Organised crime is a significant threat to the security and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the Western Balkans. Driven by profit, criminal networks in the region generate substantial illicit profits that not only motivate and fund further crimes, but that also undermine social institutions, destabilise communities, halt economic prosperity, and threaten security. Effective asset recovery mechanisms are crucial for depriving criminals of their illegally obtained gains and ensuring that crime does not pay.
In response to this challenge, the AIRE Centre, in partnership with the Criminal Policy Research Centre (CPRC), the Seized Property Management Agency in the FBiH (FAZUOI) and Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training (OPDAT), held an panel on the recovery of illegally obtained assets, bringing together leading national and regional experts, inducing judges, prosecutors, and other legal practitioners.
“Effective asset recovery is crucial for the integrity of our legal systems and the fight against organised crime and corruption. This session provided great insights into good practices, but also challenges in asset recovery, and offered an opportunity for national and regional experts and practitioners to come together and discuss paths for collaboration and joint approaches in tackling these crimes”, said Martina Raguž, Project Manager at the AIRE Centre.
Moderated by Eldan Mujanović, professor at the Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies of the University of Sarajevo, the panel featured distinguished experts who provided insights into the current state and future of asset recovery in BiH and the region.
“The diverse expertise and practical experiences shared by our speakers highlight the complexities and necessities of robust asset recovery mechanisms. These discussions have opened a path for more coordinated and efficient efforts in seizing criminal assets, ultimately contributing to the rule of law in BiH and the region”, said professor Mujanović, senior expert of the AIRE Centre.
Participants had the opportunity to learn from distinguished experts in the field. Miloš Šoškić, Deputy Chief Special State Prosecutor from Montenegro, discussed financial profiling, interviewing techniques, and the confiscation of criminal assets as a part of financial investigations for money laundering. Sedin Idrizović, Judge at the Supreme Court of the FBiH, shared insights into temporary measures for securing asset confiscation. Medina Džerahović, Prosecutor from the Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office of Sarajevo Canton, highlighted the complexities of financial investigations in high-level corruption cases. Emir Bašić, Acting Director of the FAZUOI, provided a decade-long perspective on the implementation of the Law on the seizure of illegally acquired property through criminal offences in the FBiH. U.S. prosecutors Daniel Bubar and Scott Lemmon, and Special Agent Jamey Tarrh, from the Drug Enforcement Agency, offered valuable comparative insights on asset confiscation practices, emphasising international collaboration.
For more information on the topic, explore our comprehensive reports on asset recovery and organised crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans, which can be found here.
