Financial Crime World

Asian Financial Crimes Challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country located in Southeastern Europe with a population of approximately 3.3 million people. The country has been grappling with various financial crimes, including money laundering, corruption, and organized crime.

Organized Crime Resilience Index

According to the Global Organized Crime Index (GOCI), Bosnia and Herzegovina scores 4.44 out of 10 for its resilience against organized crime. This score is based on a range of factors, including:

  • Effectiveness of law enforcement agencies: The ability of law enforcement agencies to prevent and investigate organized crime.
  • Public awareness about organized crime: The level of public knowledge and understanding about the nature and extent of organized crime in the country.
  • Corruption within government institutions: The presence of corruption within government institutions that can facilitate or enable organized crime.

Specific Financial Crimes Challenges

Bosnia and Herzegovina faces significant challenges related to:

Non-Renewable Resource Crimes

Non-renewable resource crimes scored 3 out of 10, indicating that the illicit extraction, smuggling, mingling, bunkering or mining of natural resources and the illicit trade of such commodities are significant concerns in the country.

Synthetic Drug Trade

The synthetic drug trade is a major concern in Bosnia and Herzegovina, scoring 5.50 out of 10. This suggests that the production, distribution, and sale of synthetic drugs are substantial issues in the country.

State-Embedded Actors

State-embedded actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina scored an impressive 8 out of 10. This indicates that criminal actors embedded in and acting from within the state apparatus are a significant concern in the country.

Challenges to Resilience Against Organized Crime

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s resilience against organized crime is hampered by:

  • Corruption within government institutions: Corruption within government institutions can facilitate or enable organized crime.
  • Presence of state-embedded actors: State-embedded actors exploit their positions for personal gain, undermining efforts to combat organized crime.

Conclusion

Addressing these concerns will require a concerted effort from the government, law enforcement agencies, and civil society to build resilience against organized crime and promote transparency and accountability in public institutions.