Financial Crime World

Serbia and Montenegro Join Forces to Combat Terrorist Financing

In a major push against terrorist financing, [Serbia] and [Montenegro] have launched a comprehensive training initiative aimed at empowering experts with the skills and knowledge needed to combat this threat.

Empowering Experts through Training

The program was officially kicked off on May 8, 2024, when the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in collaboration with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, concluded a training of trainers’ course for experts from [Montenegro].

Course Details

  • The three-day course brought together six trainers from key governmental agencies in [Montenegro], including:
    • Special State Prosecutor’s Office
    • Customs Administration
    • National Security Agency
    • Police Directorate’s Sector for the Fight against Crime
    • Financial Intelligence Unit
  • Held in Vienna, the course covered a comprehensive curriculum that delved into:
    • The international, regional, and national threat landscape
    • The nuances of the terrorist funding cycle

Challenges Persist

Despite commendable strides made by the international community and [Montenegro] in criminalizing terrorism financing and implementing relevant legislation, significant challenges persist, particularly in investigating and prosecuting this type of crime.

Quote from Irfan Saeed

“Iran Saeed, Head of the Transnational Threats Department’s Action against Terrorism Unit, stated, “We must recognize that while we have made progress, there is still much work to be done.”

Funding and Goals

The training program is funded by the United States and aims to further bolster the operational framework in [Serbia] and [Montenegro] to prevent terrorists from: + Moving funds + Storing funds + Using funds + Raising funds

  • The course will also help the two countries comply with the latest international commitments and standards.

Impact and Future Plans

After completing the course, the trainers will go on to deliver it to their peers actively involved in countering the financing of terrorism efforts, thereby amplifying the impact of this program. This initiative marks a significant step forward in the fight against terrorist financing in [Serbia] and [Montenegro], and demonstrates the commitment of both countries to combating this threat.