Strengthening Airport Border Controls: Serbian Customs and Border Police Officers
Visit Istanbul International Airport
20-22 April 2026, Istanbul, Türkiye – Strengthening international cooperation and information exchange is essential to effective air border security, as international airports remain high‑risk targets for transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking, smuggling of illicit goods, and the movement of high‑risk passengers across borders. Timely sharing of risk indicators, passenger and cargo data, and operational methodologies among customs, border police, and other law enforcement authorities enables a more coordinated, intelligence‑led response. Through sustained cooperation and practical exchanges, authorities can enhance early detection, improve targeting accuracy, and ensure that border controls remain both secure and facilitate legitimate travel and trade.
In this context, from 20 to 22 April 2026, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), through its Passenger and Cargo Control Programme (PCCP) and the Regional Office for South‑Eastern Europe (ROSEE), organized a study visit to Istanbul International Airport for customs and border police officers from the Republic of Serbia. The visit was conducted within the framework of the EU-UNODC Joint Action “Promoting rule of law and good governance through targeted border control measures at ports and airports in South-Eastern Europe (2024-2027) - Phase II” funded by the European Union.
The study visit brought together officers assigned to the Airport Control Unit (ACU) at Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade, with the aim of strengthening operational capacities to counter transnational organized crime and illicit trafficking at international airports.
Enhancing capacities through practical exchange
The primary objective of the visit was to familiarize the ACU officers from Serbia with operational procedures and best practices applied by the Turkish authorities at one of Europe’s largest aviation hubs. Particular emphasis was placed on risk profiling, targeting techniques, and effective passenger and air cargo controls, as well as on the use of advanced technical systems in airport environments.
The programme also served as a platform to enhance professional exchanges and explore opportunities for operational cooperation and information sharing between law enforcement authorities of Serbia and Türkiye in the future.
On‑site demonstrations of operations
A key component of the programme was the on‑site visits to Istanbul International Airport, where participants observed frontline operations in real time. These included guided tours of the international passenger departure areas, demonstrations of X‑ray screening, and briefings on analysis processes supported by technical systems used in passenger control.
The study visit also focused on air cargo operations. Participants were introduced to cargo inspection procedures, the use of detector dogs, and analytical approaches to cargo risk management.
Strengthening regional cooperation
The study visit highlighted the added value of peer‑to‑peer exchanges and practical exposure to advanced border control systems. By sharing expertise and operational experience, the activity directly contributed to the objectives of the EU‑UNODC Joint Action, supporting more coordinated, intelligence‑led, and effective border control responses in South‑Eastern Europe.
Batyr Geldiyev, PCCP Regional Coordinator, emphasized that Istanbul International Airport has strong connectivity with all major airports in South-Eastern Europe. Therefore, this visit was very relevant and represented clear operational significance for Border Police and Customs officers from Belgrade International Airport.
UNODC remains committed to supporting beneficiary jurisdictions in enhancing border security, strengthening inter‑agency cooperation, and promoting good governance and the rule of law through targeted capacity‑building initiatives. UNODC leverages its long-term presence in South-Eastern Europe and the partnership with Türkiye to strengthening international cooperation, the sharing of expertise and promoting coordinated approaches to border management.
***
The EU-UNODC Joint Action is implemented by the UNODC Passenger and Cargo Programme (PCCP) in close cooperation with UNODC Regional Office for South-Eastern Europe (ROSEE) and under the approved framework of the Regional Programme for South-Eastern Europe 2024-2029. The Joint Action is implemented with the financial support of the European Union.
On‑site demonstrations of operations
