The 9th Meeting of the Ministers of Interior of the BSEC Member States took place in Istanbul

During the meeting in Istanbul on 23 November 2012 the Ministers and Heads of Delegations of the BSEC Member States and Observers discussed strategies, developments and cooperation in the field of combating organized crime in the Black Sea region and adopted the Joint Declaration.

The said document envisages the strengthening of cooperation in preventing and fighting transnational crimes including economic and financial crimes, smuggling of migrants, human trafficking, trafficking of light weapons and terrorism. Besides, the Ministers stated in the Joint Declaration their determination to take effective measures to prevent and combat any financial activities of organized criminal groups, particularly in the forms of financial investments and real estate acquisitions with criminal proceeds, to promote cooperation in preventing the trafficking of drugs and its precursors via sea routes.

The Declaration envisages the improvement of the existing mechanism of information exchange enhancing cooperation with other international and regional organizations for the exchange of expertise and best practices and for developing joint projects and programs in the field of preventing and combating transnational crime.

BSN Adaptation from BSEC PRESS RELEASE