SECI Center: An Efficient Regional Tool for Combating SECI Center: An Efficient Regional Tool for Combating

Organized CrimeOrganized Crime

Developments in Justice and Home Affairs in RomaniaDevelopments in Justice and Home Affairs in Romania - Panel Discussion - - Panel Discussion -

Vienna, October 15-16, 2004Vienna, October 15-16, 2004

SECI Center: An Efficient Regional Tool for Combating SECI Center: An Efficient Regional Tool for Combating

Organized CrimeOrganized Crime

Developments in Justice and Home Affairs in RomaniaDevelopments in Justice and Home Affairs in Romania - Panel Discussion - - Panel Discussion -

Vienna, October 15-16, 2004Vienna, October 15-16, 2004

SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN COOPERATIVE INITIATIVESOUTHEAST EUROPEAN COOPERATIVE INITIATIVERegional Center for Combating Transborder CrimeRegional Center for Combating Transborder Crime

HISTORYHISTORY

In April 1998, at the meeting in Geneva, the SECI Agenda In April 1998, at the meeting in Geneva, the SECI Agenda Committee adopted a Romanian proposal for establishment Committee adopted a Romanian proposal for establishment of the Regional Center in Bucharest;of the Regional Center in Bucharest;

First negotiation meeting among the member countries in First negotiation meeting among the member countries in May, 1998 - representatives from customs and policeMay, 1998 - representatives from customs and police

On May, 26, 1999 signing the Agreement on Cooperation On May, 26, 1999 signing the Agreement on Cooperation to Prevent and Combat Trans-border Crimeto Prevent and Combat Trans-border Crime

June 1999 - October 2000 - process of ratification of the June 1999 - October 2000 - process of ratification of the AgreementAgreement

November 2000 - the SECI Center became operationalNovember 2000 - the SECI Center became operational

12 MEMBER COUNTRIES12 MEMBER COUNTRIES

AlbaniaAlbania

Bosnia HerzegovinaBosnia Herzegovina

BulgariaBulgaria

CroatiaCroatia

GreeceGreece

HungaryHungary

MoldovaMoldova

FYRO MacedoniaFYRO Macedonia

RomaniaRomania

Serbia MontenegroSerbia Montenegro

SloveniaSlovenia

TurkeyTurkey

• Police and Customs working together

•Working methods

- information exchange

- specialized Task Forces

• Task Force activities- regional operations- coordinated investigations - strategic analysis - trainings

ADVANTAGES

1. Trafficking in Human Beings

2. Anti-Drug 3. Financial and Computer Crime4. Anti-Smuggling and Anti-Fraud5. Stolen Vehicles 6. Anti-Terrorism7. Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons8. Trafficking of Weapons of Mass Destruction

SECI Centers’ TASK FORCES

Indicators Mirage 2003 Mirage 2004

Victims – identified - assisted - repatriated

4637062

601102138

Traffickers – identified - charged

595207

545302

Information exchanged 92 120

RESULTS - OPERATIONS MIRAGE

CONTAINMENT I – 2002- Operation Containment

CONTAINMENT II – 2003- Operation Orient Express- Operation Route E 70- Operation Speedway

CONTAINMENT III – 2004- Operation Safe Haven

Anti - Drug REGIONAL OPERATIONS

Drug TypeContainment I

(2002)Containment II

(2003)

Heroin 584 kg 124 kg

Marijuana 1829 kg 188.9 kg

Amphetamines 250,000 tablets 63 kg

• Several Drug Trafficking Networks were dismantled and 110 persons were arrested during Containment I and II

SEIZURES – CONTAINMENT I and II

Vehiclesseized

Investigationsinitiated

Offenders identified

Value of vehicles seized (Euro)

150 104 70 891,500

STOLEN VEHICLES

Operation ROAD SHOW 2003Operation ROAD SHOW 2004

Cooperation between law enforcement and judicial Cooperation between law enforcement and judicial authorities – essential for an efficient fight against trans-authorities – essential for an efficient fight against trans-border crimeborder crime

South East European Prosecutors’ Advisory Group South East European Prosecutors’ Advisory Group (SEEPAG) established in 2003(SEEPAG) established in 2003

Working groups to be set up in the near future in order to Working groups to be set up in the near future in order to implement better legal solutionsimplement better legal solutions

PROSECUTORS’ ADVISORY GROUP(SEEPAG)

• Extension of the SECI Center model for GUUAM countries (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova)

•GUUAM – Virtual Law Enforcement Center

•Inter-agency co-operation in the field of drug trafficking

•Anti-Drug Center in Tashkent (6 months) with the participation of GUUAM, Central Asia and Russia

•Close co-operation with the SECI Center

SECI CENTER - MODEL for GUUAM

• European Commission assessment on the SECI Center

•Recognized positive achievements and great potential

•European Union support for the SECI Center

•Recommendations on short, medium and long term

•SECI Center – Regional EUROPOL Office in the future

EU ASSESSMENT MISSION

• Romania – initiator, member and host country

•More than 4 million US dollars invested in SECI Center

•Coordinator of two Task Forces:•Trafficking in Human Beings•Weapons of Mass Destruction

•Engine of information exchange in SEE

•Future coordinator of two Task Force Sub-Groups:•Plastic Card Frauds•Cyber-Crime

Role of ROMANIA