Creating a sustainable legacy
A defining feature of Project BOLT Phase 2 was its emphasis on sustainability. Beyond delivering training, the Project invested in regional leadership, national ownership, and long-term institutional capacity. Four Customs officers were accredited as WCO SALW trainers, creating a sustainable regional capability to deliver specialist firearms enforcement training and mentor future officers across the Caribbean. In Jamaica, knowledge gained through Project BOLT has already been cascaded nationally, extending the Project’s benefits to additional frontline officers and reinforcing institutional resilience. The establishment of the Caribbean Regional Risk Management Working Group further provides a sustainable platform for continued cooperation, information exchange, and the advancement of regional risk management practices.
Participating Customs administrations reported improved operational performance, greater confidence in detecting and interdicting illicit firearms and narcotics, increased use of intelligence and risk management techniques, stronger inter-agency cooperation and enhanced analytical capability. These outcomes reflect the growing role of Customs as a key partner in protecting society and safeguarding legitimate trade across the Caribbean.
Collaboration advances the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap
The WCO expresses its sincere appreciation to the United States Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), CARICOM IMPACS, participating Customs administrations, the Caribbean Joint Intelligence Office (JIO), regional and international partner organizations, and the many experts whose commitment and collaboration were instrumental to the successful implementation of Project BOLT.
As an implementing partner of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, the WCO has strengthened the region’s collective response to the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, narcotics and other transnational organized crime threats by investing in people, partnerships and modern enforcement capabilities. The WCO looks forward to its legacy continuing in the form of stronger Customs institutions, enhanced regional cooperation, and a shared commitment to protecting the citizens and communities of the Caribbean.