South-Eastern Europe supported in countering drug trafficking

23-27 May 2022, Istanbul, Türkiye: UNODC organized a training on Advanced Vehicle Search for 12 border law enforcement officers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Kosovo under UNSCR 1244 in cooperation with the Turkish National Police staff from the Counter Narcotics Training Academy (NEA). Officers were exposed to advanced search techniques as utilised on the frontline of the fight against Narcotic trafficking by Turkish National Police. 

Officers were also briefed on current narcotic trafficking trends and challenges faced by Turkish Narcotic Police.  The importance of reporting emanating from this work and the benefits to strategic assessment and planning was highlighted by senior officers.

The next training will benefit Border Police and Customs Administration officers from Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania.  A regional training event on narcotic trafficking will then be planned later in 2022.

The training was delivered as part of enhanced border control efforts within the UNODC Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe and continues the developing relationship between UNODC and Turkish partners in NEA.

This activity contributes to SDG 16, particularly SDG 16.a on strengthening relevant national institutions for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.

https://sdg-tracker.org/peace-justice#targets