Prevention and Fighting against new synthetic drugs: Donation of speed-test kits to the Anti-Drug Trafficking Unit and Border Interagency Unit at the Skopje International Airport

 

7 August 2024, Skopje, North Macedonia - The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) donated essential technical equipment to the Skopje Police Anti-Drug Trafficking Unit and the Border Interagency Unit at Skopje International Airport  as part of its ongoing partnership with the Ministry of the Interior of North Macedonia.

The donation ceremony, aiming at improving capacity of North Macedonia in the prevention and fighting against the diffusion of new synthetic and other dangerous drugs was attended by Mr. Aleksandar Janev, Director of the Public Security Bureau at the Ministry of Interior.

The donation included advanced multi-use drug-kits and precursor-kits, designed to enhance the effectiveness of drug prevention and identification efforts within the Anti-Drug Unit  of the Skopje Police Department. Mr. Janev stated that the Ministry of Interior is deploying the new drug kits in support of the recent amendments to Article 20 of the Law on Misdemeanors Related to Public Order and Peace. The amendment will enable law enforcement to test small quantities of narcotics, which are not currently subject to criminal investigation under the revised Article 215, paragraph 6 of the Criminal Code of North Macedonia.

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Ms. Valentina Anchevska, OiC Head of Office, UNODC in Skopje, added that “UNODC is deeply committed to supporting the efforts of North Macedonia in combating drug trafficking and all other forms of organized crime. Today’s donation of drug detection equipment to the Skopje Police Department and the Border Interagency Unit at Skopje International Airport  is a testament to our ongoing long-term partnership and shared goals of enhancing law enforcement capabilities in the country and in the region to offer citizen better and safer words from drugs and crime”.

During the meeting with UNODC, Director Janev expressed his gratitude for the valuable contribution and praised the excellent cooperation between UNODC and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of North Macedonia. He emphasized the need to further strengthen this partnership, particularly in technical and educational aspects, to enhance the fight against illicit drug trafficking and organized crime and improve the overall effectiveness of crime prevention efforts in the region.

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This donation marks another significant step in the collaborative efforts between UNODC and the authorities of North Macedonia to combat drug-related crime and ensure safer communities.