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Description
The project is aimed at strengthening the national capabilities for combating organized crime and will enhance the cooperation with the Norwegian national Criminal Service (KRIPOS) and international organizations such as Europol, Interpol and foreign partner law enforcement agencies. The project will strengthen the justice chain and the knowledge and capacity of officials in the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC), magistrates and other experts in the field of countering organized crime. The conditions for the preservation and proper storage of evidence will be further improved. The target group of the project will be GDCOC experts, magistrates and relevant actors, who are directly engaged in combating cross-border organized crime. Experts from international organizations like Europol, Eurojust and Interpol are also envisaged to participate in the project.
Summary of project results
The team and the participants'' main challenge was navigating administrative boundaries and different legal frameworks. Other countries have different laws and legal practices. Therefore, investigators must become familiar with these differences before their training or an investigation abroad begins and adapt quickly. This applies not only to the implementation of the project activities but also to the project management itself. The rules and requirements for managing and reporting project implementation are very different in Bulgaria and Norway, with a very different volume of documents required and administrative burden, which may be considered the second most challenging part of the project.
In addition, since the implementation started in 2020, at the peak of COVID-19 restrictions, some activities were delayed but completed successfully.
The direct results of the implementation are as follows:
- Increased cooperation between Norway and Bulgaria. 6 workshops, 6 meetings of the bilateral working group for sharing expertise and knowledge were held which benefits present and future collaboration.
- 22 study visits conducted with participants from EU MS and third countries. The meetings strengthened the cooperation, establishing personal contacts and exploring opportunities for operational activities. Significant operations were presented, which generated further discussion and exploration of the potential for effective data exchange
- 31 workshops/seminars conducted with 1 458 participants for improving administrative capacity of GDCOC experts and other practitioners in prevention and investigation of transnational organized crimes. The events were held in the field of THB, migrant smuggling, anticorruption, cybercrime, trafficking in cultural or historical goods, money laundering, drug trafficking, counterterrorism, and other criminal fields. The workshops and seminars helped LEA personnel stay updated on new laws, procedures, and technologies, fostering professional development and enhancing their effectiveness in combating crime and ensuring public safety.
- Renovation of premises to increase the capacity of GDCOC for combatting cross-border and organized crime:
- 1 facilities for gym space was renovated and equipped to provide a convenient space for engaging in regular exercises, which can improve strength, endurance, and overall health, ultimately contributing to officers effectiveness and the safety of the communities they serve;
- 2 facilities for interrogation and recognition of detained suspects or witnesses in line with EU standards and best practices were renovated and equipped;
- conference hall fully equipped for training and videoconference meetings was renovated and equipped from scratch;
- warehouse for the preservation of evidence was reconstructed and equipped with necessary shelving, loading equipment, and security systems;
- Technical capabilities of GDCOC for countering organized crime enhanced by delivery of vehicles and specialized tactical and technical equipment - 2 vehicles category M1, tactical clothes, bulletproof vests, communication equipment, personal protective equipment (helmets, ballistic shields), teasers, tactical drone, night vision devices and other specialized equipment for the participants in special operations and to identify and detect persons engaged in criminal activities.
- Improving analytical and operational capacities of GDCOC through analytical software for effective data analysis and processing developed and installed - IT equipment (PC and MFU – a total of 410 pcs) and an analytical software
The sustainability of the achieved results was achieved from one side, with a large number of study visits, trainings and workshops that formed a large pool of direct connections improving the information exchange, future cooperation between LEAs, other agencies and magistrates facilitating coordinated crime prevention and investigation efforts.. The professional qualification in combating various forms of transnational and organized crime was improved leading to prevention, identification, investigation and proper prosecution of various forms of transnational and organized crime.
On the other hand, all of the assets modernized, renovated and acquired significantly improved conditions and increased the Directorate''s capabilities for countering organized crime and investigation capacity in line with the EU standards and best practices.
During the implementation of the project, it became clear that the long-term impact, benefits and outcomes of the cooperation exceeded the expectations from the partners. In this process, the partners identified a need to expand the cooperation to comprise not only competence building, but also collaboration on an operational level by means of joint investigations, intelligence exchange and joint operations.
Summary of bilateral results
During the projects'' implementation, GDCOC collaborated with several Norwegian authorities, such as the National Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS/KRIPOS), Oslo Police District, as well as with international organizations such as Europol, Interpol, SELEC, magistrates and other foreign law enforcement agencies. In the duration of the project 31 workshops/seminars conducted with 1 458 participants, 22 study visits conducted with participants from EU MS and 11 third countries, and also between Bulgaria and Norway was organized 6 workshops, 6 meetings of the bilateral working group. The cooperation was focused on sharing expertise and knowledge and has been highly and mutually valuable. During the project implementation, it became clear that the cooperation''s long-term impact, benefits, and outcomes exceeded all expectations. Partners identified the need for further expansion of the cooperation not only in the direction of competence building but also in collaboration on an operational level through joint investigations, intelligence exchange, and joint operations.GDCOC benefitted from the cooperation with our partners - National Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS/KRIPOS) and Oslo Police District, international organizations, other LEAs and participants, by sharing experience, knowledge, know-how and technology and working together for joint results.