BUCHAREST, February 20th – Representatives of law enforcement agencies of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia were trained by FBI specialists during an Organized Crime Workshop held last week in Croatia. “Enterprise Theory of Investigations, Cyber Crimes, Internet Fraud” training is part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation – SECI Center program and aims to specialize police representatives of Southeast Europe in fighting organized crime.
The FBI agents presented details about special investigative techniques and intelligence gathering. The meeting was a good opportunity to share each country’s approach on organized crime cases, as well. This was also revealed through a practical exercise which consisted of a trans-border case.
The SECI Regional Center for Combating Transborder Crime, headquartered in Bucharest, Romania, was launched in 2000, and is a unique operational organization in which police and customs liaison officers from 12 member states (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey) work together in direct cooperation, coordinate joint investigations and facilitate information exchange.
Besides the member countries, there are 21 observers, countries and organizations: Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, EUBAM, France, Georgia, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, Ukraine, UNDP Romania, the United Kingdom, UNMIK, and the United States of America.
Italy and the United States maintain permanent representation at the SECI Center, and Interpol and the World Customs Organization are permanent (non-resident) advisors to the SECI Center.
