From 9-11 March, the Border Management Programme in Central Asia, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, held a workshop in Bishkek on the investigation of cross-border crimes, such as trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. The workshop targeted representatives of the investigation and criminal intelligence units of the State Committee of National Security, Border Guard and Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, specialising in investigating trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.  

This workshop strengthened the investigation capacities of criminal intelligence officers and investigators of the national security, internal affairs and border guard agencies in the field of cross-border crimes. The workshop looked into the United Nations and European legal instruments for countering trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, as well as novel methods of investigating organised cross-border crimes, profiling and identification techniques of victims of trafficking. Special attention was paid to case studies and practical exercises during the workshop.

As a result of the discussions and analysis of the existing practices, a pocket-size handbook is planned to be developed as a tool to support officers in addressing cases of trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants.