On 13 and 17 October 2023 in Montenegro, the Director of the Customs Administration (CA) and the Board of Directors of the Designated Postal Operator (DPO) adopted Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), providing a structured approach to detect firearms, their parts and components, ammunition, and other illicit goods in express courier and postal parcels.
The development of this normative document was made possible through Project Hermes, where the UNODC Firearms Trafficking Section provided essential support to local counterparts in developing the SOPs. Throughout this process, customs officers and postal officials played a crucial role, showcasing their dedication and expertise. Their significant contributions shaped the SOPs, including dedicated chapters focused on the safety and security of personnel, essential instructions for first-line responders upon detecting illicit goods, including firearms, and facilitation of inter-institutional information exchange and further processing of seizures.
By implementing these SOPs, the work processes and security protocols will be standardized, effectively reducing the risks associated with criminal activities and smuggling, which will ultimately contribute towards a secure international postal exchange.
This activity is implemented with 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.