On 8-9 February 2022 in Budva, Montenegro, UNODC’s Global Firearms Programme (GFP) in cooperation with the UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme (CCP) supported the organization of a debriefing meeting between Customs of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on the implementation of operation Tara 2021, where authorities have focused on detection of illicit firearms and other prohibited goods at land border crossings.
The operation took place in the period 06.10.2021 - 03.12.2021 and included planning, operational and post operational phases. The operational activities were focused at two border crossings between BiH and Montenegro. During the course of the operation two shipments of firearms parts from BiH to Montenegro were inspected without establishing irregularities. On 23 November 2021, as a result of xchange of information, a larger quantity of drugs (150 packages – with ca. 150 kg of marijuana-like substance) was seized in BiH together with 3 rifles, various ammunition, and explosives.
The primary goal of the event was to discuss the lessons learned and to plan future joint operations based on the experience gathered so far. Officials from BiH and Montenegro have presented and analysed the results of the operation and reviewed the existing coordination mechanism. They have discussed the need to further develop the bilateral cooperation through the organization of the joint actions and establishing closer communication between the institutions.
This activity is implemented with the financial support provided by Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, and Norway through the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap Trust Fund and supported by the European Union.
