Serbia’s Action against Transnational Organised Crime

Abstract

This article examines the extent to which Serbia has implemented relevant international standards on action against transnational organised crime contained in the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime 2000. The first part explores key obligations with particular reference to prohibition of substantive offences, intelligence-led law enforcement (special investigative techniques), confiscation of criminal proceeds, as well as international law enforcement cooperation. The second part of the article analyses how these obligations are implemented by Serbia in reality by examining legislative frameworks as well as law enforcement practices. The main conclusion is that, while Serbia has taken some steps to implement international standards with a view to enhancing individual and collective actions against transnational organised crime, effective law enforcement is hampered by issues such as corruption and a lack of expertise, experience and resources.

Refugees and Shifted Risk: An International Study of Syrian Forced Migration and Smuggling

“…We note that Balkan Route criminal networks have robust roots (Hajdinjak, ; Lewis, ), and that arms and drug traffickers overlap significantly with the criminal structures that enable migrant trafficking. Although outright repression would be preferable in principle, it has been chronically unsuccessful in practice (Heller and Pezzani, ; Obokata et al., ; Krasniqi, ). Thus, instead of increasing cost and risk, strategic pre‐emption would better serve stated European objectives more efficiently, cheaply and safely.…”