Navy conducts VBSS course for overseas Coast Guard personnel

A Visit Board Search & Seizure (VBSS) course for the boarding teams of Indonesian, Malaysian and Philippine Coast Guards commenced at the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) Headquarters in Trincomalee today (16^th September 2019). The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) partners with the Sri Lanka Navy in conducting this training programme.

Under the directives of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva the programme is conducted at the Training School of SBS and the opening address of the course was held with the participation of Commander Hemakumara Herath, Training Commander Special Boat Squadron Training School, Maritime Law Enforcement mentors from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime programme and a group of naval personnel.

The two week-long course organized for the fifth time for maritime law enforcement agencies of member states is being held at the SBS Headquarters and it is participated by 08 Coast Guard personnel each from Indonesia and Malaysia and 09 Coast Guard personnel from Philippine.

During the course, the participants are expected to hone their knowledge mainly on VBSS operations, drug identification, drug transferring methods and planning, preparation and boarding procedures. The VBSS training programme is scheduled to be over on 27th September 2019.