About the Congress

Spain’s vast coastline and strategic location between Africa and Europe present unique challenges for the National Police and Guardia Civil. Spain faces a constant influx of migrants seeking a better life in Europe. The Canary Islands and the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, bordering Morocco, are popular entry points. Patrolling these vast stretches, especially maritime […]

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Great reasons for you to attend

The World Border Security Congress is a high level 3 day event for senior border officials to discuss and debate current and future policies, implementation issues and challenges as well as new and developing technologies that contribute towards safe and secure border and migration management.

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75
Speakers
400
Participants
30
Exhibitors
60
Countries

2025 Speakers Include:

Matt Parker
International Advisory Board member The Exodus Road, USA
Ed Doleman
SVP & Head of EMEA Cellebrite , UK
Damian Viccars
Director of Government Affairs, Europe World Shipping Council, Belgium
Stephen Maloney
Executive Director, National Targeting Center US Customs & Border Protection
Ray E. Provencio
(A)Executive Director - Admissibility and Passenger Programs Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Rossitza (Rosie) Petrov
Regional Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Advisor U.S. Department of State
Dr Vesna Tasevska-Dudeska
Chief Inspector for Foreigners and Readmission Ministry of Interior, Republic of North Macedonia
Professor Steve Daley
CEO Clantect, UK
Milan Aleksic
Researcher NGO Atina, Serbia

Congress Agenda

Am excellent programme for the international border security, protection and management community.
8:30 am - 12:30 pm

Site Visits to: Madrid International Airport (Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport); or EUROSUR National Coordination Centre For further details see Site Visits page.

9:30 am - 12:30 pm Workshops Room

Organized by the African Young People Support Centre (AYPSC), De La Colina Charity and African Smart Cities Innovation Foundation, this session at the 2025 World Border Security Congress in Madrid will focus on a multi-faceted approach to border security in Africa. Africa faces significant border challenges, from irregular migration and human trafficking to terrorism and […]

Paul Igbinere Executive Director
African Young People Support Centre
10:30 am - 12:30 pm Workshops Room

Shaping the future requirements for traveller verification at European borders Wednesday 24th April 10.30am – 12.30pm The European Association Airport & Seaport Police is one of the 23 parties involved in the EU-funded project SafeTravellers, which started January this year and will last for three years. It aims to produce a near-operational system at TRL7 or above.  SafeTravellers is […]

Willem Mudde Vice President - Aviation
European Association of Airport and Seaport Police (EAASP)
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Main Plenary Room

Opening Keynotes and Welcome Messages to the 2024 World Border Security Congress

Hans Leijtens Executive Director
FRONTEX
Willem Mudde Vice President - Aviation
European Association of Airport and Seaport Police (EAASP)
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm Expo Hall

Networking Coffee Break

4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Main Plenary Room

Drugs on the streets seems to be the insoluble societal problem of our age. It destroys lives and permeates every part of society. It makes law breakers of otherwise law-abiding citizens and through their dealers puts them in direct contact with the criminal underbelly of society. Drugs are the invisible glue that connects organised crime […]

Combating the Cross-Border Smuggling of Fentanyl and Synthetic Opioids in West Africa: A New Strategy for Regional Security Babatunde Olomu Customs Area Controller
Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command – Apapa, Lagos
Ghana's National Border Security Strategy and Counter Terrorism Ibrahim Imam Haafiz National Imam/ Dept Head Religious Affairs Unit
Ghana Immigration Service
Countering, Detecting, and Identifying Illicit Financial and Trade Flows: Methods, Practices, and Interrelationships Rossitza (Rosie) Petrov Regional Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Advisor
U.S. Department of State
Cross-Border Smuggling of Fentanyl and Synthetic Opioids in West Africa: A New Strategy for Regional Security Sadiq Misbau Murtala Superintendent of Customs
Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters - Abuja
4:15 pm - 5:30 pm Main Plenary Room

All around the world, governments are looking for that next step in technology that will change the border security paradigm, such as stand-off explosive and drug detection or big data analytics. Some technologies are still on the wish list, but some are now very much on the ‘to do’ list! One of the biggest drivers […]

Casey Durst Executive Assistant Commissioner, Operations Support
US Customs & Border Protection (USCBP)
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Expo Hall

Welcome Reception (Invitation Only)

9:00 am - 10:30 am Main Plenary Room

According to UNHCR figures by May 2024, more than 120 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations. This includes 43.4 million refugees, 63.3 million internally displaced people, 6.9 million asylum seekers and 5.8 million people in need of international protection. But it is not just […]

Human trafficking: offshore protection and prevention in the UK Amanda Read National Vulnerability Lead
UK Border Force
From Legal to Illegal: Exploring Migration Dynamics and Readmission Policies in the Western Balkans Dr Vesna Tasevska-Dudeska Chief Inspector for Foreigners and Readmission
Ministry of Interior, Republic of North Macedonia
Leveraging Digital Forensics to Combat Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Ed Doleman SVP & Head of EMEA
Cellebrite , UK
Challenges and Strategies in Securing Nigeria's Borders Against Drug & Human Trafficking George-Okoli Francisco Chidi Director of Programs
West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA) Nigeria
Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Ghana Henry Kumah Inspector
Ghana Immigration Service
Leveraging Digital Forensics to Combat Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Matt Parker International Advisory Board member
The Exodus Road, USA
9:00 am - 10:30 am Workshops Room

Overview of the latest technologies and solutions for border management, security and protection

AI-Enhanced Mobile Surveillance Systems: Advancing Situational Awareness for Efficient Border Control Dr. Martin Lints Lead Scientist
Defsecintel Solutions, Estonia
Form follows function – Using Biometric in modern border control Hof Retief Coordinator of the National Center for Border Management (NCBM)
BioRugged, Portugal
The Challenge of Detecting New Synthetic Threats: from Fentanyl to Nitazenes Jeremy Van Auker Field Forensic Application Scientist
908 Devices, USA
Shifting the paradigm: building traveler-centric border security solutions Ygor Lutz Chief Revenue and Partnership Officer
Travizory, Switzerland
10:30 am - 11:15 am

Networking Coffee Break

11:15 am - 12:30 pm Main Plenary Room

Industrial waste typically has a negative value – it costs businesses money to treat it in a way that is safe and does not harm the environment. Costs include treatment, technology and labour costs in line with national laws and environmental regulations. There is therefore an incentive for companies wishing to avoid these costs to […]

Combat Illegal Wildlife Trafficking in Global Supply Chains Damian Viccars Director of Government Affairs, Europe
World Shipping Council, Belgium
Leveraging innovative technology and strategic leadership in enhancing border security against illegal wildlife trade in Nigeria Tasiu Sanusi Saulawa Assistant Comptroller of Customs
Nigeria Customs Service
11:15 am - 12:30 pm Workshops Room

It is widely acknowledged that interagency cooperation is the key to the effective border management, facilitating the movement of goods and people whilst simultaneously preventing bad actors from travelling and interdicting the movement of illicit goods. But what can be in practical terms on the ground to increase communication, share actionable intelligence and best practise.

James Collins Assistant Commissioner
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Rocco Messina Head of Border Security and Management Unit
UN OCT
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Expo Hall

Delegate Lunch and Networking Break

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Main Plenary Room

Rivers create a particular set of problems for border management. Rivers can flow hundreds and thousands of kilometres from the ocean into national territories. Indeed, rivers make up 23 percent of all international borders. South America has the largest number of international borders made up by rivers—nearly half. Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, French, Guiana, […]

Customs and Trade Challenges for Border Security Florence Chidi Emmanuel (Igbasi) Superintendent of Customs
Nigeria Customs Service
Advancing Maritime Border Security through an Ecosystem Approach Tharindu Jayawardhane National Programme Officer,
Immigration and Border Governance, International Organization for Migration, Sri Lanka
Vice Admiral Robert Patrimonio Commander, Maritime Security Law Enforcement Command
Philippines Coast Guard
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Workshops Room

Overview of the latest technologies and solutions for border management, security and protection

Is it possible to enhance the protection and management of extended land borders? What are the solutions? Dmitrii Egorov Business Development Executive
Sens-Or Solutions
Border Surveillance at Scale Dmitrios Kottas CEO / Founder
Delian Alliance Indusries (formerly Lambda Automata)
Remote Entry Exit System (EES) - Learning from Pilot Jim Slevin Regional Director
Inverid, UK
Human Presence Detection Systems Professor Steve Daley CEO
Clantect, UK
3:30 pm - 4:15 pm Expo Hall

Networking Coffee Break

4:15 pm - 5:30 pm Workshops Room

In the spirit of interagency cooperation this workshop will facilitate the sharing of on the ground experience, real life case studies and share actionable intelligence on the movement of drugs, illicit goods, illegal waste, heritage goods, wildlife trafficking and modus operandi used to enable these trades.

Dave Fluty Assistant Commissioner
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Willem Mudde Vice President - Aviation
European Association of Airport and Seaport Police (EAASP)
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Expo Hall

Networking Reception sponsored by SITA

9:00 am - 10:30 am Main Plenary Room

How do we disrupt or prevent travel of bad actors? Information sharing between some governments is good, but any gaps will be exploited. Interpol and ICAO are starting to provide greater access to what were previously government access only systems. But is there a role for non-government actors, including industry, to deter or prevent travel […]

Andy Smith Director, Government & Industry Relations
SITA, UK
Daniel Guerrero Watchlisting Assistance and Support Program (WASP) Adviser
ICITAP/Dept of Justice, and Counterterrorism Bureau, Dept of State, USA
The Digital Transformation of Human Trafficking (2015-2024). Changes in modus operandi of THB cells Dr. Miguel Oliveros Mediavilla Professor and researcher
Universidade da Coruña, Spain
The Digital Transformation of Human Trafficking (2015-2024). Changes in modus operandi of THB cells Maria de Benito Rodriguez Consultant and researcher on Border issues and Trafficking in human beings
Spain
Rocco Messina Head of Border Security and Management Unit
UN OCT
Stephen Maloney Executive Director, National Targeting Center
US Customs & Border Protection
9:00 am - 10:30 am Workshops Room

Closed Agency Workshop hosted by Guardia Civil

10:30 am - 11:15 am Expo Hall

Networking Coffee Break

11:15 am - 12:30 pm Main Plenary Room

Any organisation, whatever is field of operation, is only as good as its staff. And investment in that human capital is one of the most valuable activities that any organisation can participate in. Training promotes the ethics and ideals of the organisation as well as well as improving the skills and knowledge to develop sound […]

Sarah Prew Senior Aviation Security Consultant
Arup UK
11:15 am - 12:30 pm Workshops Room

In the spirit of interagency cooperation this workshop will facilitate the sharing of on the ground experience, real life case studies and share actionable intelligence on the movement of trafficked human beings via planes , boats and vehicles and the various methods by which the traffickers enable this movement.

12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Expo Hall

Delegate Lunch and Networking Break

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Main Plenary Room

Identity Verification is self-evidently the key to effective border management. For all border agencies, verify each person’s identity against government databases determines whether an individual is welcome into a country or not. Morphed photo: Use of a morphed image in a genuine document, allowing two individuals to share the same passport. Counterfeit: The complete fake […]

Newly established Passenger Information Unit of Mongolia Enkhtur Adiyajav Head of PIU
Passenger Information Unit, Mongolia
How to improve the identification of migrant victims of trafficking? Milan Aleksic Researcher
NGO Atina, Serbia
Paul Igbinere Executive Director
African Young People Support Centre
Ray E. Provencio (A)Executive Director - Admissibility and Passenger Programs
Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Passenger Information Units (PIU-s) as an important actor in global security Samir Krasniqi Coordinator of the National Center for Border Management (NCBM)
Ministry of Internal Affairs, Republic of Kosovo

Location

Eurostars Madrid Tower

Madrid, Spain

The Eurostars Madrid Tower is located in the Cuatro Torres Business Area. This is one of the new and emerging business areas in the capital located north of Paseo de la Castellana and conveniently connected to the main points of interest in Madrid. The hotel is easily accessible by car due to its proximity to the main entrances into the city, as well as by public transport. Just a few metres away is the Begoña stop on line 10 of the underground and Chamartín, the local railway station. Several bus lines also stop near the hotel. The airport, the centre of Madrid, the business district and some of the most important arteries crossing the city, such as the M-30, the M-40 and the A-1, are also easy to reach.

Blog

Features

Securing Nigeria’s Borders Against Drug and Human Trafficking: A Multifaceted Approach

By: George-Okoli, Francisco Chidi, Director of Programs, West Africa Action Networks on Small Arms -Nigeria In recent years, Nigeria... Read More
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World Border Security Congress

2025 World Border Security Congress: Patrolling the Periphery

The 2025 World Border Security Congress will be hosted in Madrid, Spain on 25th-27th March 2025, cohosted by the... Read More
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Enhancing Africa’s Borders: Making a case for API-PNR on the Continent

By Renaud Irminger, CEO & co-founder, Travizory developers of the Travizory API-PNR Targeting System™ International travel inevitably opens countries... Read More