On 14 August, a workshop on combating migrant smuggling was held at the Palanca-Maiaky-Udobne Joint Border Crossing Point, led by Milko Merdzhanov, Head of the EUBAM Office in Ukraine. The workshop brought together officials from six different services from Moldova and Ukraine, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in addressing this serious issue.

The event featured two experts from the General Directorate of Combating Organized Crime of the Republic of Bulgaria, who shared their extensive experience in combating migrant smuggling. Their presentation included an overview of investigative methods, intelligence-gathering techniques, and key considerations when investigating such crimes. They also presented two case studies showcasing successful investigations of migrant smuggling in Bulgaria.

In addition to the insights from Bulgarian experts, representatives from the General Inspectorate of Border Police and the Security and Intelligence Service of the Republic of Moldova provided an overview of the current challenges in detecting and investigating migrant smuggling within their country. Similarly, officials from the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the National Police of Ukraine shared their experiences and challenges in combating this crime.

The workshop concluded with a discussion on the opportunities and challenges of international and interagency cooperation in combating migrant smuggling. Participants emphasized the need for continued collaboration and information sharing to effectively address this complex issue. This workshop reflects EUBAM’s ongoing commitment to strengthening border security and fostering cooperation between Moldova and Ukraine to combat cross-border crimes, including migrant smuggling.