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BORDER POLICE OF BiHYEAR 2019

www.granpol.gov.ba | Border Police of BiH | 3

Contents

Introduction of Zoran Galić, Director of Border Police of BiH 5

Interview with Fahrudin Halač, Deputy Director of BP BiH 6

Events at the border 10

Maturity of BP BiH 13

VIII-1 and IX class of cadets of BP BiH 15

Increased infl ux of migrants caused complex situation at border 18

Reportage: In the fi eld with police offi cers 22

Operational Actions of BP BiH 26

Forged documents: New challenges for border police offi cers 28

Cooperation with the Government of the FR of Germany: New donation of specialist equipment 30

Continuation of the long-standing partnership with the Government of USA 32

Support of People’s Republic of China: Donated equipment worth about BAM 9.5 million 33

Cooperation with FRONTEX 34

Cooperation with IOM 36

Cooperation with DCAF 38

Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative 39

The fi rst phase of the CIAT Project successfully implemented 41

Events 43

Cooperation with the MoIs of neighbouring countries 45

Cooperation in BiH 47

Implementation of three important projects for advancement of BP BiH 50

Interview with Stjepan Skoko, Commander of Support and Control Unit of FO North-West 52

Sport activities 54

6Halač

He was appointed

to the position of

Deputy Director of

Border Police of BiH

by decision of the

Council of Ministers

of BiH on 4 May 2018.

15Cadets

Solemn oath-taking

ceremonies of

VIII-1 and IX classes

of cadets were

organized in front

of the BP BiH Head

Offi ce building in

Sarajevo

18Illegal migration BP BiH undertakes

measures by

maximum

engagement of

available human

resources and

material-technical

means

22ReportageWe visited BPUs

Bijeljina and

Zvornik, which,

in addition to

several other Units,

are particularly

burdened with

illegal migration

Prepared and edited by:

Translation to English:

Photographs:

Design and DTP:

Print:

Sanja Pržulj, Sanela Dujković and Jasminka MujićSandra Dujmušić and Ivana Kušić Igor Bajić Igor Sivjakov, Alma Huremović and Admir BezdrobFront page: Igor SivjakovJasmin Leventa SP Kopikomerc

Sarajevo, 2019

MINISTRY OF SECURITY OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

BORDER POLICE OF BIH

THE DIRECTOR’S CABINET

CALL US!

Head Offi ce of Border Police

of BiH

SARAJEVO

Reufa Muhića 2ATel. 033/755-300

Offi ce for Professional Standards

and Internal Control

SARAJEVO

Reufa Muhića 2A Tel. 033/755-241

Field Offi ce for Airports

SARAJEVO

Braće Mulića bb Tel. 033/776-200

Field Offi ce North-East

BIJELJINA

Knez Ivo od Semberije bb Tel. 055/224-650

Field Offi ce North-West

B.GRADIŠKA/GRADIŠKA

Avde Ćuka bb Tel. 051/825-664

Field Offi ce West

BOSANSKO GRAHOVO

Vojislava Ivetića bb Tel. 034/851-015

Field Offi ce South

ČAPLJINA

Zgoni bbТеl. 036/811-014

Field Offi ce East

VIŠEGRAD

Gavrila Principa bb Tel. 058/633-015

www.granpol.gov.bae-mail: [email protected]

fax: 033/755-305

Director’s introduction


Dear all!Here is a new edition of the Bro-

chure of Border Police of BiH (BP BiH) for 2019. In the introduction, I want to point out that behind us is one of the toughest years, given the prob-lems we have been coming across, and the complex situation at the bor-der of BiH.

In the year of its maturity,with high pressure from illegal migrants, BP BiH faced with the problem of missing more than 450 police offi -cers, which has been reduced to a certain percentage since the admis-sion of new generation of cadets in March 2019. There is a recruitment procedure for admission of a new generation of 100 cadets in the rank of ‘Police Offi cer’.

A number of offi cers and special-ists from other organizational units of BP BiH, performing border surveil-lance activities, were reallocated on the parts of the border that are par-ticularly burdened, but the largest number of offi cers carry out border control at 83 border crossing points in BiH. Along with the measure of de-terring illegal migrants, members of BP BiH continuously conduct patrols, surveillance and observation, collect intelligence and security data, set ambushes and checkpoints, and con-duct mixed patrols along the com-mon state border of BiH with neigh-bouring countries.

Regardless of the problems in 2018, with maximum eff orts of offi -cers, the number of detected forged documents and individuals wanted by BiH and international authorities, on various grounds, was increased. There was a greater number of crim-inal off ences recorded, particularly with regard to smuggling of peo-ple, and a large number of reports were submitted to the competent

prosecutors’ offi ces. Along with the mentioned, there are ongoing activities on cutting off organized criminal groups smuggling people across the BiH territory, and in 2018, successful actions were carried out: ‘Taurus’, ‘OX’ and ‘Centar’, and in 2019 – ‘Marakan’.

I am proud of the offi cers who, since the introduction of reinforced measures, have been giving their maximum and, at the same time, I in-sist that they continue to do their job with the utmost dedication and sac-rifi ce, as this is expected of a police offi cer of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

I am obliged to express my grati-tude for the support we have had in 2018/2019 from the police and other competent BiH authorities, as well as the governments of the USA, the FR of Germany, the PR of China and the Czech Republic. But the fact is that a more adequate response on the eastern border of BiH requires a lot bigger number of offi cers and sophisticated equipment, without which the situation with migrants on the border will be further complicat-ed, and thus within BiH as well.

While focusing on keeping illegal migration under control in 2019, we continue with all activities to prevent cross border crime, with particular emphasis on zero tolerance and the fi ght against corruption, abuse of of-fi cial position and negligent work in the service.

In 2019, BP BiH has been working on implementation of several im-portant projects: establishment of systems for control and recording of motor vehicles at border crossing points, reconstruction and extension of the video surveillance system at 59 international border crossing points, as well as electronic records of sector fi les and event logs.

DIRECTOR

Chief Inspector General

Zoran Galić

Interview

6 | Border Police of BiH | www.granpol.gov.ba

Fahrudin Halač, Inspector Gen-eral, was appointed to the posi-tion of Deputy Director of Bor-

der Police of BiH by decision of the Council of Ministers of BiH on 4 May 2018. In conversation with us, he shared his police experience, said something more about BP BiH activ-ities to prevent illegal migration, and the results of this agency. He speaks, inter alia, about suppression of orga-nized crime, problems faced by this police agency, cooperation with other police agencies, but also about how he spends his free time.

When and where did you start your

police career? How was it develo-

ping?

I started my police career 26 years ago at the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of the Interior. I worked as a police offi cer, shift chief and Assistant Commander at Police Station Stari Grad. After that, I was appointed Commander of PS Hadžići, then Commander, and later

Head of the PA Centar. After that, I was appointed to the position of Head of the Special Unit of the Sarajevo Can-ton MoI. It is evident from the above that my police career has developed in a normal course, typical for this job, i.e. in the police career, I have passed path from the police work in the fi eld, development and training at various places of work, to the management of the Police Administration and Spe-cial Unit.

When it comes to police work,

you’ve come to a state police agen-

cy with specifi c border-related job.

Can you make a parallel between

these jobs and say if they have

anything in common?

BP BiH has its own opus of action and specifi c tasks that are mainly related to the border, but also to some other competence and procedures. Although they are diff erent compe-tence and activities, the police job that I previously performed in the

SC MoI, especially from the aspect of management, and the job I currently perform in BP BiH have many com-mon points, namely the fi ght against all forms of crime. First and foremost, I fi nd that work in any police agency is similar and that they exist in order to prevent any action that is not in compliance with the law. The experi-ence I gained working in the SC MoI helped me get into the issues and responsibilities of BP BiH fast.

You are the new Deputy Director

of BP BiH and very soon you found

yourself in a crisis situation with

illegal migrants in BiH. What did

BP BiH do regarding this issue and

what is the current situation the-

rewith?

It is well known that, since the end of 2017 until today, the territory of BiH has been exposed to increased migratory pressure, and it is to be expected that this trend will con-tinue since, from the beginning of

Interviewed by: Jasminka Mujić

FAHRUDIN HALAČ, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF BP BiH

SECURE AND CONTROLLED BORDERS ARE OUR PRIORITY

We undertake a series of preventive and repressive measures and actions to eff ectively carry out border control and border surveillance


Halač: I expect the offi cers to execute their

tasks in a timely and accurate manner, and to

respect regulations

2019, the number of migrants trying to use BiH as a transit area to go to the European Union countries has increased. The largest number of ille-gal crossings of the state border were recorded at the entrance to BiH at the border with Serbia and Montene-gro, in the area of Bijeljina, Trebinje, Bileća, Čajniče, Zvornik, Višegrad and Foča, whereas illegal crossings of the border at the exit from BiH were recorded at the border with Croatia, most often in the area of responsi-bility of the Units Gradiška, Izačić

and Velika Kladuša. Attempts to ille-gally cross the state border towards Croatia were also recorded in Units Doljani, Gorica and Kamensko. The largest number of illegal migrants come from Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Palestine, India, Libya, Algeria, Bangladesh, Tunisia, Morocco and Turkey.With the increased use of techni-cal means, by constant presence at critical points and with help of police offi cers from other agencies, we try to prevent illegal crossings of

the state border. On the border sec-tions with greater migratory pres-sure, offi cers and specialized equip-ment are allocated from other BP BiH organizational units for border surveillance. Along with the mea-sure of deterring illegal migrants, BP BiH members continuously carry out patrols, surveillance and observation, collect intelligence-security data, set ambushes and checkpoints, and implement joint patrols along the common border of BiH with neigh-bouring countries.

Moreover, we act in other ways such as: participation in the Opera-tive Staff for Migration Issues in BiH, through which we have initiated and coordinated a series of activities aimed at protecting the state border, such as employment of new staff in BP BiH, additional engagement of police offi cers from other BiH police agencies or other forces to assist in

guarding the BiH border. In addition, we have suggested that the problem of movement of migrants through BiH could be solved through amend-ments to the Law on Aliens of BiH, by shortening the asylum application deadline, and amendments to the Law on Police Offi cials of BiH, regard-ing redeployment and engagement of police offi cers.On this occasion, I want to praise the members of BP BiH who have been providing their maximum and, despite the unfavourable working conditions, responded to all chal-lenges, as well as the offi cers of other agencies who provide assistance in the protection of the state border.

The Bosnian-Herzegovinian atti-

tude is that all related authorities

in our country and other countries

should be more actively involved

in the fi ght against illegal migrati-

on on the so - called Balkan Route.

Are there any concrete results?

We undertake a series of preventive and repressive measures and actions

to eff ectively carry out border control and border surveillance, all in accor-dance with applicable regulations and international agreements. BP BiH will not be able to solve the current situation with illegal migrants inde-pendently and with existing capac-ities. In 2018, with donations from Germany and China and from its own budget, BP BiH renewed part of the specialist equipment for surveillance and border checks, and the Czech Republic’s donation is expected, but for a serious solution it is necessary to have more people or equipment available to police authorities in the EU countries, like neighbouring Cro-atia. The latest and more advanced specialist equipment would certainly contribute to more eff ective surveil-lance of the state border.

You attach great importan-

ce to cooperation between

police agencies. How do

you assess cooperation

with colleagues in BiH

and in the region?

As far as coopera-tion with other po-lice agencies in BiH and in the region is concerned, it is at a satisfactory lev-el and so far there have been no problems in that regard. In 2018, we ceded 1 866 cas-es to other com-petent authorities in BiH and 419 cas-es and information to the authorities of neighbouring countries. This confi rms the success-ful implementation of the Integrated Border Man-agement Strategy in BiH and the commitment of BP BiH to develop partner relations with other agen-cies. Special attention is also paid to development and promotion of interna-

tional cooperation. Conducting joint patrols gives concrete results in pre-venting illegal migration and smug-gling of various kinds of goods. In ad-dition, they proved to be very eff ec-tive in strengthening mutual coopera-tion, trust and information exchange. Over the past year, 3 495 common patrols were conducted with neigh-bouring countries. As an example of good regional cooperation, projects of blocking of places suitable for ille-gal crossing of the state border with neighbouring countries should be emphasised. Further cooperation of police agencies in BiH, as well as inter-national cooperation with border po-lice of neighbouring states and coun-tries in the region, is the most eff ec-tive mechanism for controlling ille-gal migration and creating controlled

and secure borders.

You were appointed Deputy

Director of BP BiH more than a

year ago. How do you evaluate

the work of this agency

during that period?

Members of BP BiH have achieved good results over the past year, despite the maximum engage-ment of police offi -cers in preventing illegal crossings of the state border due to increased migration pres-sure on the territo-ry of BiH. Progress has been made in

almost all areas, in-cluding search activ-

ity, prevention of smug-gling of people and nar-cotic drugs, detection of forged documents, etc. Members of this agency have temporarily seized large quantities of ciga-rettes and cut tobacco, as well as a signifi cant quantity of textile goods and technical products whose total market val-ue is estimated at more

than BAM one million.


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“Cooperation of police agencies in BiH, and with border police of neighbouring states and countries in the region, is the most eff ective mechanism for controlling illegal migration


BP BiH constantly faces a staff

shortage problem, and thus the

problem with the organization of

work. Is there a way to solve this

problem and what is the situation

therein?

The biggest problem for this police agency is still understaffi ng, which burdened the work of this agency even before the situation with migrants. On several occasions, we have asked from the competent authorities to support the fi lling of all vacancies of police offi cers of BP BiH who carry out border checks and sur-veillance activities, by extraordinary recruitment and training of additional cadets, or that, due to the urgency, a number of jobs are fi lled by tempo-rary external transfer of police offi -cers from other police agencies. At the beginning of April, 100 cadets of Ninth Class took a solemn oath and were admitted to a 12-month trial. There is an ongoing procedure for recruitment of the Tenth class of BP BiH cadets, one hundred cadets in the rank of ‘Police Offi cer’. We have been admitting new staff , but we cannot compensate for the disadvan-tage, since at the same time, almost the same number of employees went to retirement. The support of all state authorities, competent authorities and police agencies is necessary for an adequate response. In line with the Anti-Corruption

Strategy 2015-2019, BP BiH ena-

cted the Plan of BP BiH to Combat

Corruption 2018-2019, which sys-

tematically and comprehensively

encompasses anti-corruption acti-

vities. Can you say more about the

conducted anti-corruption activi-

ties?

BP BiH carries out activities in accor-dance with this Plan. During 2018, BP BiH received ten complaints about corruptive activities of police offi -cers and employees of BP BiH, about which the prescribed actions were undertaken in cooperation with the BiH Prosecutor’s Offi ce. All regis-tered cases of unlawful conduct of our members, as well as appeals, are investigated and prescribed mea-sures are taken, in accordance with

legal regulations. We are determined to fi ght corruption within our own ranks as well, which is indicated by the fact that four police offi cers were temporarily suspended in 2018 for suspicions that they committed cor-ruptive actions, and in one case the penalty sanction - termination of employment was imposed.

Are there enough women in the

police today?

Today, there are women in the police, but I think the number is insuffi -cient. However, the situation is much better than it was before. Signifi -cant progress has been made in this regard, but insuffi cient to compete with other countries or the EU states. I’m glad that more and more women choose the police job. It is up to us to provide them with the same sta-tus and rights as men, and that there is no discrimination in this respect. The presence of women in the police has its advantages. When I say this, I mean that their presence is very use-ful in the work when there are cases of smuggling and traffi cking, fam-ily violence, rape victims... because women victims will always rather talk to a female police offi cer, and surely women do these jobs better than their male colleagues.

How did employees accept you,

and what do you expect from your

employees?

Employees have accepted me well. Their relationship with me is correct, as is my attitude towards them. I pri-marily expect them to execute their duties and responsibilities in a timely

and accurate manner, to respect our internal regulations, to be fair to their colleagues and to achieve the best results in our work with the common eff ort and commitment.

Any hobbies?

I am a family man so I spend most of my free time with my family. In leisure time I like to go on a moun-tain, go for a walk, have coff ee with my friends, read a book ... You could say that my hobby is that very walk along Bosnian mountains, because that is the best way for me to relax.

You are married and have children.

How do they put up with your new

function?

The family is already used to the police work I do, which always has some sudden demands and activ-ities. However, I try to spend a lot of time with them, so that we have managed to fi nd a balance we are all satisfi ed with.

And for the end, what would you

tell the police offi cers of BP BiH?

I would say to police offi cers of BP BiH to do their job honourably, honestly and seriously, to be collegial and to be at hand to their colleagues when needed. For the good and successful work, but also for the peace and inner satisfaction of every worker, including police offi cers, work atmosphere and interpersonal relationships among employees are very important. For this reason it is necessary to estab-lish and cultivate the correct relations with colleagues, and in that case the results will not be missed.

Biographical sketchFahrudin Halač, Inspector General, was appointed to the position of Deputy

Director of Border Police of BiH by the decision of the Council of Ministers

of BiH on 4 May 2018. Since 1993, he has been in police structures, carrying

out diff erent managerial functions in the SC MoI. During his police career, he

has been commended several times by the state, federal and cantonal levels

of government. He graduated from the Faculty of Political Sciences of the

University of Sarajevo, as a graduated Political Scientist, and post-graduated

from the Criminal Law Department of the Faculty of Law of the University of

Sarajevo, as a Specialist in Criminal Law. Fahrudin Halač was born on 3 June

1969 in Sarajevo. He is married and is the father of two children.


Events at the borderPrepared by: Jasminka Mujić

Despite complex situation at the state border caused by migrant

crisis, offi cers of Border Police of Bos-nia and Herzegovina, working on prevention of all forms of cross-bor-der crimes, successfully completed the year. Namely, during 2018, they seized 434.2 kilograms of marijuana, 10.9 kilograms of ecstasy, a small quantity of speed, hashish, cocaine, and 3795 various tablets containing psychotropic substances.

The biggest seizure was in the beginning of December 2018, when offi cers of BP BiH seized 211 kilo-grams of marijuana in the area of Bileća. Four citizens of Montenegro attempted to smuggle the drugs

from Montenegro to BiH. They hid 198 packs of marijuana in several places in a Mercedes, with BiH reg-istration plates, while two vehicles, with Montenegrin registration plates, were the forerunner, i.e. were in the role of a “cleaner”. Citizens of Monte-negro were handed over to the BiH Prosecutor’s Offi ce.

In mid-August 2018, offi cers of BP BiH, at entry to BiH at Border Cross-ing Brod, during control of Skoda detected 10.9 kilograms of narcotic drugs ecstasy. The vehicle with BiH registration plates was driven by a cit-izen of BiH. Offi cers detected the nar-cotic drugs hidden in ten packages in the vehicle’s tank. Detailed inspec-

tion of the vehicle that narcotic drug was detected in, was conducted by police offi cers who were using endo-scopes (device that enables optical inspection of vehicles’ interior which is diffi cult to access).

In April 2018, offi cers of BP BiH, in two separate cases seized 58 kilo-grams of marijuana in the area of Trebinje. These are some examples of narcotic drug seizures. Speak-ing about criminal off ences regard-ing narcotic drug in 2018, offi cers of BP BiH submitted to competent prosecutors’ offi ces 81 offi cial report against 91, while 105 people were prosecuted by competent courts for 105 minor off ences.

WORK RESULTS

More than 400 kilograms of marijuana seized Temporarily seized cigarettes, cut tobacco, textile goods and technical equipment worth more than a million BAM

Marijuana plants seized in Velika Kladuša In the beginning of September 2018, in place Sta-bandža, near Velika Kladuša, within Operational Action ‘Droga’, offi cers of Border Police Unit Velika Kladuša detected 55 plants of marijuana, which weighed 70 kilograms. A citizen of BiH was interro-gated as a suspected person for ‘unauthorised pro-duction and sale of narcotic drugs’.

10.9 kilograms of narcotic drug ecstasy detected in a Skoda

Marijuana plants weighing 70 kg seized in Velika Kladuša

211 kilograms of marijuana seized in the area of Bileća

� e detected marijuana plantation

Marijuana stems planted seized in the vicinity of the river SavaIn mid-July 2018, offi cers of BPU Brčko detected 38 marijuana stems. The stems, of 15-100cm height, were planted in the woods in the vicinity of the river Sava. Prosecutor of the BiH Brčko District Prosecutor’s Offi ce was informed about this and, following his order, the marijuana stems were seized.

Attempted to transfer euros and dollars across the border In mid-September 2018, offi cers of BP BiH at Sarajevo International Air-port, prevented attempted illegal transfer of EUR 51370, on a fl ight to Vienna. The money was detected upon WTMD control of the citizen of Untied States of America. In mid-July 2018, on a fl ight to Istanbul, our police offi cers prevented a citizen of Turkey in illegal transfer of EUR 40000, and in the end of May, they detected USD 34500 and EUR 2500 in posses-sion of Libyan citizen. In the end of December 2018, they prevented a cit-izen of Italy attempting to transfer illegally EUR 66550. All of them did not poses documentation required for transfer of the money across the state border and they were handed over to offi cers of Indirect taxation author-ity of BiH.

More than 15 978 packs of cigarettes were seized In the beginning of Novem-ber 2018, offi cers of BPU Trebinje prevented illegal traffi c of 7 998 packs of cig-arettes Monte with excise stamps of Montenegro. The cigarettes were detected upon border control of a Golf with BiH registration plates in the area of Bileća. The vehicle was driven by a citizen of BiH. In mid-May 2018, within Operational Action ‘Bastion’, offi cers of this Unit prevented smuggling of 7 980 packs of diff erent brand cigarettes without excise stamps.

7 998 packs of cigarettes temporarily seized

Part of money detected at Sarajevo International Airport

Czechs attempted to smuggle tablets, drugs, heroin, speed...

In mid-December 2018, offi cers of BP BiH apprehended two citizens of the Czech Republic. Offi cers of BP BiH at Border Crossing Point Gradiška, members of BP BiH checked their lug-gage and found 1 063 Rhinostop and Rinasek tablets, 6 204 grams of Rhi-nostop tablets and 1 836 grams of Rinasek tablets in bulk packing. More-over, they found plastic syringes fi lled with substance resembling heroin and speed, a smaller quantity of nar-cotic drug marijuana, drug consump-tion kit, and several tablet and powder preparations used in bodybuilding. The Czech nationals were controlled on a bus that travels between Sara-jevo and Zagreb. They were handed over the BiH Prosecutor’s offi ce.

Smuggling of 28 000 packs of cigarettes in the vehicle In the end of Oc tober 2018, offi cers of BP BiH prevented smuggling of 28 000 packs of various types of ciga-rettes without excise stamps. Smuggling was discovered in the area of Gacko, when a citizen of Montene-gro and the Republic of Serbia attempted to smuggle cigarettes from Monte-negro to BiH. The market value of smuggled cigarettes is estimated at about BAM 140 000.

Tablets, drugs and other preparations seized at BCP Gradiška

� e market value of smuggled cigarettes is estimated at about BAM 140 000


764 people wanted by BiH police, courts and Interpol, were apprehended In 2018, the state border of BiH was crossed by 51985604 people, includ-ing 26086783 people registered at entry and 25898821 people regis-tered at exit from BiH. Compering to 2017 traffi c of people increased by six percent.

In 2018, there were 4164 attempts or crossings of the state border of 1 964 people, for which the compe-tent authorities had issued warrants, searches, prohibitions of crossing the state border, or who are security-wise interesting people. This is by 13% more than in 2017. When it comes to search activities during 2018, offi -cers of BP BiH apprehended 623 peo-ple that were wanted by courts or police bodies in BiH, as well as 141 people wanted by Interpol. Among them there were convicts and sus-pects for the most serious criminal off ences, such as: murder, rape, sex-ual intercourse with a child and other sex crimes against children, people smuggling, forgery of money, unau-thorised production and trade in nar-cotic drugs, robbery, etc.

Also, offi cers of BP BiH detected 154 BiH documents wanted based on diff erent grounds, or announced by competent authorities as annulled/invalid, i.e. stolen/lost and 306 for-eign documents wanted by Interpol. 75 vehicles were temporarily seized based on diff erent grounds. Offi cers of this agency temporarily seized larger amounts of cigarettes, cut tobacco as well as signifi cant amount of textile goods and technical equip-ment in estimated market value of more than a million BAM.

Textile goods seized in the area of Brčko and BijeljinaIn the beginning of December 2018, in the area of Brčko and Bijeljina, offi -cers of BP BiH seized large quantity of textile goods of protected brands Adidas, Nike, Hugo Boss, Tommy Hil-fi ger. The goods which was trans-ported by BiH citizens, has been seized.

� e seized goods

Cigarettes seized from BiH citizen In the end of May 2018, offi -cers of BPU Gorica seized from a BiH citizen 5 750 packs of cigarettes FM with no excise stamps. He was controlled in

the area of Posušje. Report was submitted against him to the BiH Prosecutor’s Offi ce, on the grounds for suspicion that he committed criminal off ence ‘Illicit trade in excise goods’.

Prevented smuggling of livestock In the end of March 2019, offi cers of BPU Zvornik prevented two citizens in smug-gling of livestock (lambs) from the Repub-lic of Serbia to BiH. The smuggling was detected during surveillance in the border area of Zvornik.

5 750 packs of cigarettes seized

� e smuggled lambs

567 bullets were hidden in the vehicle In mid-July 2018, offi cers of BPU Trebinje in cooperation with offi -cers of Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska seized 567 rifl e bullets of diff erent calibre during control of a Passat with BiH regis-tration plates, in the area of Gacko. The ammunition was discovered in a vehicle driven by a citizen of BiH.

� e seized bullets

Prevented smuggling of music equipment from Serbia to BiHIn the beginning of May 2018, offi cers of BPU Zvornik prevented smug-gling of music equip-ment from Republic of Serbia to BiH. Two citi-zens of BiH attempted to smuggle the goods in a boat over the river Drina.


Events at the border


Border Police of Bosnia and Her-zegovina was established 18 years ago, as the fi rst multieth-

nic police agency at the BiH level. Its maturity was celebrated on 6 June 2018 with a ceremony held in front of the Head Offi ce building in Sara-jevo. The presence of a large number of invitees has made this signifi cant event magnifi cent and, once again, confi rmed that BP BiH enjoys a high respect in the police structures of the country and the region, and is a reli-able partner in combating all forms of crime.

‘When someone reaches the age of 18, then this in life implies a cer-tain kind of maturity and ability to undertake appropriate indepen-dent activities. This agency is such today, organizationally and function-ally stable and, in spite of all the dif-fi culties in work, effi cient in execut-ing entrusted tasks’, said Director BP BiH Zoran Galić in his address to the audience.

Deputy Minister of Security of BiH, Mijo Krešić, also addressed the audi-ence, saying that BP BiH is one of the best police agencies in our country that has a very complex task.

At this ceremony, Galić and Krešić presented acknowledgments to police offi cers, civil servants and employees of BP BiH, for their special contribution to the work.

Golden and silver badges

Director Galić handed acknowl-edgements for special merits in work and explicit contribution to raising reputation of BP BiH to civil servants Dubravka Tešić, from Sec-tion for Financial Matters, and Elvira Ramić, from Section for Legal Matters and Writing Offi ce, in Administra-tion Department, as well as to Men-sudin Fejzić from Communications Department in Operations Admin-istration. Acknowledgements were also handed to employees Aleksan-dar Pandžić from Communications

Events

MATURITY OF BORDER POLICE OF BiH

Acknowledgements were handed to police offi cers, civil servants and employees

18 YEARS AGO, THE FIRST MULTIETHNIC LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE COUNTRY

Invitees at the ceremony

Speech of Director Galić

Prepared by: Jasminka Mujić

Department in Operations Admin-istration, Ljiljana Buntić from Border Police Unit Doljani, Daliborka Jovanić from BPU Dobrljin, and Adisa Salih-bašić from Field Offi ce North-West Gradiška.

Deputy Minister Mijo Krešić handed ‘Silver Police Badges’ to Munib Čorbić, Commander of BPU Airport Sarajevo, and Darko Kapeta-nović, Investigations Inspector at the Central Investigation Offi ce of BP BiH. ‘Silver Police Badge’ was also handed to Pero Milivojević, Head of Opera-tions Centre of BP BiH, while, ‘Golden Police Badges’ were handed to Ivan Mišetić, Commander of BPU Gorica, and Senad Lizde, Assistant Head of Field Offi ce South – Čapljina.

Minister of Security of BiH awarded ‘Golden Police Badge’ post-

humously to tragically deceased police offi cer Radoš Drakula, who died of injuries suff ered in a traffi c accident while leaving to perform his offi cial duties. Radoš Drakula was performing duties of Inspector for Data Processing and Analysis at the Central Investigation Offi ce. Deputy Minister of Security of BiH handed

the acknowledgement to Nevenka Drakula, the deceased colleague’s wife.

Collective reward ‘Flag of the Min-istry of Security of BiH’ was handed to Professional Standards and Inter-nal Control Offi ce, and Relief Emblem of BiH was handed to BPU Trebinje.

To the proposal of Director of BP BiH, Minister of Security of BiH enacted decisions on reward-ing police offi cers and organiza-tional units of BP BiH. Commenda-tion letters for special contribution, achieved work results and profes-sionalism in performing duties and tasks were handed to Dejan Jovičić from BPU Zvornik, Saša Glamočak from Support and Control Unit of Field Offi ce North-West - Gradiška, Amir Hadžiabdić from BPU Airport Sarajevo, Ante Perković from Support and Control Unit of Field Offi ce West – Bosansko Grahovo, Samir Sken-derović from BPU Velika Kladuša, and Marin Pejdo from Professional Stan-dards and Internal Control Offi ce. ‘Relief Emblem of BiH’ was handed to Aleksandar Krsmanović, Commander of BPU Trebinje

Vladimir Popović, Head of the Professional Standards and Internal Control Offi ce, was handed ‘Flag of the Ministry of Security of BiH’Senad Lizde was handed ‘Golden Police Badge’

“Minister of Security of BiH awarded ‘Golden Police Badge’posthumously to tragically deceased police offi cer Radoš Drakula, who died of injuries suff ered in a traffi c accident while leaving to perform his offi cial duties


Events


For many years Border Police of BiH is facing lack of police offi -cers, which is why the fi naliza-

tion of training of two generations of cadets is among the most import-ant events in regard to strengthen-ing of this agency capacities in 2018 and 2019. Solemn oath-taking cer-emonies of VIII-1 and IX classes of cadets were organized in front of the BP BiH Head Offi ce building in Sara-jevo, in the presence of invitees, par-ents, friends and media representa-tives. Within 1336 teaching classes during the training at Agency for Education and Professional Train-ing in Mostar, BP BiH cadets had 17 educational courses: police tasks and

mandates, handling weapons and shooting skills, crim-tactics, technics and methods, traffi c safety and driv-ing police vehicle, physical education and the fi rst aid, constitutional order and state administration system, psy-chology, criminal law, misdemeanour

law, criminal procedural law, infor-matics and communications, human rights and English language), as well as tasks and competences of BP BiH.

VIII-1 class cadets took the oath

In August 2018, a hundred of cadets who attended basic police training at the fi rst level at the Agency for Education and Profes-sional Training in Mostar, and, by defending their fi nal work, became eligible for the rank of ‘Police offi -cer’, took a solemn oath. At the Cer-emony, Director Zoran Galić said to young colleagues who will be

“

VIII-1 AND IX CLASS OF BP BiH CADETS

TWO HUNDRED OFFICERS IN THE RANK OF “POLICE OFFICER”� e best cadets: Benjamin Mešanović and Ashar Matoruga Prepared by: Sanela Dujković

After taking of solemn oath, cadets have been admitted for a 12-month trial work

Events


Events

Deputy Minister of Security of BiH addressed the attendees

� e most successful cadet - Benjamin Mešanović

“

carrying out border control and bor-der area surveillance activities:

“I do not doubt your determi-nation and commitment to accept all the professional challenges. Do proudly wear our police uniform and be a role model in your family and the whole community. Your profes-sion is very important and demand-ing, and you are expected to per-manently work on your professional training, legally and consistently, without making any diff erence to anyone.”

Deputy Minister of Security of BiH, Mijo Krešić, addressed the present

attendees, evaluating BP BiH as one of the best police agencies in BiH. He welcomed the cadets to the secu-rity system of BiH, the BiH Ministry of Security and BP BiH.

“You are the new force of BP BiH. You are taking an oath and you should be aware that you are a mir-ror of BiH, and that the image of BiH is being built through you. Be fair, respect the law and protect the border and interests of BiH,” Krešić pointed out before the cadets took the oath.

During the period of seven months cadets attended training at

the Agency for Education and Profes-sional Training in Mostar and passed three phases of educational process: theoretical classes with practical exercises, expert-operational train-ing and situational training. Based on Decision of Teaching Council of the Agency, Benjamin Mešanović was declared the best cadet.

The new force of BP BiH

In the end of March 2019, IX class cadets took solemn oath in Sarajevo. Director of BP BiH addressed the attendees of the Ceremony.

Be fair, respect the law and protect the border and interests of BiH Mijo Krešić

“The new 100 police offi cers will be of great help to refresh our staff and, to some extent, fi ll our capaci-ties. By introducing additional forces into our ranks, we will create condi-tions to respond more eff ectively to the current situation caused by irreg-ular entry of migrants” – emphasized Zoran Galić.

The attendees were also addressed by Assistant Minister of Security of BiH, Ermin Pešto, who welcomed the cadets who took the oath before him.

“Trained police offi cers represent a great staffi ng reinforcement for us,

especially in the situation when BiH is facing increasing security threats, primarily related to illegal migration” said Pešto, adding that new police

offi cers have great responsibility, but also the opportunity, by performing jobs for which they were prepared and trained, to give a great contri-bution to society and the preserva-tion of the rule of law and security of all citizens. The cadets were trained according to the new curriculum, in line with the curricula of all police agencies in BiH, which are in compli-ance with European standards. After successfully completing the training and today’s taking of solemn oath, they were admitted to BP BiH for a 12-month trial. Ashar Matoruga was proclaimed the best cadet.


17 subjects in curriculumZoran Galić addressed new colleagues

Important events for BP BiH

IX class solemn oath-taking

“You have chosen an honourable, demanding and courageous jobZoran Galić

Illegal migration


After the illegal migration crisis which, during 2015 and 2016, aff ected neighbouring coun-

tries, Border Police of BiH in 2017, recorded signifi cant increase of num-ber of detected migrants. During previous years, the citizens of high migratory risk countries usually were not heading to EU across the terri-tory of BiH. Since October 2017, BP BiH undertakes measures in accor-dance with Plan for extraordinary engagement of police offi cers and equipment in responsibility zones of units that are exposed to increased migratory pressure, which means maximum engagement of avail-able human, material and technical resources.

Eastern part of border is particularly aff ected

In 2018, BP BiH recorded 20682 treatment of illegal migrants, includ-ing 3661 people handed over to Ser-vice for Foreigner’s Aff airs of BiH for further procedure, and at the same time 17 021 illegal crossings of the state border were prevented. The biggest pressure of migrants coming

INCREASED INFLUX OF MIGRANTS CAUSED COMPLEX SITUATION AT BORDER

INCREASED MEASURES ALONG WITH MAXIMUM USE OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES� e highest percentage of migrants are the economic ones, adults, working-age males who travel without their families

Prepared by: Sanela Dujković

Low percentage of women and minors among migrants

Frequent activities on rescuing migrants


to BiH from direction of Serbia and Montenegro, was in the area of Zvornik, Višegrad, Čajniče, Bijeljina, Trebinje and Bileća. At the same time, area of Krajina in responsibility zones of Border Police Units Velika Kladuša i Izačić is particularly under pressure upon exiting from BiH.

In March 2018, pursuant to Deci-sion of Minister of Security of BiH, Border Police of BiH got assistance from offi cers of Directorate for Coor-dination of Police Bodies of BiH and State Investigation and Protection Agency of BiH. The average number of offi cers from these police agencies who were, during 2018, involved in surveillance of the eastern part of the

Joint surveillance

of Sava riverside

� e highest percentage of police offi cers work at Border Crossing Points BP BiH conducts border checks at 83 international and local border cross-ing points, and that’s why 85 percentage of offi cers is engaged at border crossing points, while the rest of them conduct surveillance of border area. Emergency engagement of staff implies logistic support too: providing patrol vehicles, fuel, equipment for surveillance and monitoring, accom-modation capacities, food, as well as other costs.

border, was approximately 50 police offi cers. In the end of June 2018, based on signed Agreement, BP BiH got support of Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska (with an average number of approx. 80 offi cers during 2018) who under the competence and in coordination with members. For a period of time offi cers of Brčko Police gave their support at Border Crossing Points in responsibility zone of Field Offi ce North-East – Bijeljina.

The number of offi cers from other police bodies was downsized during wintertime and in April 2019, 15 offi -

cers from SIPA, 26 from Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies and 48 from RS MoI joined BP BiH in tasks regarding border surveillance.

Migrants

When it comes to the structure, the highest percentage of migrants are the economic ones, adults, work-ing-age males who travel without their families. Less of them are vul-nerable categories: women and chil-dren. They are mostly from the area of North Africa, Asia and Middle East,

“In April 2019, for performing regular duties BP BiH lacked 342 offi cers

and some from the area of Kosovo. Beside the measures that police offi cer must undertake, he is also responsible for people who walk kilo-metres and kilometres on side roads and in mountain areas or across the rivers. In a few cases offi cers of BP BiH prevented tragic outcomes at rivers Sava and Drina when they par-ticipated in activities on rescuing migrants when boats capsized. There were several medical emergen-cies during 2018, involving severely injured migrants in green border area (exhausted by long walk, fractures in extremities, epileptic seizures, etc.) During the entire time of complex situation at border, offi cers of BP BiH treated migrants in accordance with BiH laws, but also in accordance with international humanitarian law, what was recognised by relevant institu-tions in our country and worldwide.

Increased number of migrants in 2019

Compared to the same period in 2018, statistics from the beginning of 2019 shows signifi cantly increased number of registered migrants in BiH. From 1 January 2019 to 10 April 2019, members of BP BiH in cooper-ation with offi cers from other agen-cies prevented 2765 illegal crossings

of citizens from high migratory risk countries. For performing regular duties, when there isn’t complex sit-uation at border, BP BiH lacked 342 offi cers in April 2019.

When it was requested by autho-rised bodies to make assessment how many offi cers is needed to cover all identifi ed and potential illegal cross-ing spots in eastern part of BiH during twenty-four hours, at 600 kilometres long border, BP BiH made the analysis and submit the information. Accord-ing the estimation of BP BiH, 510 offi -cers is needed to cover all the identi-fi ed spots of border crossings in east-ern part of BiH, and to cover all poten-tial spots of crossings, twice as much would be needed, without covering the rest of the border as for example border with Republic of Croatia.

Illegal migration


Due to illegal crossings migrants often risk their lives

2 765 illegal crossings were prevented

“Treatment in accordance with international humanitarian law


Prevention of illegal crossings at IBCP Along with solving complex situ-ation at eastern border of BiH, BP BiH increased activities regard-ing prevention of migrants’ illegal crossings at international border crossing points. There are numer-ous examples of prevented cross-ings of migrants with forged docu-ments of an EU countries or hidden in trains or motor freight vehicles, along the whole border of BiH. In 2018, several attempted crossings of larger group of migrants to Cro-atian side of IBCPs Velika Kladuša and Izačić. An event from October 2018, attracts worldwide publicity when group of 200 migrant with-out required documents for entry to Republic of Croatia, attempted to violently cross the border at IBCP Maljevac. Members of BP

BiH guarded migrants, disabling further endangering of people and property in the area of Bor-der Crossing, attempts of violent crossings of the border and ille-gal crossings at green border in

the vicinity, until they were relo-cated by authorised MoI of Una-Sana Canton. There were children among migrants, who were, for several nights, sleeping in impro-vised tents.

A fl ower for offi cer of BP BiH, in the vicinity of IBCP Velika Kladuša, October 2018Photo: Samir Jordanović, Anadolu Agency

Attempting to cross the border hidden in motor freight vehicles

“Procurement of sophisticated equipment for surveillance of border area is necessary

Strengthening of material-techni-cal capacities of BP BiH for border sur-veillance and prevention of illegal bor-der crossings would imply procure-ment of sophisticated technical equip-ment for surveillance (equipment for monitoring on daytime and night time

conditions, diff erent types of sensor and radar systems for illegal crossings detection, scoutgard cameras, drones for border monitoring, special vehi-cles for monitoring and surveillance, mobile equipment for direct access to databases in order to identify migrants

in border area, etc.). Additional equip-ping of BP BiH includes equipment for border control intended for detection of people in hidden compartments or cargo spaces of vehicles (heartbeat detectors, CO2 detectors, endoscopes, etc.).

Illegal migration


After extremely dynamic three months with the highest pressure of migrants at the

border of BiH, in December 2018, along with the continuity of inten-sifi ed measures, there was a signifi -cant reduction in the number of pre-vented attempts of illegal crossings, and recorded migrants. The statistics confi rmed the predictions that bad weather conditions would be an ‘ally’ for Border Police of BiH, especially as the levels of the Drina and the Sava increased, and thus the risk of attempted illegal crossings.

As much the fact that pressure was reduced may be encouraging, so much the statistics on the increased

number of those attempting to ille-gally cross the border into BiH, com-pared to winters of previous years, as well as the data on the continu-ity of migrants’ arrivals to the area of Greece, warned that, with the fi rst warm days, further complicating of the situation at the border may be expected. In December, we visited Border Police Units Zvornik and Bijel-jina with the aim of getting to know the fi eldwork of offi cers in the pre-vention of illegal migration.

Border Police Unit Zvornik

BPU Zvornik covers the areas of municipalities: Zvornik, Bratunac and

Srebrenica, and the 165 km of border that runs along the river Drina in its full length. Commander Mirel Ima-mović pointed out that the fi rst major groups of migrants were noticed in this area in early 2018:

‘There were a lot of Syrian citi-zens then, but today there is a much higher percentage of economic migrants. While the visa-free regime of Serbia with Iran was in force, a high percentage of migrants were Iranians, which with its abolition decreased. Among migrants, there are plenty of Pakistanis and Afghans’, Imamović said to us.

Members of BPU Zvornik, with their presence in the border area, prevented illegal crossings of

IN THE FIELD WITH POLICE OFFICERS

WORK AT THE BORDER IS EVER MORE DIFFICULT AND DEMANDING We visited Border Police Units Bijeljina and Zvornik that are, along with Višegrad, Trebinje, Velika Kladuša, Izačić and Hum, particularly burdened with illegal migration


Photographs: Igor Bajić

Interview with Mirel Imamović

“Initially, smugglers were mostly citizens of BiH or of neighbouring countries, but in time, migrants in Serbia developed their own smuggling networks

migrants to the territory of BiH, thus in February 2018, 99 migrants were deterred, in March - 80, in April - 215, in May - 323, in June - 425, in July - 725, in August - 537, in September - 1 038, and in October - 610 nation-als of high migration risk countries. Since August 2018, depending on the period, between 10 and 50 offi -cers of SIPA or the RS MoI have been included in the border area surveil-lance.

‘With the fi rst major attempts of migrants’ crossings, we had less than 100 offi cers, i.e. one to two patrols in surveillance. Today, we have 110 offi cers and, without the extraordi-nary measures we have been car-rying out, we lack 35 police offi cers. On both sides of the Drina there are main roads, which is why there are numerous possible points of illegal crossing. In summer, migrants try to illegally cross in a self-organized manner, because it is cheaper, while in winter, they mostly seek help from smugglers’, Imamović pointed out.

Smuggling of migrants

Initially, smugglers were mostly citizens of BiH or of neighbouring countries, but in time, migrants in Serbia developed their own smug-gling networks. Imamović described the case in which a migrant was pros-ecuted as a smuggler:

‘Members of BP BiH participated in rescuing ten migrants from drown-ing, whose boat was overturned. In conversation with them, we were informed that one person from the boat was not drawn to the shore. We assumed that, among migrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan, the smuggler was also hiding, because of whom one person most likely lost life, which was confi rmed several days later when a lifeless body was found in the Drina. The smuggler was apprehended and the case is being prosecuted at the BiH Prosecutor’s Offi ce’, Imamović explained.

Smugglers of people are rather unscrupulous in their actions in order to gain illegal profi ts, and do not care about human lives. They are aggressive, threaten victims,

take their things and money, and show they are ready for anything. In many cases, attempts were recorded of illegal transfer of a large num-ber of migrants in boats or impro-vised vessels designed for a much smaller number of people, due to which they turn over in rivers. When he recounts the situations in which offi cers were found, Imamović points out that work at the border is diffi cult and stressful. He adds that the security and physical integrity of offi cers were often compromised, in cases where aggressive migrant groups wanted to avoid border con-trol in aggressive manner. He added that offi cers also had other tasks in preventing traffi cking in drugs and

arms across border crossing points, and smuggling of excise goods, and that he was proud that the results of work were even better than in pre-vious years. However, he concluded that, for a more adequate response to the problem of illegal migration, much more support will be needed, both in the number of offi cers and in the specialist equipment they use.

Patrolling the Drina bank

While patrolling in a service vehi-cle, we were familiarized with the fi eldwork of BP BiH and SIPA offi cers. Police offi cer Azur Šljivić presented his experience with migrants.

Mitrović: I feel safer with permanent presence of police offi cers of BP BiH

Azur Šljivić with the colleagues from SIPA


‘Every migrant has a story, and some of them travel for up to three years to reach the EU states. We have witnessed that children who learn quickly, learned the languages of our environment. You face dangerous sit-uations and tragic stories, and come home to your children. The most dif-fi cult in this segment was adapting to a new situation, with the pressure of migrants, but in time you strengthen’, Šljivić told us.

In the patrol by the Drina, we met with the owner of a gravel pit, Boro Mitrović, who described his experi-ence with the permanent presence of police offi cers of BP BiH in the area.

‘I have often seen migrants cross over the Drina, sometimes members of BP BiH prevent them, and some-times they take them away, but the fact is that I’ve been seeing police much more often lately, which is why I feel safer. Among other things, ear-lier I had a problem with constant stealing of objects at the gravel pit. I’m not sure if the migrants were stealing, but with the greater pres-ence of police along the shore, the theft stopped’, Boro Mitrović told us.

Border Police Unit Bijeljina

BPU Bijeljina covers the border of BiH in the length of 87 kilometres, of which 85km with Serbia and two with Croatia. At the headquarters of the unit we talked to Saša Ćorsović,

an offi cer in the rank of ‘Indepen-dent Inspector’, who was appointed as Commander of BPU Bijeljina in early September 2018, by an interim deployment based on the decision of the Director of BP BiH. Saša, who car-ries out the work of Internal Control Inspector at the Head Offi ce in Sara-jevo, is one of the many offi cers who were reallocated to the Units most burdened by migratory pressure.

‘In 2018, in 132 cases, 972 migrants were detected and handed over to Service for Foreigners Aff airs of BiH. Offi cers prevented 1 725 ille-gal crossings in 193 cases. We get support from up to 50 police offi cers in the surveillance of the border area from SIPA, Directorate for Coordina-tion of Police Bodies of BiH and the RS MoI, while offi cers of Brčko District Police were engaged for some time. The support is also continuously pro-vided to us by offi cers of our Units Orašje and Brčko. In 2018, members of BPU Bijeljina, in addition to other tasks they perform, by detailed con-trols of freight vehicles, detected in 23 cases, 84 migrants who were returned to the Republic of Serbia following a shortened readmission procedure’, Ćorsović told us.

He added that the biggest prob-lem in the work of offi cers is the lack of thermal vision cameras, binoculars, battery lamps, surveillance cameras with dimming foils, but also vehicles for surveillance of the border area. Ćorsović concluded that worsening of the complex situation at of the


Saša Ćorsović

Offi cers of BP BiH and Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH on the Sava bank

“Biggest problem in the work of offi cers is the lack of thermal vision cameras, binoculars, battery lamps, surveillance cameras with dimming foils, but also vehicles for surveillance of the border area

Illegal migration

border is expected, which, with the acquisition of material and technical resources, also implies the need for a much larger number of offi cers.

Night patrol

We went on night patrol in a ser-vice vehicle with offi cers of BPU Bijel-jina and the RS MoI. We surveyed the Drina bank, which was covered by extremely dense fog that makes the visibility minimal without the use of

fl ashlights. Moving along the Drina in winter conditions was a proper ‘reality check’, to see how indispensable qual-ity uniforms and footwear, specialized equipment and an adequate vehicle were to members of BP BiH, for the prevention of illegal crossings and all other forms of cross border crime.

‘In 2017, we detected migrants in freight motor vehicles, or who attempted to cross the border on foot across the bridge. In 2018, ille-gal crossings over the river began.

There were cases of improvised ves-sels made of branches and bottles, and sometimes they tied 5-litre bot-tles around them and tried to cross by swimming. The river can be crossed at any place, so we have to keep track of the situation in the fi eld constantly, along with the work at border cross-ing points. There are seven patrols active, and the boat is 24 hours on the water’, Inspector for Border Control of BPU Bijeljina, Predrag Santrač, said.

In conversation with offi cers, we found that the biggest change in their work, compared to the qui-eter period, is that they are often engaged overtime. They agree that a lot depends on their readiness and response. They concluded that the work and the discipline were not lacking, but that the problem of ille-gal migration in BiH has taken the proportions that, for a long time, have not only been challenging for BP BiH, but also for other competent authorities, agencies and the entire community.

That night there were no migrants on the Drina, but with the fi rst spring marks their number was four times as high as in the winter, and thus the response of offi cers of BP BiH.


Improvised raft

Predrag Santrač with the colleagues from BP BiH and the RS MoI

“Problem of illegal migration in BiH has taken the proportions that, for a long time, have not only been challenging for BP BiH, but also for other competent authorities, agencies and the entire community

Illegal migration


With increased migrant pres-sure at the BiH border, Border Police of BiH has also intensi-

fi ed activities aimed at detecting crim-inal off ences related to smuggling of people. In 2018 members of BP BiH recorded 66 criminal off ences of ‘Peo-ple smuggling’ and eight of ‘Organiz-ing a group or association for commit-ting criminal off ence of people smug-gling’. Reports against 135 people were submitted to authorized Prosecutor’s Offi ces.

Among the reported there are 100 citizens of BiH, seven citizens of Serbia, by fi ve citizens of Montenegro and Tur-key, four citizens of Pakistan, by three

citizens of Iraq and Belgium, by two cit-izens of Croatia and Switzerland and by one citizen of Albania, Syria and Great Britain. Beside all measures that members of BP BiH undertake regard-ing prevention of illegal migration, they also successfully realised several

actions aimed at cutting off the orga-nized criminal groups which smug-gle migrants: ‘Taurus’, ‘OX’, ‘Centre’ and ‘Marakan’, etc.

Actions in the area of Una-Sana Canton

Operational Actions ‘Taurus’ and ‘OX’ were realized in cooperation with MoI of Republic of Croatia in the territory of both countries. Six citizens of BiH were apprehended in BiH on the grounds for suspicion that they committed criminal off ence ‘Organising a group of people or association for smuggling of migrants’. During the searches, evi-dence materials were seized, as well as some weapons and ammunition, while on one location, eight illegal migrants from Kosovo area and Iraq were detected.

Police offi cers of BP BiH identifi ed more than 30 people in two organized Bringing the apprehended into the BP BiH Head Offi ce


OPERATIONAL ACTIONS OF BP BiH

COMBATING SMUGGLING OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE TERRITORY OF BiHActions aimed at cutting off the organized criminal groups of smugglers: ‘Taurus’, ‘OX’, ‘Centre’ and ‘Marakan’

Six persons apprehended

criminal groups that participated in illegal activities aimed at smuggling of migrants from BiH to the Republic of Croatia. Both groups were active in the area of Bihać and Velika Kladuša. It was documented that they had commit-ted smuggling and transportation of at least 100 foreigners, among which citizens of Turkey and from Kosovo

area, and a small number of citizens of Afghanistan and Iraq. They charged the foreigners between EUR 500 and EUR 550 for smuggling across the BiH border. During the searches support was given by members of Una-Sana Canton MoI.

Operational Action Centre

In mid-October 2018, based on order of the BiH Prosecutor’s Offi ce, offi cers of Border Police of BiH realized fi nal activities of the Operational Action ‘Centre’. Searches were conducted in the area of Sarajevo and Mostar. On the grounds for suspicion that they have committed criminal off ence ‘organis-ing a group of people or association for criminal off ence - smuggling of migrants’ in relation to criminal off ence ‘people smuggling’, two citizens of

Pakistan, two citizens of Iran and a cit-izen of BiH were apprehended.

Gathering and processing of infor-mation regarding Action Centre started in July 2018. It has been doc-umented that this organized group smuggled migrants who entered BiH in the area of Višegrad and Bijeljina, and attempted to take them to Repub-lic of Croatia in the area of West Herze-govina. For smuggling across the BiH border they charged € 1,500 per per-son, and for smuggling to Italy they were charging € 4,000. Foreigners who were paying for services of transporta-tion and illegal border crossings were mostly adult males from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. OSA gave support to BP BiH in the realization of this Action.

Activities in 2019

In the fi rst four months of 2019, offi -cers of BP BiH have recorded 12 crim-inal off ences of ‘People smuggling’. In mid-April 2019, police offi cers of BP BiH took measures and actions on arrests, searches of objects and checks of persons, and temporary seizure of items acquired by the commission of criminal off ences, in the area of Bijel-jina, Brčko and Donji Žabar.

During the implementation of Action of the codename ‘Marakan’ an organized criminal group that smug-gled migrants from high migration risk countries, mostly Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and Syria, in the area of Bijeljina, Brčko, Bihać and Gradiška, from January 2019 to April 2019, has been identifi ed. 11 BiH citizens who smuggled more than 140 migrants, thus gaining signifi cant unlawful material profi t, have been identifi ed. Support for the implemen-tation of the Action was provided by the BiH Prosecutor’s Offi ce, the Fac-ulty of Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies of the University of Sarajevo, Service for Foreigners Aff airs of BiH, Ministries of the Interior of the Republic of Srpska and Tuzla Canton, IPA 2017 Project Team and OSA BiH. A search of 10 locations was carried out and nine people were apprehended. Four passenger vehicles, certain quan-tity of narcotic drugs and ammunition were temporarily seized.

Temporarily seized narcotic drug Ammunition was detected upon the search


Nine citizens of BiH apprehended

“� e bearers of activities were offi cers from Central Investigation Offi ce of BP BiH

Events


How often offi cers of Border Police of Bosnia and Herze-govina face with forged docu-

ments at border crossing points and in the border area shows information that during 2018, they detect and seized 338 documents suspected of being forged: 95 passports, 71 ID cards, 50 driving licences, 30 CEMT licences, 26 residence permits, 17 visas, 13 green cards, three vehicle permits and 33 other kind of docu-ments. Comparing to last year, there is an increase of 134 percent, i.e. there is 194 more documents detected. 160 criminal off ences of documents forgery have been recorded and 134 offi cial reports have been sub-mitted to competent prosecutor’s offi ces. Speaking about the locations of detection, 192 documents were detected at entry to BiH, 123 ae exit

from our country and 23 documents were detected in the border area.

Border checks

Migratory crisis that aff ected our country too, brought new challenges for border police offi cers, because, in last year there has been recorded a bigger number of foreign citizens of Afro-Asian origin who use forged documents in order to reach some European countries, while using BiH as transit country. The people who were using forged documents were

mostly from Turkey, Iran, Afghani-stan, Pakistan, Syria, China, and in their attempts to cross BiH state border they usually use documents issued by Turkey (special passport), Italy, Bulgaria, Spain and France.

Police offi cer Muamer Delić, expert for forged documents within Oper-ations Administration of BP BiH told us that citizens of Turkey most often, with ordinary Turkish passport enter BiH (where they may stay up to 90 days) legally at Sarajevo International Airport and then they are trying to leave BiH by using forged specialized

FORGED DOCUMENTS

NEW CHALLENGES FOR BORDER POLICE OFFICERS – MORE AND MORE MIGRANTS WITH FORGED DOCUMENTS 338 forged documents detected at border crossing points and in border area Prepared by: Jasminka Mujić

Delić during the work in Docu centre Female police offi cer Mirela Čengić is inspecting the document at issue

“BP BiH has high quality database of various countries’ specimens

BP BiH presented the Protected Documents HandbookIn order to improve expert capabilities of its offi cers regarding new tech-niques on documents forgery, as well as their knowledge on the modern-ist technologies regarding protection of documents, in the end of January 2019, BP BiH presented a Protected Documents Handbook, whose prepa-ration was supported by OSCE Mission in BiH.

“The Handbook provides explanations, illustrated with photographs, of the methods of designing protected documents. Special attention is paid to the ways in which protected documents may be forged and how to ver-ify whether they are genuine or not. It also explicates the latest trends in forgery, such as Morphing, which is not widely known, but is increasingly used in the course of illegal migrations,” highlighted Emir Kulaglić, a police offi cer with the BiH Border Police, who is one of the authors of the Hand-book. Apart from Kulaglić, authors of the Handbook are Selvedin Sakić from GP BiH, as well as Nenad Šajtinac, Miloš Voštinić and Miloš Cvetković from Ministry of Interior of Serbia.

Protected Documents Handbook has been presented (Foto: Vedran Pribilović, OSCE)

Turkish passports or forged pass-ports of other countries for which they don’t need visa for EU countries.

“There are many cases when citi-zens upon passport control present original passports stating that reason for their stay in BiH is tourism, and during the second line inspection, we fi nd forged documents of some EU country in their luggage. When it comes to migrants who enter BiH from Serbia and Montenegro, these are mostly asylum seekers in BiH who in the meantime get forged documents. Lately, they mostly use forged Italian and Spanish ID cards, Greek passports of French and Ger-man visas, and with those docu-ments they are trying to cross the border between BiH and Croatia” – says Delić.

He points out that offi cers of BP BiH, based on preliminary check and by using technical equipment, can detect forged document in a few sec-onds.

“Such document is temporarily seized and send for additional exper-tise in Docu centre within Operations administration, where analysis of full document and its all elements is per-formed by sophisticated equipment and with a specimen (original docu-ments)“ – says Delić, adding that BP BiH has high quality database of vari-ous countries’ specimens, which con-tributes to excellent working results.

Apprehension

As example of successful detec-tion of forged documents we men-tion the case from July 2018, when offi cers of BP BiH at Sarajevo Air-port apprehended a Somali citizen,


as they, upon inspection of his lug-gage detected 18 forged Italian doc-uments which were issued on dif-ferent names, and intended for ille-gal migrants. By further operational work, following the order of the pros-

ecutor of the Cantonal Prosecutor’s Offi ce of Sarajevo Canton, offi cers of BP BiH apprehended another six Somali citizens who were related to this case.

Also, group of nine citizens of East Timor was prevented to enter to our country at Sarajevo Interna-tional Airport, when they during bor-der checks, presented for inspec-tion forged passports of East Timor. Beside the above mentioned, there were cases recorded when foreign-ers attempted to cross BiH border with so called imposter passport, i.e. they were using travel documents in another persons’ name, or with doc-uments wanted by Interpol as lost/stolen. � e forged documents seized at Sarajevo International airport

International cooperation


In the previous period, the Gov-ernment of the FR of Germany has donated equipment to Border

Police of BiH, worth around BAM 9 million, and organized a large num-ber of trainings for offi cers of the BiH police agency. In 2018 and early 2019, numerous activities were carried out with support of the Government of the FR of Germany, for the purpose of operational strengthening of the agency, and thus increasing gen-eral and border security in the bor-

der area and at airports in BiH. Dele-gation of the German Federal Police, headed by the President of the Head-quarters, Dr. Dieter Romann, visited Bosnia and Herzegovina in late Sep-tember 2018, where they met with

the management of BP BiH. Presi-dent Romann was particularly inter-ested in the situation at the border, the state of play with illegal migrants and the joint activities of two agen-cies, aimed at prevention of illegal

COOPERATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FR OF GERMANY

NEW DONATION OF SPECIALIST EQUIPMENTSupport aimed at increasing general and border security


Specialist trainings for police offi cers In 2018, German experts in the fi eld of detection of forged documents and police identity verifi cation, successfully conducted specialist training through theoretical and practical teaching. The training was attended by 99 police offi -cers of BP BiH at the international border crossing points covered by the fol-lowing Units: Izačić, Gradiška, Bijeljina, Zvornik, Trebinje and Doljani

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FR OF GERMANY

Detection of forged documents and police identity verifi cation

Trainings abroadIn November 2018, eight police offi cers of BP BiH attended training in readmission and extradition, in Germany. In May and June 2018, three offi cers of BP BiH attended training in a number of areas of work of police offi cers, in Malta. Along with members of BP BiH, offi -cers from Macedonia, Serbia, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria and Malta also attended the train-ing. In 2018, training was held in Serbia for offi cers of BP BiH, as well as for offi cers of Serbian and Montenegrin Ministries of the Interior, who work on sur-veillance of the border and participate in joint patrols.

President Romann with delegation of BP BiH in Trebinje


migration and all forms of cross-bor-der crime. The German FP delega-tion visited Joint Police Cooperation Centre (JPCC) between BiH, Mon-tenegro and the Republic of Serbia in Trebinje. Since the foundation of the JPCC, the Government of the FR of Germany has donated part of the specialist equipment and, under its auspices, specialized trainings have been organized for the offi cers work-ing there.

Donation worth around EUR 458 000

Director Zoran Galić and the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bosnia and Herzegov-ina, Christiane Hohmann, signed Pro-tocol on the donation handover of specialist equipment, worth around

EUR 458 000, at the end of November 2018. Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community of the FR of Germany donated six ATV vehicles (quads), 10 patrol boats, 3 000 NIK tests, and by 11 thermal vision cam-eras and other night vision devices to Border Police of Bosnia and Her-zegovina. Ambassador Hohmann pointed out that the donation was the most concrete form of coop-eration, and announced continua-tion of support. ‘As in the previous period, we are ready to be partners to BP BiH in the many challenges fac-ing this police agency, and to address all the problems that police offi cers face’, Ambassador Hohmann pointed out. Donations of specialist equip-ment, for the work of police offi cers at airports, have been announced for 2019.

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FR OF GERMANY

Letter of gratitude of Ambassador Hohmann Ambassador Hohmann sent a let-ter of gratitude to Director Zoran Galić, for the spontaneous and professional assistance of mem-bers of BP BiH in extinguishing the fi re on a German family vehi-cle on the main road. In her letter, Ambassador Hohmann thanked in person, and on behalf of the family Berhard, the police offi cers of BP BiH who, by rapid reaction, prevented the deterioration of the situation in the burning vehi-cle and bodily injuries of the Ger-man citizens.

Trainings of offi cers of Support and Control Units In late November 2018, training was conducted in Bijeljina, for offi cers of Border Police Support and Control Units, aimed to improve their skills and capabilities in control of vehicles and per-sons, self-defence and arresting techniques, and forced entry and search of facilities.

Air safetyIn May 2018, training in air safety was held for 23 police offi -cers of BP BiH working at airports in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar and Tuzla. The aim of the training was for the air-port security offi cers who conduct WTMD checks, or who are members of the anti-bomb team, to improve knowledge in these areas. Training in internal control was also conducted in Sarajevo, which was attended by inspectors of the Pro-fessional Standards and Internal Control Offi ce of BP BiH, whereas training for offi cers working in the Joint Police Coop-eration Centre was conducted in Trebinje.

Donated ATV vehicles


International Cooperation

COOPERATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF USA

CONTINUATION OF THE LONG-STANDING PARTNERSHIPMeetings regarding support of USA to BP BiH through equipment and trainings

In the previous period, the U.S. Go-vernment donated to Border Police of BiH specialist equipment worth

more than BAM 12 million. For the purpose of strengthening this BiH police agency, during the past 19 ye-ars, series of trainings were organized for police offi cers, as well as impor-tant study visits to police authorities in the USA. In order to harmonise joint activities, several important meetings with representatives of the U.S. Embassy in BiH were held during 2018, and in the beginning of 2019.

ICITAP

In the beginning of October 2018, Director Zoran Galić, Deputy Dire-ctor, Fahrudin Halač, and Assistant Director for Organization and Ope-rations, Slobodan Krstić, met at the Head Offi ce with new Advisor in In-ternational Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) of the U.S. Department of Justice, Mi-chael Harrington. Apart from getting acquainted with the management of BP BiH, Advisor Harrington announ-ced cooperation through a project of technical support in green border surveillance, as well as trainings of BP BiH offi cers. In addition to anno-uncing the continuation of coopera-tion, the long-standing partnership between BP BiH and ICITAP was po-inted out at the meeting. Before the meeting Advisor Harrington visited Joint Centre for Police Cooperation in Trebinje to which the U.S. Govern-ment donated specialist equipment. On that occasion representatives of

ICITAP were introduced with functi-oning and results of the Joint Centre of BP BiH and Ministries of Interior of Serbia and Montenegro. In Trebinje, Advisor Harrington also met with the Head of BP BiH Field Offi ce South, Ro-bert Perić and his associates.

EXBS Program

During 2018 management of BP BiH held several meetings with Mic-hael Kopper, the Regional Advisor of the Export Control and Related Bor-der Security (EXBS) Program for BiH and Serbia, of the Bureau of Interna-tional Security and Non-proliferati-on of the U. S. Department of State. During these meetings, they discus-sed specialist trainings organized by EXBS. Under the auspices of EXBS, in

mid-October 2018, Regional Meeting on Strengthening Maritime Coopera-tion of the border polices in the Re-gion with access to the Adriatic, was held in Dubrovnik. Along with Dire-ctor Galić, Deputy Director Halač, and Head of Professional Standards and

Internal Control Offi ce and Coordi-nator for Cooperation with the EXBS Program, Vladimir Popović, represen-tatives of border police of the Repu-blic of Croatia and Montenegro also participated in this meeting. At the meeting, the participants discussed future modalities of cooperation, es-pecially regarding exchange of infor-mation and best practices in the fi eld of maritime security on the Adriatic. On behalf of the EXBS Program, par-ticipants of the meeting were welco-med by the EXBS Regional Advisor for Albania and Montenegro, Chri-stopher Milam.

Meeting with Michael Harrington

Zoran Galić and Christopher Milam


“Announced project of technical support in green border surveillance, as well as trainings of BP BiH offi cers


Signing of the Certifi cate on the handover of donation

In mid-November Deputy Director of BP BiH, Fahrudin Halač, and Am-bassador of the People’s Republic

of China in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chen Bo, signed the Certifi cate on the handover of donation of specia-list equipment for security checks, worth about BAM 9.5 million, at the

Head Offi ce of BP BiH in Sarajevo. The donation of equipment was rea-lized on the basis of the Agreement on Economic and Technical Coope-ration for Non-refundable Assistan-ce between the Council of Ministers of BiH and the People’s Republic of China, signed by the Vice-Chairman

“

SUPPORT OF PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

DONATED EQUIPMENT WORTH ABOUT BAM 9.5 MILLIONPlanned trainings of police offi cers on assembly, use and maintenance of the equipment Prepared by: Sanela Dujković

Donation for more effi cient work of offi cers in the fi eld

� e donated mobile CT scanner

of the Council of Ministers of BiH and Minister of Finance and Treasury, Vje-koslav Bevanda, and the Ambassador of the PR China in BiH, in mid-No-vember 2017.

Along with the donation of spe-cialist equipment that will enable members of Border Police of BiH to work more effi ciently in the fi eld, un-der the auspices of the PR China, trai-ning of police offi cers will be realized, necessary for effi cient assembly, use and maintenance of the equipment.

Deputy Minister of Security of BiH, Mijo Krešić, Head of Asia and Africa

Section of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs of BiH, Ljubo Grković, Advisors of the Minister of Finance and Treasu-ry of BiH, Dado Šarić and Drago Baga-rić, and representatives of the Emba-ssy of the People’s Republic of China in BiH, attended the signing of the Certifi cate. From BP BiH, the signing was attended by Assistant Director for Organization and Operations, Slo-bodan Krstić, as well as Head of the Director’s Cabinet, Radiša Samardži-ja, and Head of Administration De-partment, Mustafa Ovčina.

Specialist equipment for security checks was donated to Border Police of BiH

COOPERATION WITH FRONTEX

COORDINATION AND COOPERATION ARE CRUCIAL FOR CONTROL OF MIGRATION FLOWSEnhancement of cooperation in the area of border security and effi cient information exchange

During 2018, cooperation be-tween Border Police of Bos-nia and Herzegovina and the

European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) was marked by the successful implementation of joint operational actions, which were conducted in several countries. In addition, meetings, workshops and conferences were held, aimed at

bringing together representatives of key European border and coast man-

agement institutions to share experi-ence, knowledge and best practices in border control.

Operational actions

FRONTEX Joint Operational Ac-tion, called JAD ‘Mobile’ (Joint Action Days), aimed at detecting various modalities of crime related to mo-tor vehicles, including smuggling of stolen vehicles, vehicle parts and ve-hicle document frauds, was conduct-ed in the period from 24 September to 5 October 2018. A member of BP BiH, Danica Kovačević, participated in the work of the JAD ‘Mobile’ Coor-dination Centre, at the FRONTEX HQ in Warsaw (Poland), with the partic-ipation of liaison offi cers from the European Union, third countries and representatives of Europol, Carpol, Celbet and Interpol.

Araranković at the airport in Basel

Coordination Centre in Warsaw

“


Sharing knowledge and best practices in the area of border control



third countries’ territories, as well as on the exchange of experience and best practices in the area of border checks and detection of other forms of cross-border crime. Along with

members of BP BiH, police offi cers from Latvia, Austria and France also participated in ‘Coordination Points Land 2018’

Moreover, members of BP BiH par-ticipated in the FRONTEX Project ‘JO Focal Points 2018 - Staff Exchange’, conducted in mid-October 2018, aiming to get acquainted with prac-tical work at Border Crossing Point Moravita in Romania.

Activities and plans

During 2018, members of BP BiH continued to participate in regular meetings of the Western Balkans Risk Analysis Network (WB-RAN). At the fi nal annual meeting, held in late November 2018 in Warsaw, WB-RAN activities realized in 2018 were pre-sented, as well as plans for the cur-rent year 2019.

In Joint Operation under the code-name ‘Focal Points Air - Intermediate Managers’, which was realized at the beginning of November 2018 at International Airport in Basel-Mul-house, a member of Border Police Unit Airport Sarajevo, Zvjezdana Ar-aranković, participated, while in the operation ‘Focal Points Air – Regular offi cers’, which was also realized in November, but at International Air-port in Budapest, police offi cer Emir

Kulaglić participated. Furthermore, from October to December 2018, two Joint Operations were conduct-ed at International Airport Sarajevo.

FRONTEX Joint Operation ‘Co-ordination Points Land 2018’ was realized in the period from June to September 2018, at the BiH Border Crossing Point Zupci. This Operation focused on the establishment of a system of information exchange re-lated to the early detection of recent, current and future illegal migra-tion trends towards the EU through

Kulaglić with the colleagues from Hungary and Romania

One of the WB-RAN meetings

Delegation of BP BiH participated in the European Border and Coast Guard DayHead of Director’s Cabinet of BP BiH, Radiša Samardžija, and Analyst Sanja Pržulj, attended a conference on the occasion of marking the European Border and Coast Guard Day in Sopot, Poland, at the end of May 2018. The mentioned annual FRONTEX event was attended by representatives of key European institutions for border and coast management.

Pržulj and Samardžija at the European Border and Coast Guard Day

“JAD ‘Mobile’ aimed at detection of various modalities of crime related to motor vehicles



Border Police of Bosnia and Her-zegovina and International Or-ganization for Migration (IOM)

have cooperated since the estab-lishment of the BiH police agency. Since IOM programmes are mostly intended as support to relevant BiH authorities that deals with border management, prevention of illegal migration and human traffi cking, as well as strengthening capacities of the BiH institutions regarding re-gional cooperation, the entire sup-port by IOM is aimed at operational strengthening of BP BiH. The mutu-al cooperation has been especially noticed in last two years when in-

creased number of illegal migrants has been recorded at BiH border.

In that regard, this police agen-cy continuously delivered to IOM data on registered entries to, and exits from BiH, detected attempts or crossings of the state border, refused entries and intentions to submit asylum requests in BiH by

persons from countries aff ected by migration wave.

Regional projects

One of IOM regional projects in which BP BiH participates actively is the Project “Enhancing Capacities and Mechanisms to Identify and

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION

CONTINUATION OF SUCCESSFUL COOPERATION BETWEEN BP BiH AND IOMIOM is delivered data on registered entries to, and exits from BiH, detected attempts or crossings of the state border, refused entries and intentions to submit asylum requests in BiH


“Programmes aimed at supporting relevant BiH authorities that deals with border management, prevention of illegal migration and human traffi cking

Support to Border Police of BiH by European UnionIn mid-February 2019, within the proj-ect “EU Support to Migration and Bor-der Management in Bosnia and Her-zegovina”, Peter Van der Auverert, IOM Chief of Mission in BiH and Sub-region-al Coordinator for the Western Balkans, handed the keys of the minibus to Slo-bodan Krstić, Assistant Director for Or-ganization and Operations of BP BiH. This donation will facilitate the eff orts of BP BiH in performing daily works and combating illegal migration.

Krstić and Van der Auverert during donation hand over (Photo by: EU Delegation in BiH/ EU Special Representative in BiH)



Protect Vulnerable Migrants in the Western Balkans. The objective of the Project is providing support to sustainable mechanisms and struc-tures in Western Balkan countries so that they could manage migration and provide protection to vulnera-ble categories of migrants on their own and, at the same time, improve mutual cooperation and coordina-tion. Besides in BiH, this Project is implemented in Albania, Macedo-nia, Montenegro, Serbia and in the area of Kosovo. During the last year several meetings were held where the heads of border police from the Region analysed the current situa-

tion and measures that has been un-dertaken regarding illegal migration in Western Balkan region, as well as modalities for cooperation aimed at prevention of illegal migration.

Also, several workshops and trainings were held in the frame-work of IOM projects: “Strengthen-

ing of Cross-Border Cooperation along the Wester Balkans Route”, “Support to Western Balkan States in Establishing Advance Passenger Information Systems”, “Enhancing Counter Human Traffi cking in Crisis in the Western Balkans” and “Region-al Support to Protection Sensitive Migration Management in the West-ern Balkans and Turkey”. Their objec-tives were to improve knowledge and skills regarding fi ght against migrant smuggling, human traffi ck-ing and cross-border crimes along East-Mediterranean and Western Balkans routes, detecting false doc-uments, risk analysis, etc.

Delegation of BP BiH during the meeting in Petrovac

“Numerous workshops and trainings were held within IOM projects

IOM Chief of Mission in BiH visited BP BiHIn the beginning of April 2019, Di-rector of BP BiH, Zoran Galić, and As-sistant Director for Organization and Operations, Slobodan Krstić, met with Peter Van der Auweraert, IOM Chief of Mission in BiH and Sub-re-gional Coordinator for the Western Balkans. During the meeting, held at the Head Offi ce of BP BiH, they discussed the current situation and measures taken to counter illegal migration, as well as joint projects. Krstić, Galić and Van der Auverert talked about migration and projects



Through active participation in the Border Security Programme, Border Police of Bosnia and Her-

zegovina continued intensifi ed coop-eration with the Centre for Security, Development and Rule of Law (DCAF) in 2018. Over the past year, several workshops and meetings were held, aimed at exchanging experience, ed-ucation, building new and improving the existing regulations, all in order to enhance joint activities in the area of border security in the Western Balkans Region. Joint operations should be

added to this, which, apart from the results, contribute to joint success in preventing cross border crime, com-bating organized crime and illegal migration, both in preventive and re-pressive terms.

Joint Operations

In mid-March 2018, Joint Opera-tion ‘Sava’ was realized in the territory

of the Republic of Serbia, focusing on conducting road and passenger road tests to detect irregular migrants, smugglers and cross border crimi-nal activities, such as the use of false and forged documents, traffi cking in

human beings, smuggling of weap-ons and drugs, and customs goods. During the Operation, police offi cers from nine countries recorded eight cases related to cross border crime.

After this Operation, in mid-July and late November 2018, Joint Op-erations ‘Drino’ and ‘Drino2’ were carried out, aimed at detecting ille-gal migrants on the Albanian-Greek border.

Joint Operation ‘Tuzi’, involving 56 offi cers from ten countries, sup-ported by Europol, Frontex and IOM, was carried out in the period from 24 September to 3 October 2018 in Montenegro, near the border with Albania. It was aimed at detecting il-legal crossings of the state border, in-terviews with migrants and readmis-sion. During the Operation, 41 inter-views with migrants were conducted, 196 people were apprehended in Albania while trying to cross into

COOPERATION WITH DCAF

Operations ‘Sava’, ‘Drino’, ‘Drino2’ and ‘Tuzi’ have been carried out


A member of BP BiH during the Operation ‘Drino’

Police offi cers shortly before the Operation ‘Drino’

JOINT ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF BORDER SECURITY

“Active participation in the DCAF Border Security Programme


MIGRATION MANAGEMENT IN WESTERN BALKAN

Montenegro, 23 people were subject to readmission in Albania, a stolen vehicle, a rifl e, ammunition and the like were seized.

Border security

In mid-July 2018, representatives of BP BiH attended a meeting of bor-

der police chiefs in Tirana, Albania. At a meeting to facilitate joint and coor-dinated measures in the Western Bal-kans Region, which was held in early June 2018 in Brdo near Kranj, Slove-nia, the implementation of joint and coordinated measures of the DCAF Border Security Programme was dis-cussed. This meeting was preced-

ed by a workshop on Regional Risk Analysis, where representatives of the benefi ciary countries of the DCAF Border Security Programme (Albania, BiH, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Moldova) presented national data regarding border security and cross border police cooperation, as well as risk analysis products.

Workshop on Regional Risk Analysis

Border Police of Bosnia and Her-zegovina has successful coop-eration with Migration, Asylum,

Refugees Regional Initiative (MARRI). At the MARRI Regional Forum Meet-ing held in Tirana on 12 June 2018, BiH took over the MARRI Presidency in Offi ce.

The BiH National Coordinator for cooperation and coordination with MARRI Regional Centre and Analyst in BP BiH Sanja Pržulj says that at the meeting Ministry of Security of BiH presented Annual Action Plan and the new priorities for the period 2018 - 2019 which was adopted by the Fo-rum.

“Migration represent bigger and bigger humanitarian, but also secu-rity challenge for BiH, as well as for countries in the Region too. Full com-mitment of BiH to work of this Centre shall improve information exchange on migration fl uxes and trends in the Region”, says Sanja Pržulj.

COOPERATION WITH MIGRATION, ASYLUM, REFUGEES REGIONAL INITIATIVE

In mid-June 2018, Bosnia and Herzegovina took over the MARRI Presidency in Offi ce

“Data regarding border security and cross border police cooperation were presentedat the workshop on Regional Risk Analysis


In the end of January 2019, Minis-ter of Security of BiH Dragan Mektić and Sanja Pržulj met with MARRI Di-rector Saško Kocev. On this occasion Minister Mektić said that BiH priority during the MARRI Presidency in Of-fi ce is compliance and full implemen-tation of agreements on readmission between the countries of the Region. Minister Mektić supported already initiated activities regarding fi nal-ization of MARRI basic documents in order to enhance the work of the Initiative and expressed his confi -dence that MARRI will be of the great

help for member countries that deal with migration. In the previous peri-od several workshops and meetings were held in which MARRI member

countries (BiH, Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo*) ad-dressed issues regarding migration management in western Balkan.



Joint Meeting of MARRI NetworksIn the beginning of November 2018, Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative (MARRI), under the BiH Presidency in Offi ce host-ed Annual Joint Meeting of MARRI Networks in Budva. At this meeting national and international experts from Western Balkan, Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova addressed issues regarding border manage-ment, asylum, human traffi cking and readmission, and discussed an extension of readmission networks and implementation of Readmis-sion Agreements.

The meeting was held in the

Joint Meeting of MARRI Networks in Budva

Meeting in Ministry of Security of BiH

“BiH priority during the MARRI Presidency in Offi ce is compliance and full implementation of agreements on readmission between the countries of the Region

Sanja Pržulj: � e BiH National Coordinator for cooperation and coordination with MARRI

framework of the Project “Support of the sustainable development of cooperation among border police in Southeast Europe - BORDAIRPOL II”, and BiH delegation consisted of Slobodan Krstić, Assistant Director

for Organization and Operations in BP BiH, Marijan Baotić , Assistant Minister in Sector for Asylum and Branislav Mojević , Chief of the Cab-inet of the Service for Foreigners Aff airs.

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence


Border Police of BiH, in coope-ration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

and under the auspices of the Federal Republic of Germany, has implemen-ted the Countering Illicit Arms Traf-fi cking (CIAT) Project. In 2018, using the equipment donated within the CIAT Project, members of BP BiH con-ducted several successful seizures of weapons and of more than 40 kg of narcotic drugs. Due to the results ac-hieved during the implementation of the CIAT, the Government of the FR of Germany decided to continue fi nan-cing the Project until the year 2021. Within the CIAT Project, a number of trainings have been conducted, and documents on procedures produced, with a view to an adequate and eff e-ctive fi ght against illegal traffi cking in weapons, ammunition and explo-sives.

Continuance of the Project

The fi rst phase of the Project was implemented from November 2017 until the end of 2018. It implied pro-

curement of specialist equipment, production of the document ‘Stan-

dard Operating Procedures’, and printing of 400 brochures entitled

PROJECT OF BP BiH AND UNDP WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE FR OF GERMANY

Trainings have been conducted and documents on procedures have been produced, with a view to a fi ght against illegal traffi cking in weapons

Final conference of the fi rst phase of the Project


� e Project Leader on behalf of BP BiH, Chief Almir Bašić, spoke about the implementation of the CIAT

“� e Government of the FR of Germany decided to continue fi nancing the Project until the year 2021

THE FIRST PHASE OF THE CIAT PROJECT SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED

‘Collection of Instructions for BP BiH Procedures’. Training on the imple-mentation of the Standard Opera-ting Procedures was attended by 360 offi cers of BP BiH. As part of the Project, 12 workshops on police work in the community were organized in six border municipalities. The works-hops were attended by representa-tives of local communities: Ljubuški, Velika Kladuša, Orašje, Zvornik, Foča and Trebinje. The budget for the fi rst phase of the Project was EUR 550 000, of which EUR 226 000 was spent on the procurement of specialist

equipment, namely, fi ve explosives and drugs detectors, and three most modern endoscopes - devices that allow for an optical inspection of the hard-to-reach interior of vehicles.

At the end of June 2018, a fi -nal conference was held in Mostar, attended by representatives of BP BiH, the Ministry of Security of BiH, the Embassy of the FR of Germany in BiH, UNDP and the institutions of the neighbouring countries respon-sible for border security. At the end of October 2018, Ambassador of the FR of Germany in BiH, Christiane Hohmann, and UNDP Resident Re-presentative to BiH, Sezin Sinanoglu, signed an agreement to allocate an additional EUR 250 000 to continue carrying out activities under the CIAT Project.

The funds are planned for training of 400 members of BP BiH, procure-ment of specialist equipment for we-apons detection, and strengthening of interinstitutional and regional co-operation, and strengthening of in-formative and technical capacities of BiH institutions, competent for traf-fi cking in weapons.



Workshop in Orašje, November 2018

About police work in the community, Velika Kladuša, November 2018

An endoscope detected 26.8 kg of marijuanaAt the beginning of May 2019, offi cers of BPU Gradiš-ka prevented smuggling of 26.8 kilograms of marijuana. The narcotic drug was dete-cted by border control of a Mercedes with registration plates of the Republic of Cro-atia, at the exit from BiH. During the inspection, police offi cers noted repa-irs on the lower part of the vehicle. Using the endoscope that BP BiH was donated within the CIAT project, they detected 29 packets of marijuana wrapped in transparent foil. The driver, citizen of BiH and the Republic of Croatia, was apprehended and, in addition to the report on the commi-tted criminal off ence of ‘Illicit traffi c in narcotic drugs’, he was handed over to the BiH Prosecutor’s Offi ce.

“12 workshops about police work in the community were conducted in six border municipalities


Zoran Galić awarded recognition by Atlantic Council of BiH In the end of July 2018, Director of Border Police of BiH participated at the Conference in Međugorje organi-zed by Atlantic Council of BiH and under the auspices of NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division in Brussels. On that occasion President of the Atlantic Council of BiH, Dijana Gubta, handed award to Director Zoran Galić, for the contribution in the area of security, guarding borders of BiH and programs realized under his com-petences. University professors from Croatia, Slovenia, Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Bulgaria and BiH, as well as representatives of NATO, numerous diplomatic representations in BiH, and other guests from public and political life, attended this scientifi c conference.

Events

In mid-June 2018, Director of Border Police of BiH, Zo-ran Galić, and Deputy Director, Fahrudin Halač, met with Interpol Liaison Offi cers of the Embassy of Italy

to BiH, Enrico Sforza and Marina Pisani, at the Head Of-fi ce in Sarajevo. During the meeting, they exchanged information about the situation at the BiH border, with particular accent on increased infl ux of migrants. Head of Professional Standards and Internal Control Offi ce, Vladimir Popović, was also present at the meeting.

Interpol Liaison Offi cers of the Embassy of Italy to BiH visited BP BiH

Meeting with representatives of EUROPOL In mid-July 2018, representatives of EUROPOL visi-ted the Head Offi ce of Border Police of BiH, where they met with Assistant Director for Organization and Operations of BP BiH, Slobodan Krstić, and his associates. At the meeting, they talked about cooperation, the state of play at the BiH border, illegal migration and activities of BP BiH members regarding prevention of people smuggling and other forms of cross border crime.

Meeting with representatives of the UK National Crime AgencyIn mid-April 2019, mana-gement of BP BiH met with representatives of the UK National Crime Agency. At the meeting parti-cipants discussed future activities aimed at further improvement of the cooperation between these two agencies.

Meeting of the BP BiH management with EUFOR Task Force Commander In mid-September 2018, Director Zoran Galić, Deputy Director, Fahru-din Halač, and Assistant Director for Organization and Operations, Slo-bodan Krstić met with EUFOR Task Force Commander, Lt. Colonel Colin Withers. At the meeting they talked about the situation at the border and activities of BP BiH regarding prevention of all forms of cross bor-der crime.

Elisa Di Ballo visited BP BiHIn the beginning of October 2018, Director Zoran Galić met at the Head Office with Elisa Di Ballo, Re-sident Expert of the IPA 2017 Proje-ct. During the meeting, they talked about activities in the area of su-pport within the Project which sho-uld be finished by the end of 2019. The Resident Expert and Director of BP BiH talked about joint activities, with particular accent on trainings realized under the auspices of IPA 2017.

World Conference of Women in Security Sector

Delegation comprised of police women from law enforcement agen-cies in BiH participated at World Conference of Women in Security Se-ctor, which was held in Budva, in the end of February. Lejla Bejtić, Seni-or Inspector in BP BiH Operations Administration and Vice President of the Association “Women Police Offi cers Network” was among represen-tatives of BiH. The participation of BiH offi cers at the Conference was supported by UNDP in BiH.


Events



COOPERATION WITH NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

STRENGTHENING OF COOPERATION, INFORMATION EXCHANGE, JOINT PATROLS AND INVESTIGATIONS


BP BiH ceded 419 cases and information to the polices of the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Croatia and Montenegro

Based on signed agreements and protocols, Border Police of Bos-nia and Herzegovina continues

to develop cooperation with the min-istries of the interior of neighbouring countries, thus in 2018, this police agency ceded 419 cases and infor-mation to the MoIs of the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Croatia and Montenegro, of which 58 with char-acteristics of criminal off ences.

Preventative measures

During 2018, representatives of Border Police Units held 514 meet-ings, at the regional and local lev-els, with colleagues from three neighbouring countries, where they exchanged operational data for the purpose of preventing cross bor-der crime, analysed the work of joint patrols and planned other activities to protect the state border.

Joint patrols are carried out on a daily basis in the border area and at border crossing points which, in addition to preventative measures, strengthening of mutual trust and cooperation, and more adequate use of human resources, achieve con-

crete results in combating illegal migration and other illegal activities. During 2018, 3 495 joint patrols were conducted in which members of BP BiH and the neighbouring countries’ MoIs detected a number of viola-tions, while performing their duties and tasks in border surveillance.

When talking about coopera-tion with neighbouring countries, it is imperative that the Joint Police Cooperation Centre in Trebinje (JPCC) was established in 2014, with the aim of improving regional police cooperation in the fi ght against ille-gal migration, traffi cking in human

Blocked locations between BiH and Serbia

“514 meetings were held at the regional and local levels



Joint patrol of members of BPU Doljani and BPU Vrgorac of Croatian MoI

Members of BPU Trebinje and the Border Security Department Nikšić (Montenegro) during surveillance of the border in the area of Bileća

Joint patrol of members of BPU Višegrad and Border Police Station Kotroman (Serbia) during patrol near BCP Vardište

Meeting of representatives of BP BiH and Croatian MoIZoran Galić, Director of BP BiH, met with Nikola Milina, Gen-eral Police Director of the Min-istry of the Interior of Croa-tia, Deputy General Director, Jozo Šuker, and Assistant Gen-eral Director and Head of Bor-der Administration, Zoran Ničen, in Zagreb in mid-June 2018. During the meeting, they analysed the situation at the border between BiH and Cro-atia, with particular emphasis on the growing number of illegal migrants trying to enter from BiH into the neighbouring country.

Nikola Milina and Zoran Galić

beings and other forms of cross bor-der crime. This Centre enables law enforcement agencies of BiH, Serbia and Montenegro to provide faster

information exchange, and thus faster performance and better results of work. Moreover, the JPCC cooper-ates with other police cooperation

centres and the competent author-ities of the European Union and the authorities of the EU Member States.

Border surveillance

In order to successfully fi ght against illegal migration and other forms of cross border crime, BP BiH has participated in the activities of identifying and blocking of places suitable for illegal crossing of the state border, which is one of a num-ber of methods contributing to more effi cient state border surveillance.

The project of blocking of loca-tions suitable for illegal crossing of the land border between BiH and Croatia by motor vehicles, fi nanced by the European Commission, was successfully implemented in 2008, when 68 locations on the territory of BIH, of the 119 identifi ed locations, were blocked. After this, 26 new loca-tions on the common state border, 25 in the territory of Croatia and one in the territory of BiH, were blocked.

By the Project ‘Blocking of side roads suitable for illegal crossing of the state border between BiH and Montenegro’, 44 locations suitable for illegal crossing of the state border between BiH and Montenegro were identifi ed, of which 22 locations were blocked by the competent authori-ties of BiH, while 22 locations were blocked by the competent authori-ties of Montenegro.

At the same time, in line with the Elaboration on blocking the roads suitable for illegal crossing of state

border between BiH and Serbia by means of transportation vehicles, in 2017, the competent authorities of Serbia blocked four locations, while in 2018, BiH blocked the seven iden-tifi ed locations that were foreseen by the mentioned Elaboration. The mac-adam roads and paths that were suit-able for illegal crossing the state bor-der were blocked by installation of metal ramps, concrete blocks, break-ing down the road and the laying of stone and concrete.

By engaging mobile patrols in the state border surveillance, by sectoral work and joint patrols with neigh-bouring countries, daily visits and insights into the state of the block-ades set in the fi eld are carried out. According to security estimates, modern mobile devices are used for

border surveillance, as well as sen-sory equipment, which is set up on access roads and routes in the places where illegal crossing of the state border is possible. All this represents one of a number of methods that contribute to more effi cient state border surveillance.


Meeting of representatives of FO North-East Bijeljina of BP BiH and the Border Police Administration of Serbian MoI

Višegrad, joint teams for prevention of illegal migration

“From year to year, an increase in the number of conducted joint patrols is visible

COOPERATION WITHIN BiH

JOINT ACTIVITIES ON COMBATING ILLEGAL MIGRATION AND CRIMEInformation exchange and new modalities arrangements regarding future cooperation


Border Police of Bosnia and Her-zegovina has good cooperation with state, entity and cantonal

authorities, especially in operational work of related agencies and ser-vices. During 2018, this cooperation was realized in joint fi ght against illegal migration across the territory of BiH, so in this regard numerous meetings were held with represen-tatives of cantonal and entity min-istries, focused on taking additional measures and increased activities

regarding surveillance of the state border.

Thus, in mid-May 2018, pursuant to Decision of Ministry of Security of BiH, in order to prevent illegal migration, Directorate for Coordi-nation of Police Bodies of BiH and State Investigation and Protection Agency of BiH, sent their police offi -cers who, together with police offi -cers of BiH Border Police Field Offi ce East – Višegrad, carried out border surveillance of East part of the state

border i.e. the border area of Zvornik, Bratunac, Srebrenica, Višegrad, Rudo, Čajniče and Foča.

Working meetings

In the beginning of June 2018, at the Head Offi ce in Sarajevo, manag-ers of BP BiH lead by Director Zoran Galić, met with Darko Ćulum, Director of Republika Srpska Police, Dragan Jevđenić, Head of Police Administra-tion of Ministry of Interior of Repub-lika Srpska, Senad Jašarević, Deputy Chief of Brčko District Police and Dragomir Nišić, Commander of Spe-cial Police Unit of Brčko District Police. The participants of the meeting exchanged information regarding ille-gal migration issue. On this occasion Director Galić thanked for support

provided by colleagues from RS MoI and Brčko District Police, aimed at pre-vention of illegal migration, as well as for their intention to increase the sup-port in accordance with the increase of migrants’ infl ux at the border of BiH.

After this meeting, the Agreement on assistance and operational coop-eration regarding surveillance of the state border, was signed by MoI of Republika Srpska and BP BiH, in mid-Jun 2018. This Agreement defi ned their joint activities.

At the end of August 2018, Direc-tor Galić and Head of Field Offi ce West Bosansko Grahovo, Viktoria Damjanović, as well as chiefs of inter-nal units of this Offi ce, held a work-ing meeting with Milan Galić, Police



Joint Risk Analysis Centre celebrates 10th anniversaryIn this year Joint Risk Analysis Centre of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrates 10th anniversary of its establishment. During that period the Centre worked on improvement of risk analysis system, through processing and exchange of information with fi ve agencies involved in integrated border management (BP BiH, Service for Foreign-ers Aff airs, Indirect Taxation Authority, Veterinary Offi ce and Administra-tion of BiH for Plant Health Protection), by implementing standard oper-ating procedure and best practices implemented in European Union.

Implementation of CIRAM 2.0. - FRONTEX methodology for risk anal-ysis has started in the end of 2018. The purpose of risk analysis devel-opment is to enable agencies to, through methods and working tech-niques, predict risks regarding border security, and based on anticipated situations, to facilitate managers in making high quality decisions as well as operational team awareness and focus at risks – says Chief of Joint Risk Analysis Centre Branko Mijatović. He added that, in their everyday work, offi cers of the Centre, in order to compile risk assessment, tried to iden-tify threats, vulnerabilities and impact.

Offi cers of the Joint Risk Analysis Centre say: “Risk should be accepted as reality, but everything need to be done in order to reach the phase of high quality risk management”.

Offi cers of the Joint Risk Analysis Centre with the chief Branko Mijatović

Management of BP BiH met with Human rights Ombudsman

In the beginning of May 2018, Director of BP BiH Zoran Galić and Assistant Director for Organization and Operations, Slobodan Krstić, met with Human rights Ombudsman in BiH, Dr. Jasminka Džumhur, and her asso-ciate. During the meeting, they talked about migration processes and the state of human rights, on the occasion of current situation with increased number of illegal migrants on the BiH territory.

1 866 cases ceded to other bodies in BiH Cooperation with BiH bodies continued in other fi elds, thus BP BiH, due to lack of jurisdic-tion, ceded 1 866 cases to Indi-rect Taxation authority of BiH, inspection and police bodies. 60 of these cases had elements of criminal off ence, 876 were minor off ences, 898 pieces of information and 32 other cases.

At the meeting

cooperation regarding migratory cri-sis in the area of Una-Sana Canton.

In the beginning of October, Direc-tor of BP BiH Zoran Galić and Deputy Director, Fahrudin Halač, met the fi rst and second Deputy Chair of the Inde-pendent Board of the Parliamentary Assembly, Enes Obralija and Mato Jozić, a member Ljubomir Kuravica,

and secretary Ivan Lovrić. Represen-tatives of the Independent Board of the Parliamentary Assembly were presented at the BP BiH Head Offi ce the results of the police agency in the previous period and plans for 2019. During the meeting, they dis-cussed the situation at the BiH bor-der, the measures taken to prevent illegal migration, and the problems that police offi cers encounter in their daily work.


Workshop on gender equality and protection mechanisms against discrimination In the beginning of November 2018, with the support of the OSCE Mission in BiH, association “Women Police Offi cers Network”, whose members are also female members of Border Police of BiH, organized a workshop “Rais-ing awareness of gender equality in police structures in BiH”, at the Head Offi ce building of BP BiH in Sarajevo. The leaders of the Association, and 30 female offi cers of BP BiH from diff erent parts of BiH, participated in one of the series of workshops on gender equality and protection mech-anisms. The focus of the workshop was on understanding the concept of gender issues. The special focus was on discrimination in the workplace, with an emphasis on gender-based harassment.

Participants of the workshop at the Head Offi ce of BP BiH

Meeting of representatives of BP BiH, RS MoI and Brčko District Police Management of BP BiH with representatives of the Independent Board of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH

Action ‘Scorpio’ in the area of Bijeljina and Brčko At the end of May 2018, Offi cers of Border Police of BiH, along with offi cers of BH Brčko Dis-trict Police and MoI of Repub-lika Srpska, have participated in operational action ‘Scor-pio’, which was realized in the area of Bijeljina and Brčko. The Action was focused on gather-ing evidence, investigation and combating crimes in the fi eld of organized crime, with empha-size on illegal traffi c of weapons and military equipment, as well as traffi cking of humans and goods. The Action was realized based on the order of the BiH Prosecutor’s Offi ce.

“Agreement on assistance and operational cooperation regarding surveillance of the state border, signed by MoI of Republika Srpska and BP BiH

Commissioner of Ministry of the Inte-rior of West Herzegovina Canton, and Ilija Jakić, Police Commissioner of the Canton 10 MoI. During the meeting, held in Posušje, participants agreed modalities of cooperation in preven-tion of illegal migration, primarily through coordinated actions, draw-ing up joint plans, and providing assistance to offi cers of BP BiH.

Also, in mid-September 2018, in the premises of the Una-Sana Canton MoI, Chief Damjanović and her asso-ciates met with Šero Družić, Head of Sector for Uniformed Police/Acting Police Commissioner. At the meet-ing they discussed improvement of


Projects in 2019

The Project to establish a system for controlling and recording motor vehicles at border cro-

ssing points implies an upgrade of the Application, which will automa-

tically read the registration plates at border crossing points. Reconstructi-on and extension of the video survei-llance system at international border crossing points is also planned. With

the implementation of the third Pro-ject on Electronic Records of Sector Files and Event Log, police offi cers will be able to quickly, reliably and easily maintain unique records of

IMPLEMENTATION OF THREE IMPORTANT PROJECTS FOR ADVANCEMENT OF BP BiH

AUTOMATIC READING OF REGISTRATION PLATES, VIDEO SURVEILLANCE AND ELECTRONIC RECORDS OF EVENT LOGS AND SECTOR FILESTo harmonise border checks with the standards of police agencies of the EU countries, improve video surveillance system, and increase effi ciency in work while saving material and technical resources

Operating principle of the system for automatic reading of registration plates

Server Room at the Head Offi ce of BP BiH

Communication links

ALPR camera

Working station at BCP

Reader of travel documentsPrepared by: Sanela Dujković


events and sector folders in electro-nic form.

Automatic reading of registration plates

Through the IPA 2015, BP BiH was donated funds by the Europe-an Commission for realization of the Project with the aim of advancing and upgrading the existing Border Checks Application, and integration of advanced reporting. In 2016, a Working Group was formed in BP BiH for the development of a system for control and registering of motor ve-hicles at border crossing points, whi-ch completed the tender documen-tation based on which Delegation of the European Union to BiH condu-cted the procedure for selecting the best bidder.

In 2019, the Project implementati-on is planned to last for nine months, after which the system will be tested at all border crossing points. The system of automatic control of the registration plates allows automatic recognition of the vehicle plates and check in databases, as well as recor-ding of all vehicles crossing the state border. Additionally, the system ena-bles the data on vehicles to be linked to the data on passengers, on which border control was performed. The system will be installed on all traffi c lanes: for motorcycles, passenger and freight motor vehicles, as well as buses. The Project will execute a sof-tware upgrade of the existing Border Checks Application, in accordance with the latest technological achie-vements.

Video surveillance system

In 2019, BP BiH is realizing a Proje-ct of constructing a video surveillan-ce system, funded under IPA 2015. The Project encompasses constructi-on of the system at 35 international border crossing points for road traffi c and seven for railway traffi c, three ai-rports and one river port. The system enables surveillance and administra-tion of border crossing points from the local, regional and central levels. Video surveillance of border crossing

points, inter alia, enables provision of evidence for judicial institutions, in order to prevent corruptive activities, reconciliation of controversial events in surveillance zones, control and monitoring of business processes and compliance with legality in work of offi cers. Additionally, the system is an integral part of general and spe-

cial security measures applied at bor-der crossing points, and contributes to integrated border management.

In 2019, under the auspices of the Government of Switzerland, one of the components of the Project ‘Support to Eff ective Migration and Border Management in Bosnia and Herzegovina’, which is related to esta-blishment of a software part of the system of electronic records of event logs with business process manage-

ment, and electronic records of sector fi les. Implementation of the Project will enable offi cers to search and dis-tribute information, and have access to data at the time of their recording.

Electronic records will streamline time and use of resources, improve eff ectiveness and effi ciency in work, and enable timely distribution of reliable information. Establishment of business process management system is an activity that is accom-plished in order to process, control, monitor and archive electronic and paper documents, enabling fast and easy fl ow, search and archiving of data and documents.

Video surveillance at a border crossing point

“

“

Police offi cers will automatically access relevant vehicle databases, and check registration plates, to determine if a vehicle is wanted by competent authorities and whether any measures should be taken

Electronic records imply that data is available at any moment and unifi ed in one place


Interview

STJEPAN SKOKO, COMMANDER OF SUPPORT AND CONTROL UNIT OF FIELD OFFICE NORTH-WEST GRADIŠKA

THE UNIT TRAINED FOR ANY CHALLENGE

AT BORDER Characteristics of the Unit are mobility, speciality, compactness, team work,

trained staff and equipmentInterviewed by: Jasminka Mujić

During his entire working career Stjepan Skoko, Commander of Support and Control Unit of

Field Offi ce North-West Gradiška has worked as police offi cers on diff er-ent positions, from ordinary police, special police, crime police in Minis-try of Interior of the Posavina Canton, to managerial positions in Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He shared with us his experiences regarding adjustments to diff erent positions, working results, expecta-tions from offi cers and future plans.

You are Commander of Support

and Control Unit of Field Offi ce

North-West Gradiška. Compering

to other organizational units of

BP BiH this Unit conduct specifi c

tasks. Could you present the Unit

you are in charge for?

Primary purpose of this Unit is pro-viding support to other organi-zational units of BP BiH and per-formance of complex police tasks imposed by fi ghting all forms of crim-inal off ences arising at BiH border. This Unit is internal organizational unit within Field Offi ce North-West Gradiška, placed in Gradiška and it performs offi cial tasks in the area of 310258 kilometres long state border. Its work is organized in two teams. We have teams with service dogs for patrols and detection of narcotics, as

well as helmsmen and motorcyclists. Beside border control duties, in cases of more complex operational actions, the unit is engaged for searches of persons, facilities and fi elds, for enforcement measures on apprehen-sion, etc., not only in actions of BP BiH, but as support to other agencies in BiH too. In short, characteristics of the Unit are mobility, speciality, com-pactness, team-work, trained staff and equipment.

What results of Support and Con-

trol Unit Gradiška from the pre-

vious period would you empha-

sized? What are the most often

problems you face with?

When we speak about detection regarding elements of criminal off ences, it can be said that the most important contribution of the Unit was in detecting forged documents and in combating abuse of narcotic drugs, while in regards to misdemea-nours, it was concerning violation of regulations of Law on Customs, Law on prevention and combating abuse of narcotic drugs and Law on interna-tional and inter-entity road traffi c. It is important to mention that signifi cant contribution was made in prevention of criminal acts regarding corruption and criminal off ences against offi cial and responsible duties.

Skoko: Satisfi ed with achieved results

Holders of collective award Coat of Arms of BiH For the achieved results, Support and Control Unit of the Field Offi ce North-West Gradiška was in 2016 awarded with colle-ctive award Coat of Arms of BiH by the BiH Ministry of Security.

Skoko upon receiving of award with Mijo Krešić, Deputy Minister of Security of BiH


Before mentioning equipment I would like to say that this Unit, as the whole BP BiH, has problem regarding lack of personnel. We can say that the Unit is well equipped, but because of its role, my opinion is that it need constant improvement, especially regarding specialist equipment.

What are the plans for the future?

Despite the above mentioned under-staffi ng and constant fl uctuation of offi cers, the goals that I set together with my offi cers, when I came to

the position of Commander of Sup-port and Control Unit Gradiška, are mostly achieved. Our plans are to make certain steps regarding quality of work, because if we are focused on entrusted tasks, there is always room for improvement of the work. Per-sonally, as police offi cer, my plan is to continue to perform my tasks and duties proudly and with dignity.

You were Chief of Joint Risk Analy-

sis Centre too. What are your expe-

riences from that period and what

this Centre means to BP BiH?

I could say that this was a challenge to me for several reasons: the risk analysis itself was concept with many unknowns. Offi cers from fi ve agen-cies involved in Integration Border Management were working in the Centre. There was no previous prac-tice how the Centre should function within the country and beyond, and many other things. My opinion is that the Joint Risk Analysis Centre is important for BP BiH as off ers possi-bility to review border security risks from many diff erent angles and by several involved agencies.

Could it be said that overall work-

ing results of Support and Control

Unit Gradiška are improved?

If we observe the work of the Unit for longer period of time statistical indi-cators do support that. Even though our primary task is to provide sup-port to other organizational units, I am glad to point out that, during this four years, while I led Support and Control Unit Gradiška, police offi cers of this Unit detected 257 criminal off ences.

During migratory crisis in 2018,

offi cers of this Unit were engaged

in fi ghting illegal migration in

every part of BiH. Where was the

most diffi cult?

Exactly, since the beginning of migra-tory crisis in the end of 2017, we have provided support to Units in Trebinje, Velika Kladuša and Zvornik. But, I will emphasize an event from Octo-ber 2018 when there was an inten-sive increase of migratory pressure at border in Velika Kladuša and seven days long blockage of Border Cross-ing Point Velika Kladuša – Maljevac. Back then, our police offi cers, work-ing continuously up to 50 working hours, showed great professionalism and dignity in performing their tasks and carried out certain duties and tasks which are not the competence of BP BiH. Together with other police offi cers from FO North-West and FO West, they unblocked the above mentioned Border Crossing Point successfully. How is this Unit equipped?

Biographical sketchesStjepan Skoko was born in 1971, in Slavonski Brod. At Police College in

Zagreb, he completed Faculty of Criminalistics and got degree in criminology.

In 2001, he came to BP BiH from the Posavina Canton MoI. Within BP BiH he

worked as Assistant Commander for Operations and Organization in Units

Brod and Trebinje, as chief of Joint Risk Analysis Centre, Commander of Unit

Brod, and Inspector for Internal Control. Also, he participated in work of

several commissions, strategies preparation, etc., and attended numerous

trainings for managerial tasks in security agencies. During his work in BP

BiH he was many times awarded and commended for his work, as well as

organizational units that he worked in.

“We have teams with service dogs for patrols and detection of narcotics, as well as helmsmen and motorcyclists

Sport activities


On the occasion of celebrating 18th Anniversary and the Day of

Border Police of BiH in the end of May 2018, traditional BP BiH tournament in mini football was held on the play-fi eld of the Football Club Dubrave in Gradiška. Eight teams took part in the competition. After a whole day of sporty and fair competition, the best was the team of BP BiH FO East. The

second place was won by team of FO South, and third by team of Head Offi ce. The best scorer of the tourna-ment was Darko Rosić and the best goalkeeper title was won by Dino Ha-lilović, both from team of FO East.

The shooting competition was held in Suhodol in the end of May 2018. The fi rst place in individual competition was won by long-stan-

ding champion Alija Bajrica from Operations Department. The second place was won by police offi cer Ja-smin Rašljanin from BPU Hum, and the third place was won by Dra-goljub Kačar from BPU Dobrljin. In team competition, the fi rst place was won by FO North-East, the se-cond by Head Offi ce and the third by FO East.

FOOTBALL AND SHOOTING

ALIJA BAJRICA – LONGSTANDING-CHAMPION IN SHOOTING On the occasion of celebrating 18th Anniversary of BP BiH

BP BiH Director’s Adviser, Velimir Pržulj handed the cup to Alija Bajrica

Vrgoč, Petrović and Simeunović run as representatives of BP BiH

Saša Ristić from BPU Airport Sarajevo and Biljana Pandurević in Sljeme

FO East – the winning team

RUNNING AND SKIING

Biljana Pandurević won the fourth place in SljemeIn the beginning of November 2018, representatives of

BP BiH participated in running competition which was organized by the Army Forces of BH. Bojan Petrović and Predrag Simeunović from Offi ce for Strategic Planning and European Integrations and Ivica Vrgoč from Support and Control Unit of the FO West run 9 000 meters. The running competition took place in Rajlovac Barracks on the occasi-on of 13th Anniversary of the BiH Army Forces. Apart from members of BP BiH and Army Forces of BiH, representati-ves of EUFOR, SIPA, Sarajevo Canton MoI, PSC Istočno Sara-jevo and other, also participated in the competition.

In International Skiing Competition “Sljeme 2017”, Bilja-na Pandurević, police offi cer from BPU Dobrljin won the fourth place in the category for women. In the team com-petition, representatives of police agencies from Bosnia and Herzegovina won the third place, behind Austria and Slovenia. Representatives of ten countries participated in this representative skiing competition.

w w w . g r a n p o l . g o v . b a

BORDER POLICE OF BiH