Western Balkan Officials on Specialized Training in Disrupting Drug Trafficking, Migrant Smuggling, and Human Trafficking Networks 

22-25 September 2023, Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Modern national and transnational criminal networks are run like a business enterprise - they respond to the needs and demands of suppliers, customers, regulators and competitors and require funding, staff, premises and equipment to operate. These groups find ways to supply illicit goods and services and exploit victims of displacement while navigating the risks posed by law enforcement, as well as their competitors. Advanced analytical techniques can help government agencies to better detect, investigate and disrupt these illicit networks and their financial infrastructure.

To introduce a new approach to combating organized crime, the UNODC Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe, in collaboration with the UNODC Global Programme against Money Laundering, Proceeds of Crime and the Financing of Terrorism (GPML), Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section (HTMSS), Global Programme on Criminal Network Disruption (GPCD), and Passenger and Cargo Border Team (PCBT) delivered a comprehensive 4-day training course on Systems Analysis of Opiate Trafficking, Migrant Smuggling, and Human Trafficking Networks along the Balkan Route.

The training course was provided to 25 practitioners from various sectors, including law enforcement, customs administration, financial intelligence units, border police, and prosecution offices from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

The course featured a diverse range of analytical methodologies drawn from academia, industry, and military planning, all tailored for practical use in criminal network investigations. The training program was designed around region-specific scenarios, covering topics such as systems analysis, criminal business modeling, social network analysis, financial flows analysis, financial investigation planning, and criminal network disruption planning. Over half of the course focused on hands-on practical exercises, showcasing critical tools and techniques essential for law enforcement operations and complex investigations.

Furthermore, the training contributed to the ongoing research by the GPCD, including sessions on the 'Misuse of Hawala by Opiate Traffickers and Migrant Smugglers' helping participants to gain insights into how criminal entities exploit Hawala's vulnerabilities to mobilize proceeds from illicit activities.

This initial course is envisioned to pave the way for an extensive capacity-building program in the region which could be customized to specific countries or agencies, ensuring a focus on operational impact and applied to combating other illicit activities.

The event was made possible by the financial support from France, Sweden, U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the European Union.