WB PaCT: A strategic approach to combating drug trafficking in the Western Balkans

The second phase of the Western Balkans Partnership against Crime and Terrorism (WB PaCT) project has initiated its residential activity of the Drugs Regional Training Cycle. The workshop took place in Budapest, Hungary, from 16 to 20 September. It’s one of CEPOL’s initiatives on combating drug trafficking.

In the European Union the illicit drug market presents a grave threat to security, public health and democracy. The European Union Drugs Agency, in its recent EU Drug Markets Analysis report, emphasised that criminal networks involved in drug trafficking fuel violence, corruption, and destabilisation, particularly among vulnerable youth, who are often lured into illicit activities.

Tackling this intricate and evolving challenge requires a coordinated, multi-faceted approach, of which WB PaCT is a crucial part of. The project represents a significant development in the European Union’s ongoing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking and enhances the capabilities of law enforcement across the region. WB PaCT implements a novel training approach to strengthen the Western Balkans’ response to drug trafficking. 12 advanced law enforcement practitioners were carefully selected from the region. These professionals are now participating in a multi-phase learning cycle rather than single-session trainings. This structured approach ensures that their competencies are built systematically over time, leading to a more comprehensive and sustained learning experience.

The Drugs Regional Training Cycle begins with an Independent Learning Phase, where participants engage in online modules covering key topics such as EMPACT (European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats), Fundamental Rights, Financial Investigations, and International Cooperation.

This foundational knowledge is crucial for the following Contact Phase, which involves intensive, in-person sessions. Participants will develop practical expertise and fine-tune their skills in key areas of drug-related investigations and law enforcement operations. This phase is instrumental not only in enhancing individual capabilities but also in preparing participants to pass on their knowledge to others.

A critical element of the training cycle is the Train-the-Trainer module. After completing the Contact Phase, participants are expected to conduct sessions within their organisations, ensuring that the skills and knowledge they’ve acquired are disseminated to a broader audience in the Multiplication Phase. True to the name of this phase, by cascading the knowledge and skills of law enforcement officials, WB PaCT is able to ‘multiply’ the number of recipients of the training.

This Multiplication Phase is essential to the overall objective of the project: to create a sustainable network of drug trafficking experts across the Western Balkans.

The activity equips participants with the skills to assess investigations across various drug types, select appropriate investigative tools to target drug markets and use criminal operational analysis to combat trafficking. They also learn to address trafficking via different trafficking routes, utilise EU and international tools for cross-border investigations, and enhance collaboration between law enforcement and the private sector to improve information sharing and operational efficiency.

The Drugs Regional Training Cycle marks a significant step in the fight against drug trafficking in the Western Balkans. The European Union and its partners are working to dismantle criminal organisations, protect vulnerable communities, and safeguard the rule of law, by fostering a well-trained network of law enforcement professionals.