BOMCA 10 keeps improving cooperation on border crime analysis in Central Asia

From February 28 to March 2, the Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA 10) held a workshop in Ashgabat for representatives of the border guard and law enforcement agencies of Turkmenistan on cooperation with INTERPOL. The participants familiarized themselves with legal, procedural and technical solutions for cooperation with and running of activities through INTERPOL.

Experts from the Europol and INTERPOL national unit of the International Liaison Office of Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau jointly developed recommendations with participants on strengthening legislation and international legal instruments, regulating cooperation in this area, as well as issuing proposals for improving the interaction mechanisms for the use of the INTERPOL services and databases in border control.

This activity continues a series of activities in each country of Central Asia on the topic. It is conducted in the framework of the Component 2, “Improvement of detection capacities”, aimed at supporting law enforcement agencies in evidence-based investigations, specifically dealing with the detection and investigation of cross-border crime.

About BOMCA

The Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA), funded by the European Union (EU), aims to enhance security, stability and sustainable growth in the region, while supporting cross-border cooperation and improving living conditions for people in the border areas of Central Asia. Since its implementation in 2003, BOMCA has played a leading role in strengthening cooperation between border control authorities through the application of the concept of integrated border management, as well as in bringing border control in line with international and EU standards.

BOMCA’s tenth phase, launched in April 2021, covers four areas: institutional development of border management agencies, improvement of detection capacities, trade facilitation, and improvement of cross-border cooperation. With a budget of EUR 21.65 million and an implementation period of 4.5 years, BOMCA 10 is the largest regional initiative in the field. It is implemented by a consortium of border management institutions of selected EU member states and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development led by the State Border Guard for the Republic of Latvia.

For additional information on BOMCA 10 please contact Rustam Berdiyev, National Coordinator in Turkmenistan: rustam.berdiyev@icmpd.org