IPR TRAINING IMPROVES CUSTOMS PROCEDURES IN MONTERREY

UNCLAS MONTERREY 000132 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PLEASE PASS TO JUSTICE FOR CCIPS/MERRIAM/KOUAME AND OPDAT/TRUEBELL AND RAMOS COMMERCE PLEASE PASS TO USPTO FOR RODRIQUEZ/BERDUT/MORALES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KIPR ECON ETRD MX SUBJECT: IPR TRAINING IMPROVES CUSTOMS PROCEDURES IN MONTERREY REF: MEXICO 520 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Based upon recent meetings between post and Mexican Customs officials at the Monterrey airport, we believe the latter are using USG-funded IPR training to substantially improve their procedures. Indeed, the customs officials showed off several intercepted packages seized through new techniques taught by USG funded trainers. Although Mexican customs still has a long way to go, its willingness to effectively utilize the training is very encouraging. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The State Department and the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security held a three day IPR training seminar in Monterrey February 4-6 (see reftel). The training was provided by Christophe Zimmerman, Chief Technical Officer of the World Customs Organization's Anti-Counterfeit and Piracy Unit. During the training, Zimmermann realized that the Mexican customs officials had previously received little practical training. Therefore, Zimmermann focused on the basics such as conducting a Risk Analysis to concentrate on suspicious shipments and uncovering red flags based on airbills and travel patterns. Over 20 rightsholders also provided detailed examples of real and fake products to small groups of Mexican officials. ¶3. (SBU) Mexican officials found the IPR training to be extremely useful, principally because it was so detailed and specific. After the training, the Mexican Customs officials at the Monterrey airport started to use a Risk Analysis model to identify suspect packages. Customs officials showed off several packages identified by the new techniques that contained pirated goods. For example, one shipment of pirated clothing had been shipped through Kowloon Hong Kong (identified by Zimmerman as a red flag). Officials noted that the claimed weight did not make sense and several of the numbers seemed unusual. Similarly, the customs officials utilized Zimmerman's methods to discover a shipment of pirated videogames and a suspect shipment of 100 personal digital assistants. Zimmerman had recommended that officials carefully examine product names, and the officials noticed that the name on the PDAs was VIAC instead of the correct VIAO. Officials of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI),which registers intellectual property rights, also found the Monterrey Customs training useful as it was at the appropriate level and full of examples. ¶4. (SBU) Although Mexican Customs officials have taken several steps forward, their techniques are still at a basic level. In our follow-up meeting with them, a TDY DHS/ICE official described the operation of the Trade Transparency Unit in Mexico City, which uses data analysis, research, and software to spot anomalies and thereby focus on suspect shipments. He also discussed possible IPR training opportunities, such as bulk cash smuggling and other interdiction type of curriculum where DHS/ICE can assist. The Mexican officials present, both from Customs and IMPI, were eager for additional training, including a trip to the border to observe US customs procedures in practice. Post will explore opportunities for additional training given that Mexican officials have demonstrated the capacity to utilize new techniques. WILLIAMSON