New units to coordinate the exchange of information between national and international law enforcement agencies has led to a significant increase in the number of arrests for organised crime in the Western Balkans.

International Law Enforcement Units have been set up in the enlargement countries of the Western Balkans in the framework of an IPA Multi-beneficiary project and incorporate the main international law enforcement agencies such as Europol, Interpol, Frontex.

Since organised crime does not respect national borders it was essential to set up units which could operate across borders and at regional level.

They are the national coordination points for exchanging information in international investigations, especially into drug trafficking and terrorism.

These seven units can now respond much faster to requests for information. For example in Kosovo, thanks to an increase of 160% in the exchange of information with neighbouring countries, in the first nine months of 2012 the local unit handled over two and half thousand cases. Prior to this, communication between law enforcement authorities in Kosovo was difficult, slow or non existent.

One added advantage of these new units is that police departments in the various countries have been brought up to date compared to the old, communist style structures they had inherited.
Europol’s secure communication channel is now being used by six of the units as well as by the Turkish police.