Training law enforcement officers on evidence-based investigations and new technologies use in illicit trafficking of firearms

Budva, Montenegro. On 9 February 2023, the Firearms Trafficking Section (FTS) conducted a training session of 23 law enforcement officers from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia - five of them women – during a train-the-trainer in Budva, Montenegro, on data collection and the use of intelligence for investigation of illicit firearms trafficking.

The participants were introduced first to UNODC’s role as the custodian of Sustainable Development Goal indicator 16.4.2 “Proportion of seized, found or surrendered arms whose illicit origin or context has been traced or established by a competent authority in line with international instruments”, and the FTS work in monitoring illicit firearms flows in support of reporting on this indicator, using the UN International Arms Flow Questionnaire (UN IAFQ) as a data collection tool for this end. The participants were also presented the operational use of data collected at national level via the UN IAFQ.

After the introductory session, a training was delivered on evidence-based approaches for investigation of illicit firearms trafficking and the use of intelligence for operational purposes and in connection with other crimes. The participants were then given an overview of the new technologies being used in illicit manufacturing and trafficking of firearms, parts, components and ammunition, which generated great interest.

The training sessions were followed by a group exercise, where the participants had the opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired. They were asked to analyse a case study in small groups and work together to address the challenges linked to the illicit trafficking of firearms. They went on to present their suggested use of investigative techniques and operational activities, which was followed by a lively debate among the participants and UNODC’s feedback.

This train-the-trainer led by UNODC FTS was part of a 5-day training delivered jointly with INTERPOL, within the framework of the project ‘Support for increased international cooperation in criminal matters’. In this joint project, funded through the Western Balkans Small Arms and Light Weapons Control Roadmap Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF), the UNODC’s Global Firearms Programme and INTERPOL’s Firearms Programme support the jurisdictions in the Western Balkans in strengthening their criminal justice response to firearms related criminality and reach the goals and targets established under the ‘Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their ammunition in the Western Balkans’.

United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime

Training law enforcement officers on evidence-based investigations and new technologies use in illicit trafficking of firearms