The Ministry of Internal Affairs received new vehicles and specialized equipment intended to strengthen capacities in the fight against migrant smuggling and human trafficking, within the framework of the regional IPA project “EU4FAST”.
At the handover ceremony, the minister Panche Toshkovski pointed out that the support from European Union represents a significant contribution to the modernization of police services and improvement of their operational efficiency.
As part of the donation, 30 devices for checking documents, two heartbeat detectors for detecting people in hidden spaces, seven vehicles – four off-road vehicles and three vans – as well as five video cameras were handed over. The equipment is intended for the needs of the Border Police and the National Unit for Combating Migrant Smuggling and Human Trafficking.
Toshkovski emphasized that today’s security challenges have a transnational character, which is why strong international cooperation and a coordinated response of the institutions are necessary.
– Our borders are part of the European security architecture, and every investment in the modernization of services represents an investment in the stability and security of the entire European space – the minister emphasized.
He pointed out that the EU4FAST project is an example of successful cooperation between the countries of the region and European partners through trainings, exchange of information and joint activities in the field.
According to Toškovski, the new equipment and vehicles will be put into use immediately, which will improve the mobility and efficiency of police units in detecting and suppressing migrant smuggling and human trafficking.
The EU4FAST project is aimed at strengthening the prevention, investigations, prosecution and protection of victims of these forms of organized crime. It is co-financed by the European Union, German, Italian and Dutch institutions, and is implemented by a consortium led by German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).
