As part of the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the South-East Europe region, the Council of Europe’s Pompidou Group organised a “High-Level Seminar on Strengthening Regional Co-operation in Fighting Drug Trafficking via Air”, hosted by the Bulgarian National Customs Agency. The seminar, opened by Mr. Georgi Dimov - Director General of The Bulgarian National Customs Agency and Chief Commissioner Miroslav Rashkov from the Ministry of Interior, presented common challenges in the region such as the latest trends on trafficking in synthetic drugs, risk assessment and profiling, general aviation, and the use of artificial intelligence tools by law enforcement.
“In the past decade, the Bulgarian Customs Administration can report the seizure of nearly 70 000 kg of narcotic substances and precursors, with over 3 000 kg of them being seized in air passengers and cargo. The use of information exchange, risk analysis based not on indicators but on models, the use of large databases and artificial intelligence are trends in all developed countries, and the Bulgarian Customs Administration is not an exception. But against the backdrop of high-tech solutions, without which we, of course, cannot work, the sharing of good practices and information, joint work and active cooperation remain an irreplaceable tool in our common goal“ told the delegates Mr. Georgi Dimov - Director General of The Bulgarian National Customs Agency.
« Тhe Pompidou Group provides support, effective solutions and information to Member States, helping them in the fight against drugs. These opportunities are extremely valuable for the Ministry of Interior and the National Customs Agency, and I believe that such cooperation should continue to be encouraged and developed.“, emphasized in his speech Chief Commissioner Miroslav Rashkov.
Today, we mark a significant milestone in our shared journey. A decade ago, the Co-operation Group of South-East European Airports (AIRSEE) was established under the Pompidou Group. Our goal was clear: to enhance regional cooperation, streamline operational methods, and ultimately fortify our collective ability to combat drug trafficking via air in this strategically crucial region. Over the past 10 years, AIRSEE has become much more than just a platform for discussion. It has evolved into a vital mechanism for operational collaboration, bridging the gap between EU and non-EU countries, uniting law enforcement officers, customs officials, and policymakers in a common cause.“ said Mr. Denis Huber - Executive Secretary of Pompidou Group, Council of Europe.
On this occasion, the participating country representatives adopted a Joint Declaration reaffirming their commitment to continue and further enhance co-operation through exchanging practical knowledge, conducting joint operations, and streamlining drug detection methods at South-East European airports.
The seminar coincided with the 10th Annual meeting of the South-East European Airports Co-operation Group (AIRSEE), which was set up in 2015 by the Pompidou Group upon request of the participating countries. AIRSEE consists of permanently appointed customs and police officers from the region and focuses on enhancing multilateral collaboration on fighting drug trafficking via air, promoting the exchange of operational knowledge, and developing tools to improve drug detection capabilities. It remains the only forum that brings together airport law enforcement agencies on a permanent basis from both EU and non-EU countries in the region, being all member States of the Pompidou Group, to fostering cooperation and addressing specific challenges related to combatting drug trafficking.
The event, held on 9 October 2024 in Sofia, Bulgaria, gathered Directors general, deputy directors from the national customs and police agencies and directors of airports of 11 countries and Kosovo* to assess the results of 10 years of operational cooperation facilitated by the Pompidou Group. Representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), SELEC, Interpol and CELBET, actively involved in cooperation in the region, also took part in the event.