Financial Crime World

Terrorist Financing Prevention Takes Centre Stage in Serbia and Montenegro: UNODC and OSCE Deliver Training Programme for Practitioners

Strengthening Capacity to Combat Terrorism Financing

Montenegro has received critical training from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to strengthen its capacity to combat terrorism financing. The Foundational Training-Of-Trainers Course on Countering the Financing of Terrorism was delivered recently in Vienna, Austria.

Participants and Objectives

The three-day training programme brought together a team of experts from Montenegro’s law enforcement agencies, including:

  • Special State Prosecutor’s Office
  • National Security Agency
  • Customs Administration
  • Financial Intelligence Unit
  • Police Directorate

The participants learned about the terrorist funding cycle, the importance of finance for terrorist organizations, and different types of illicit financial flows. The training aimed to equip local practitioners with the necessary skills to conduct effective financial investigations.

Course Highlights

  • Introductory session on cybercrime and virtual asset tracing, highlighting the critical role that these areas play in the fight against terrorism financing.
  • Interactive sessions and peer learning, fostering collaboration and cooperation among agencies.
  • Train-the-trainer element, enabling participants to acquire new skills and knowledge to share with colleagues involved in countering terrorist financing.

Upcoming Training Programme

A foundational training course is planned for June in Budva, Montenegro, which will mark the start of rolling out the programme among a wider audience of law enforcement officials and other stakeholders.

UNODC-OSCE Partnership

The UNODC-OSCE partnership aims to strengthen local capacities, enhance inter-agency cooperation, and promote public-private partnerships in anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. The initiative is part of a comprehensive programme that aligns with:

  • UN Security Council Resolutions
  • Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards

Funding and International Cooperation

The course was made possible through financial support from the United States of America and Norway, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in addressing transnational security threats, illicit flows, and cybercrime.

Significance for Montenegro

The training marks a significant step forward in Montenegro’s efforts to prevent terrorist financing and demonstrates its commitment to countering this global threat.

Regional Programme

The UNODC-OSCE partnership has been instrumental in strengthening Montenegro’s capacity to combat organized crime, money laundering, and cybercrime. The regional programme is aligned with:

  • UNODC’s Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe (RPSEE)
  • Global Programme against Money Laundering, Proceeds of Crime, and the Financing of Terrorism (GPML)