BiH police work to boost co-operation against international crime

BiH police work to boost co-operation against international crime

A recent agreement between BiH and EUROPOL will increase security in the Balkan nation.

Many victims of human trafficking are sold into prostitution rings. [AFP]

In an effort to boost international crime-fighting co-operation, representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and EUROPOL completed negotiations on an Agreement for Operational and Strategic Co-operation last month.

The agreement outlines the terms regulating the exchange of information and other forms of co-operation and communication with the European police body.

Samir Rizvo, the state co-ordinator for combating human trafficking, said the agreement will improve the co-operation that is necessary to fight international crime.

"Bosnia and Herzegovina identified 26 victims of human trafficking in the last six months. The country's legislation is now in line with European standards and should be implemented. The problem of human trafficking goes beyond national borders and regional and international co-operation is necessary," Rizvo said.

In a joint police action in November, aimed at revealing an international chain of organised crime related to human trafficking for the purposes of prostitution, more than 1,000 police carried out the Ezel operation in Germany and Austria.

The operation, which came to a head on November 30th, revealed a large number of victims from the Balkan countries.

Dozens of members of the BiH State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) took part in the action. Together with colleagues from Germany and Austria, they participated in the search and seizure of items in several facilities in Sanski Most.

"These activities are directed...