South-Eastern Europe supported in risk analysis and profiling at airports

21-25 November 2022, Belgrade, Serbia: The fast development of airport structures and the consequent additional efforts and capacities require solid risk analysis frameworks for the law enforcement sector to process the increasing number of passengers and goods with limited resources. Using passenger information for the systematic implementation of profiling and targeting processes is key to achieving results.

To support the jurisdictions of South-Eastern Europe in this area, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organized a regional workshop on passenger information analysis for profiling and targeting for 30 officers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia who are part of the AIRCOP/CCP inter-agency units established or currently under establishment in these jurisdictions. The workshop was led by law enforcement experts from the Counter-Narcotic Department of the Customs Directorate of Turkiye, who shared their expertise with a view to strengthen the implementation of appropriate profiling and targeting processes in airports in South-Eastern Europe through the enhanced use of passenger information, including passenger manifests, electronic tickets, Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Records (API/PNR).

The workshop covered the entire passenger information analysis process, demonstrating its relevance and reliability for target pre-selection at airports and the related collection of evidence to support the post-investigation phase. The officers practiced on investigative techniques, including analysis of passenger manifests, electronic tickets, and real-time flight status information, under the direction of their Turkish colleagues.

The workshop was held within the framework of the joint EU-UNODC action on promoting the rule of law and good governance through targeted border control measures at ports and airports implemented by the UNODC-WCO-INTERPOL Airport Communication Project (AIRCOP) and the UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme (CCP) in cooperation with the UNODC Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe and generously funded by the European Union.

This activity contributes to SDG 16, particularly SDG 16.a on strengthening relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.

https://sdg-tracker.org/peace-justice