On 12 December 2019, the European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) together with the national Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and supported by EUROPOL, Frontex and OSCE, launched a new joint initiative for counteracting illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunitions, explosives and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) materials.

To this end, a Joint Cross-Border Working Group was set up and entrusted to strengthen the Partner Services’ efforts in assessing, preventing, detecting and investigating these specific crimes. The group will also serve as a platform for exchange of information and sharing experience and best practices.

At the kick-off meeting held in Odesa, on 12 December, the participating agencies discussed working modalities and joint activities for 2020, aimed at increasing competences of LEAs’ personnel as well as strengthening the operational response and analytical support in that field.

In this context, Slawomir Pichor, Head of EUBAM highlighted: “As we all know, illicit firearms trafficking presents a serious threat to the regional security, often linked to organized crime, that has adverse impact on the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and the European Union. Therefore, through launching this new initiative, EUBAM strengthens, together with its Partner Services, their efforts in tackling this threat. Only by collective actions and coordinated efforts, we can effectively prevent and reduce the risk of the illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunitions and explosives. I am grateful to EUROPOL, Frontex and OSCE that agreed to partnered us in this challenging initiative”.