11th SECI Center Anti-Drug Trafficking Task Force Meeting
Provided the strong commitment of Southeast European Member Countries to combat transborder crime, the SECI Center will continue supporting the national authorities to effectively disrupt drug trafficking in the region.
This steady willingness was reaffirmed today by the participants to the 11th Meeting of the SECI Center Anti-Drug Trafficking Task Force.
The number of cases and quantities of drug seizures, cross-border drug trafficking smuggling methods, as well as information on traffickers and routes were presented, as revealed from the Annual Regional Strategic Report, set up by the SECI Center. This report provides an overview of drug trafficking in Southeastern Europe during 2005 and it aims at supporting the Member States in their anti-drug efforts.
According to the findings of this report, which is based on post-seizure data sent by the SECI Center Member Countries, there were at least sixty tons of narcotics seized throughout Southeastern Europe in 2005.
Heroin seizures (exceeding 10 tons) almost doubled in comparison with the previous year. According to the seizure levels and the identified destination of drugs, the northern and central branches of the Balkan Route (via Turkey – Bulgaria – Romania – Hungary and Turkey – Bulgaria - Serbia and Montenegro/Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) appears to have been most used to smuggle Southwest Asian heroin to the Western Europe over the past year. Significant quantities of heroin were seized in Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Romania and Serbia and Montenegro.
Regional cocaine seizures levels appear to have increased in 2005 (more than 400 kilograms). Huge quantities of cannabis were seized during 2005 (32 tons). Considerable quantities of hashish were seized in Greece (18 tons). Overall amphetamine-type stimulants seizure levels are higher than in the previous period. Ecstasy regional seizures level increased more than three times in comparison with the year 2003, and six times compared to 2002.
These results can be ascribed to the enhanced international cooperation among law enforcement agencies and the prosecutors, as well as to the usage of special investigative methods such as controlled deliveries, undercover agents, etc. In this context, a special attention was paid to the witness protection program, through the assistance provided by the members of the South East European Prosecutors Advisory Group (SEEPAG).
During the meeting, it was agreed that regional drug interdiction operations would be further implemented by joint coordinated action of the law enforcement and judiciary authorities (police, customs, investigators and prosecutors) of the SECI Center Member and Observer Countries, supported by the US DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration).
Experts from the 12 SECI Member States, alongside with representatives of Austria, Azerbaijan, Euro-Atlantic Advisory Team Supporting GUAM States, France, Georgia, Interpol, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, UNMIK, the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe concerning the initiative to fight organized crime (SPOC), the United Kingdom, and the United States of America attended the meeting held at the Center’s headquarters in Bucharest.
This steady willingness was reaffirmed today by the participants to the 11th Meeting of the SECI Center Anti-Drug Trafficking Task Force.
The number of cases and quantities of drug seizures, cross-border drug trafficking smuggling methods, as well as information on traffickers and routes were presented, as revealed from the Annual Regional Strategic Report, set up by the SECI Center. This report provides an overview of drug trafficking in Southeastern Europe during 2005 and it aims at supporting the Member States in their anti-drug efforts.
According to the findings of this report, which is based on post-seizure data sent by the SECI Center Member Countries, there were at least sixty tons of narcotics seized throughout Southeastern Europe in 2005.
Heroin seizures (exceeding 10 tons) almost doubled in comparison with the previous year. According to the seizure levels and the identified destination of drugs, the northern and central branches of the Balkan Route (via Turkey – Bulgaria – Romania – Hungary and Turkey – Bulgaria - Serbia and Montenegro/Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) appears to have been most used to smuggle Southwest Asian heroin to the Western Europe over the past year. Significant quantities of heroin were seized in Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Romania and Serbia and Montenegro.
Regional cocaine seizures levels appear to have increased in 2005 (more than 400 kilograms). Huge quantities of cannabis were seized during 2005 (32 tons). Considerable quantities of hashish were seized in Greece (18 tons). Overall amphetamine-type stimulants seizure levels are higher than in the previous period. Ecstasy regional seizures level increased more than three times in comparison with the year 2003, and six times compared to 2002.
These results can be ascribed to the enhanced international cooperation among law enforcement agencies and the prosecutors, as well as to the usage of special investigative methods such as controlled deliveries, undercover agents, etc. In this context, a special attention was paid to the witness protection program, through the assistance provided by the members of the South East European Prosecutors Advisory Group (SEEPAG).
During the meeting, it was agreed that regional drug interdiction operations would be further implemented by joint coordinated action of the law enforcement and judiciary authorities (police, customs, investigators and prosecutors) of the SECI Center Member and Observer Countries, supported by the US DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration).
Experts from the 12 SECI Member States, alongside with representatives of Austria, Azerbaijan, Euro-Atlantic Advisory Team Supporting GUAM States, France, Georgia, Interpol, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, UNMIK, the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe concerning the initiative to fight organized crime (SPOC), the United Kingdom, and the United States of America attended the meeting held at the Center’s headquarters in Bucharest.
