On 16–18 April 2025, the Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA 10), funded by the European Union (EU), organised a national workshop on Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The event aimed to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement and border management agencies across Central Asia to investigate cross-border crimes using modern digital tools.

"This workshop came at the right time, as we face increasingly complex cross-border crime in the region. Learning how to use tools like OSINT and understanding how to trace criminal activity online and through cryptocurrencies has been extremely useful. The training strengthened our skills and equipped us with practical knowledge to better protect our borders and communities", said Mr. Otabek Sharifbayev, representative of the Customs Committee under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the participant of workshop.

In recent years, cross-border criminal activities such as human trafficking, smuggling and money laundering have become increasingly complex. Criminal networks now exploit digital platforms and cryptocurrencies, complicating efforts to detect and investigate these crimes. In response, the workshop introduced participants to OSINT - a tool for collecting and analysing publicly available information, including content from social media, websites and mobile applications. It also addressed the growing use of cryptocurrency in transnational crime with a focus on tracing illicit financial flows.

The workshop was delivered by BOMCA 10 experts from the Border Guard Service and the Customs Criminal Service of Lithuania. Their combined expertise provided participants with practical insights into the use of OSINT in modern investigations, as well as the emerging challenges posed by cryptocurrency-related crimes. These newly acquired skills will now be applied in day-to-day operations, enabling more effective investigations and contributing to long-term improvements in regional security and the prevention of cross-border crime.