EU AND UNODC JOINT ACTION PROMOTING RULE OF LAW AND GOOD GOVERNANCE THROUGH TARGETED BORDER CONTROL MEASURES AT PORTS AND AIRPORTS

NEWSLETTER July — September 2020

UNODC continues its partnership with the  Bosnia and Herzegovina (land border AIRCOP initiated its activities in the region in EU through the launch of a new initiative crossings Bijača and Gradiška and Saraje- early 2020 along with the action. It applies aimed at fighting organized crime, by sup- vo International Airport) passenger controls to supporting airports in porting more effective and coordinated  Montenegro (port of Bar) tackling multiple threats, including all types responses to illicit trafficking at seaports,  North Macedonia (Skopje International of illicit drugs, illicit goods (such as wildlife, land border crossings and international Airport) counterfeit medicines, weapons and oth- airports in the Western Balkans.  (Belgrade International Airport) ers), as well as terrorism and trafficking in In January 2020, under the framework of  Kosovo under UNSCR 1244 (land border persons among others. the Regional Programme for South East- crossing Vermicë/Vrbnica ). With these two complementary compo- ern Europe (RP SEE) 2020-2023, UNODC The UNODC-WCO CCP’s mission is to build nents, the action’s objectives are: successfully initiated this EU-UNODC joint capacity in countries/jurisdictions seeking (i) to support more effective national and action promoting rule of law and good gov- to improve risk management, supply chain international responses to illicit trafficking ernance through targeted border control security and trade facilitation in seaports, through strengthening the current PCUs in measures at ports and airports in South airports and land border crossings in order the region and establishing new units, and; Eastern Europe. The action is implemented to prevent the cross-border movement of (ii) to strengthen the capacities of law en- by the UNODC-WCO Container Control illicit goods. CCP has been operating in forcement agencies active at the men- Programme (CCP) and the UNODC-WCO- South Eastern Europe since 2013 with Port tioned international airports to detect and INTERPOL Airport Communication Project Control Units (PCUs) established in Albania, intercept high risk passengers in an effort to (AIRCOP) in cooperation with the RP SEE Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and counter transnational organized crime and and is carried out in: Kosovo under UNSCR 1244. illicit drug trafficking and prevent terrorism. Project information and contacts available here.

The action supports the implementation of synergies between actors proving the security situation in the Western the UN Conventions on drugs and crime at the national, regional and international Balkans and Europe as a whole. and the EU Acquis, notably Chapters 23 and levels and builds bridges between various While the action is not directly assisting the 24 addressing serious organized crime, rule thematic areas, as well as between the Albanian authorities, the work in Albania in of law, good governance and security. The Western Balkans and other regions, im- this field is ongoing and is supported by oth- action improves effectiveness and develops er sources.

AIRCOP: NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON THE USE OF AIR PASSENGER

INFORMATION

2 July 2020, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovi- Communications and Transport, the Directo- na: AIRCOP hosted a national workshop on rate for Civil Aviation, the Border , the the use of Advance Passenger Information Indirect Taxation Authority and the Directo- (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) wi- rate for Coordination of Police Bodies of Bos- thin the analysis and investigation frame- nia and Herzegovina, who further expanded work. Building on the first training event held their knowledge in the use of API/PNR to on 4 June 2020, the workshop brought toge- effectively address cross-border threats and ther 16 representatives from the Ministry of increase inter-agency cooperation.

UNODC SUPPORTS SERBIA WITH PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

10 July 2020, Belgrade, Serbia: Further to support to the national authorities. The ove- nity to reiterate their support to the national the previously provided Personal Protective rall donation of PPE to the Serbian authorities authorities, who expressed appreciation and Equipment (PPE) in other countries of the represents USD 5,000. The donation included welcomed UNODC’s efforts, mentioning region, UNODC donated PPE to the Border masks, gloves and hand sanitizing gels and their readiness to further expand the coope- at Belgrade International Air- was handed over in a formal ceremony. Du- ration with UNODC in the coming months. port as part of the COVID-19 response and ring the ceremony, UNODC had the opportu-

AIRCOP: NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON ANALYSIS AND PROFILING AT THE AIRPORT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

14-16 July 2020, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Her- Passenger Information Unit (PIU) and the zegovina. The experts from Belgium mostly zegovina: AIRCOP hosted a three-day natio- Brazilian Customs. The training brought toge- focused on API/PNR data, targeting rules and nal workshop on analysis and profiling at air- ther 16 officers from the Border Police, Indi- risk indicators and their respective efficiency ports through its e-learning platform. The rect Taxation Authority, the Directorate for as well as challenges of risk analysis and rule- multi-faceted workshop encompassed pre- Coordination of Police Bodies and the Direc- based targeting while the expert from the sentations from the Belgian torate for Civil Aviation of Bosnia and Her- Brazilian Customs outlined the perspective Project information and contacts available here.

of a source country of drugs and illustrated trafficking between Brazil and Bosnia and the implementation of AIRCOP activities in the transnational nature of organized crime Herzegovina. the framework of the border control action. and the need for international collaboration The three-day online workshop is part of a by mentioning common cases of illicit series of workshops aiming to strengthen

AIRCOP INITIATES ACTIVITIES IN NORTH MACEDONIA AND SERBIA

27-29 July 2020, North Macedonia and Ser- Serbia and conduct an initial evaluation of In parallel, AIRCOP also engaged with key bia: AIRCOP conducted online assessments the law enforcement agencies’ role, tasks, international actors in the region to ensure to initiate AIRCOP activities in Serbia and duties and potential margins of impro- coordination, prevent overlapping and fos- North Macedonia. After Bosnia and Her- vement in the targeted airports. ter cooperation and synergy of efforts. zegovina, Serbia and North Macedonia are The online assessments and discussions with the second and third target countries for The discussions with the national authorities the national and international stakeholders AIRCOP within the border control action. provided the opportunity for AIRCOP to marked the first official steps of AIRCOP acti- The objective of the online assessment was share future plans and establish steps for vities in Serbia and North Macedonia as part to present the project in more detail to the coordination with the national counterparts. of the implementation of the border control relevant authorities of North Macedonia and action in South Eastern Europe.

UNODC MEETS WITH THE NATIONAL COUNTERPARTS IN NORTH MACEDONIA TO DISCUSS PARTNERSHIP

10-13 August 2020, Skopje, North Macedo- rious and Organized Crime, to discuss its nia: UNODC held a series of meetings with activities in the region within the framework the national authorities in North Macedonia of the Regional Programme for South Eas- including the Ministry of Interior, the Natio- tern Europe and provide an overview on the nal Coordination Center for Border Manage- border control action. ment, the Customs Administration, and the National Coordination Center Against Se- UNODC efforts in the country were wel- comed by the authorities, who demons- nal authorities, as well as the assessment of trated readiness to be actively involved in Skopje International Airport. The Minister of the upcoming UNODC activities. The coun- Interior expressed his full support while em- terparts discussed concrete suggestions and phasizing the need for further consultations measures to ensure effective implementa- and coordination with the relevant services tion of the planned activities including the for increased impact and effectiveness. signature of a Memorandum of Understan- ding (MoU) between UNODC and the natio- Project information and contacts available here.

BORDER CONTROL IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA SUPPORTED THROUGH MONITORING AND PROVISION OF EQUIPMENT

7-8 September 2020, Bijača land border The visit also served as an opportunity to crossing, Bosnia and Herzegovina: CCP car- deliver IT equipment, as well as tools used in ried out a monitoring visit to the PCU of container searches and office equipment to Bijača land border crossing to observe the the Unit. During the handover, the officers of activities of the PCU officers and review daily the PCU expressed satisfaction with being challenges and successes of the Unit. During equipped with PPE which they received pre- the visit, a container shipment presenting viously from UNODC within the action as unclear information on documentation was part of the support to national authorities inspected. A thorough check-up was per- during the COVID-19 outbreak in maintai- formed by the PCU officers allowing for the shipment to be cleared. ning their daily activities.

CCP SUPPORTS THE CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVO UNDER UNSCR 1244

7-9 September 2020, Priština, Kosovo under tified during the joint planning process, CCP The training covered such topics as container UNSCR 1244: In response to the needs iden- delivered a “refresher” theoretical training identification, risk analysis, Intellectual Pro- for 20 officers of Kosovo Customs. Given the perty Rights (IPR), hazardous goods and COVID-19 related travel restrictions, the trai- scanner images and was delivered by expe- ning was held online. This capacity building rienced international experts from WCO and event is part of a training cycle initiated in UNODC. Future training activities will be de- 2019 for the officers of Kosovo Customs and signed to further assist frontline and other will be further complemented with practical officers of Kosovo Customs in effectively ad- and advanced training events du- dressing cross-border criminality, inclu- ring programme implementation. ding the smuggling of drugs and other illegal activities.

CCP AND AIRCOP JOINTLY HOLD THE SECOND JOINT ONLINE BASIC THEORETICAL TRAINING IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

14-18 September 2020, Sarajevo, Bosnia line Basic Theoretical Training for 19 airport (ACCU) and Joint Airport Interdiction Task and Herzegovina: CCP and AIRCOP jointly officers, including inter-agency officers of the Force (JAITF) to be established at Sarajevo organized the second On- newly established Air Cargo Control Unit International Airport, as well as other officers Project information and contacts available here.

representing the Border Police of Bosnia and zegovina. Herzegovina, Indirect Taxation Authority, the The first part of the training was dedicated to Directorate for Coordination of Police Bo- the AIRCOP agenda, focusing on criminal dies of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Di- intelligence and information collection for rectorate for Civil Aviation of Bosnia and Her- analytical purposes, sources and formats of passenger information, extraction of data from passenger manifests, electronic tickets and PNR data. The second part of the trai- ning focused on the CCP component, cove- ring topics such as profiling and targeting and UNODC and will be further comple- mented by intermediate and advanced trai- shipments and their examination. The five- day training was delivered by experienced ning events during the course international experts from WCO, INTERPOL of programme implementation.

CCP COMPLETED THE BASIC TRAINING CYCLE FOR THE GRADIŠKA PCU

16-18 September 2020, Banja Luka, Bosnia the CCP training curriculum that follows the gered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and Herzegovina: CCP delivered part two of “Crawl-Walk-Run” approach, which is a sta- (CITES), use of closed and open sources of the Online Basic Theoretical Training de- ged training cycle delivered to PCUs information, and others. The trainees from signed for appointed officers of the newly worldwide. the Indirect Taxation Authority and Border established PCU at the land border crossing/ During the three-day program, the training Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina expressed customs point Gradiška. The training, which revisited some of the previously introduced satisfaction with the high professional stan- gathered six newly appointed officers as well topics and presented new ones, such as risk dards of the training delivered as an additional officer representing Border analysis, modus operandi of container con- by experienced international experts from Police and the Indirect Taxation Authority of cealment, the Convention on Trade in Endan- the WCO and UNODC. Bosnia and Herzegovina, falls within

UNODC EXPANDS LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR COOPERATION IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA UNDER THE ACTION

July-October 2020, Sarajevo, Bosnia and MoU with the relevant authorities of Bosnia tablishment of the second PCU in the country Herzegovina: UNODC developed an Adden- and Herzegovina, including the Ministry of – at the land border crossing Gradiška – and dum to the existing MoU between CCP and Security, the Border Police and the Indirect an ACCU at Sarajevo International Airport, national authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovi- Taxation Authority, were initiated in March which will both contribute to effectively coun- na to establish the relevant legal foundation 2020, and ensured national ownership and tering illicit cross-border activity and enhance covering the Programme’s expanded activi- focus on priority areas for future action imple- border security in Bosnia and Herzegovina ties in the country with new locations. Con- mentation. In July 2020, the parties finalized and the region. The establishment of both sultations on the Adden- and signed the Addendum (last party having units is well underway. dum to the existing signed in October), thus providing for the es-