Assessment Missions conducted in the Area of Forensics- To the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania (27 October  - 17 November 2009)

   

Outcomes of the Assessment Mission to Skopje, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (27 - 29 October 2009)

The purpose of these missions was to assess the capacities of the forensic laboratories and the national infrastructure in this area in order to identify gaps and shortfalls in their structure and operation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The assessment of the mission will be used along with the findings made through the laboratories' participation in the ICE to draft a proposal for further action in the area of forensics in the Regional Programme.

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has four national forensic entities:

  •  The Institute of Forensic Medicine, Criminology and Deonthology;
  •  The Department of Criminalistic Technique;
  •  Analytical Laboratory at the Faculty of Pharmacy; and
  •  Analytical Laboratory at the Ministry of Health.

During the course of the mission, visits were made to the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Criminology and Deonthology, the Department of Criminalistic Technique, and the Analytical Laboratory at the Ministry of Health in order to assess their capacities and compliance with international standards:

Following these visits the following recommendations and follow-up actions were put forth:

  • The cooperation among the forensic laboratories in the Balkans should be strengthened and the process for the exchange of forensic data should be formalized;
  • Training should be provided in: GS-MS use of equipment and analysis; HPLC use of equipment and analysis; laboratory techniques and CSI for crime technicians from regional centres; Quality Management System for the preparation of the laboratories for accreditation;
  • Scientific literature should be provided - UNODC manuals translated in Macedonian;
  • Drug and precursors field identification kits should be provided for training purposes and screening at the crime scene.

 

Outcomes of the Assessment Mission to Sarajevo and Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina (5 - 7 November 2009)

The purpose of these missions was to assess the capacities of the forensic laboratories and the national infrastructure in this area in order to identify gaps and shortfalls in their structure and operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The assessment of the mission will be used along with the findings made through the laboratories' participation in the ICE to draft a proposal for further action in the area of forensics in the Regional Programme.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has three national forensic entities.

Two are located in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

  • The Forensic Expertise Department Laboratory; and
  • The Agency for Forensic Examination and Expertise.

One is located in the Republic of Srpska (RS):

  • The Crime Technician Centre.

During the course of the mission, visits were made to all three entities. In addition, two meetings were held. One meeting took place with Mr. Sava Skrba, Head of Department at the BiH Indirect Taxation Authority located at the Regional Centre Sarajevo, regarding the cooperation of law enforcement officers at Border Control Points and forensic service providers. The other meeting took place with Dr. Tanja Maglov, the National Coordinator for Combating Drug Abuse, regarding the use of substitution therapy and hospitalization in the treatment of drug addicts.

Following these visits and meetings, the following recommendations and follow-up actions were put forth:

  • The cooperation among the forensic laboratories in the Balkans should be strengthened and the process for the exchange of forensic data should be formalized;
  • Toxicological laboratory(ies) for expertise should be established;
  • Training should be provided in: chemical analysis and methods for analysis; drug profiling; analysis of BS (drugs in urine and blood); procedures in caring out toxicological analysis; the use GS-MS training (3 months) and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer; Quality Management System for preparation of the laboratories for accreditation; and equipment maintenance;
  • A training curriculum for the lab's employees should be developed;
  • Reference samples (SM) should be provided; and
  • Scientific literature should be provided - UNODC (translated) manuals.
  • Drug and precursors field identification kit for training purposes and screening should be provided;
  • Equipment maintenance and necessary repairs should be undertaken;
  • Support for the procurement of equipment and the provision of training (e.g. best forensic practices at crime scene and in laboratory) for the Agency for Forensic Examination and Expertise should be provided; and
  • Health protection equipment should be provided.

Outcomes of the Assessment Mission to Podgorica and Danilovgrad, Montenegro (10 - 12 November 2009)

The purpose of these missions was to assess the capacities of the forensic laboratories and the national infrastructure in this area in order to identify gaps and shortfalls in their structure and operation in Montenegro. The assessment of the mission will be used along with the findings made through the laboratories' participation in the ICE to draft a proposal for further action in the area of forensics in the Regional Programme.

Montenegro has one national forensic entity: the Forensic Centre in Danilovgrag.

During the course of the mission, a visit was made to the Forensic Centre in Danilovgrag. In addition, numerous meetings were held regarding the use of forensics with relevant national institutions. A meeting took place with Mr. Miodrag Lakovic, head of the Drug Division of the Police Directorate of Montenegro, in order to assess the use of so-called crime technician, who is trained to preserve the crime scene, and the legal framework regarding the drug trafficking and precursors.

A meeting also took place with Mr. Zivko Sipic, the Director of the Police Academy, in regard to the training capacities of the academy in the area of forensics. An additional meeting was held with Ms. Jasna Seculic, head of the Drug Division in the Ministry of Health, which focused on the use of laboratories in the drug treatment and prevention. The final meeting took place with the head of the Drug Addicts Rehabilitation Centre in Kakaricka regarding the use of laboratories in their drug rehabilitation programme.

Following these visits and meetings, the following recommendations and follow-up actions were put forth:

  • The cooperation among the forensic laboratories in the Balkans should be strengthened and the process for the exchange of forensic data should be formalized;
  • Scientific literature should be provided, including MLD for drugs and precursors - UNODC (translated) manuals;
  • Drug and precursors field test identification kits should be provided;
  • Financial and technical assistance for mentoring and training at the Forensic Centre so that it can become accredited should be provided (for example, Slovenia could be a mentor partner); and
  • GS-MS and HPLC training (use and maintenance) should be provided.

 

Outcomes of the Assessment Mission to Tirana, Albania (16 - 17 November 2009)

The purpose of these missions was to assess the capacities of the forensic laboratories and the national infrastructure in this area in order to identify gaps and shortfalls in their structure and operation in Albania. The assessment of the mission will be used along with the findings made through the laboratories' participation in the ICE to draft a proposal for further action in the area of forensics in the Regional Programme.

Albania has two national forensic entities: the Institute for Legal Medicine and the Scientific Police Institute.

During the course of the mission, the two forensic entities were visited, and a number of meetings were held with representatives from relevant national institutions.

A meeting was held with a representative of the National Centre of Medicines, Drugs and Precursors, the national body responsible for issuing import/export licenses for controlled substances and precursors, including import licences for reference samples, control drugs and drugs for pharmaceutical distribution. Another meeting took place with Mr. Sokol Selfullari, head of the Anti-Narcotic Unit within the General Police Directorate, which is the unit charged with countering illicit drug and precursor trafficking, as well as carrying out international investigations.

A meeting was also held with Mr. Kostaq Beluri, the Deputy Head of the Serious Crime Prosecutor's Office. The meeting focused on the use of scientific results in criminal investigations. The relationship between the forensic laboratories and the Serious Crime Prosecutor's Office are more than satisfactory. In addition, a meeting took place with Mr. Peter O'Rourke, the Crime and Intelligence Advisor at the Police Assistance Mission of the European Community to Albania (PAMECA) III. Discussions at the meeting focused on PAMECA's provision of training to law enforcement officer in Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) and other forensic technique such as DNA analysis, inter alia.

Following these visits and meetings, the following recommendations and follow-up actions were put forth:

  • The cooperation among the forensic laboratories in the Balkans should be strengthened and the process of the exchange of forensic data should be formalized;
  • A network of forensic labs in South Eastern Europe should be established;
  • A Regional Forensic Centre for Specialized Analysis should be established;
  • Reference samples (SM and BS) should be provided;
  • Precursors reference samples should be provided;
  • Methods for the following should be provided: precursors analysis; LSD analysis; analysis of some excipients like sugar, mannitol; analysis of reagents and solvents adulterants used in illicit drug manufacture; and Quantitative methods with external standards
  • Scientific literature should be provided - UNODC Manuals for drug analysis (translated in Albanian).
  • Drug and precursors field identification tests for screening (the kits used for screening are produced by the lab) should be provided;
  • GS-MS equipment and training in its use and maintenance should be provided;
  • Training should be provided in Drug Clandestine laboratory investigation and dismantling;
  • Training should be provided in CSI;
  • Training should be provided in the use of GS-MS for BS analysis;
  • A Legal framework and best practices in drug sampling should be provided;
  • Manuals/procedures regarding sampling, evidence preservation, and ensuring the chain of custody should be provided;
  • Training should be provided in QAS.