In the framework of the project: "Capacities and exchange of experiences in the region: clarifying processes in customs and border control to promote inter-institutional coordination for the creation and articulation of policies in search of the effective implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty ( ATT) ", the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress, with funding from the ATT Voluntary Trust Fund (VTF), carried out the last regional activity part of the project on September 12-13, 2018. About 30 people from 7 countries participated (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Dominican Republic and Costa Rica). These were representatives from customs, foreign ministry, national police and civil society from the different countries. 15 of these were foreign representatives and the remaining 15 were members of Costa Rican institutions such as the Ministry of Finance, the Directorate of Intelligence and Security, the Judicial Investigation Agency, the Public Police Force, among others.

The Arias Foundation gave introductory presentations of the Arms Trade Treaty (TCA) to ensure that all participants had the same level of knowledge on the subject. Then each country made a presentation on the situation in their respective countries regarding the creation of a national authority and ammunition control. Two field visits were also made, one to the forensics complex of the Judicial Investigation Agency and another to the Pablo Murillo Electromechanical armory in Costa Rica. In the forensics complex, a representative of the Investigation Division talked about the role of judicial experts on weapons and ammunition in the criminal sphere. During a subsequent visit to the Canine Unit, participants saw how dogs are trained to detect ammunition and other weapons components in investigations. In the armory, there was a demonstration of the review process that usually takes place in the fiscal warehouses at the time of receiving a shipment of weapons.