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Blog Post

Bosnia and Herzegovina: ICITAP Launches Bi-Lateral, Multi-Agency Narco-Terrorism Scenario-Based Exercise and Training Event

On August 28, ICITAP initiated a four-week, scenario-based training exercise in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), scheduled to conclude on September 22. Over the four weeks, BiH’s ability to access governmental resources and inter-agency operability would be put to the test. The scenario-based activity focused on a hypothetical narco-terrorist traversing from Montenegro and attempting to exchange drugs for weapons in Sarajevo. The exercise involved law enforcement counterparts from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Counterterrorism (DOS/CT), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Department of Justice Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT), the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) Joint Interagency Counter Trafficking Center (JICTC), the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC), and the 19th Special Forces Group. On September 11, 2023, the training portion of the activity got into full swing when investigators from the BiH State Investigation and Protection Agency’s (SIPA) Counterterrorism Unit and Counter Narcotics Unit joined with their investigative partners from the Border Police for two weeks of training and practical exercises. Over these two-weeks, investigators were trained on and were required to conduct vehicle surveillance, foot surveillance, buy-walks, buy-busts, facilitate high risk warrant services, and crime scene processing. On September 20, 2023, the MANPAD Task Force arrived from Washington, DC and delivered a recognition and awareness brief regarding portable surface-to-air missiles and anti-tank guided missiles. On September 21, SIPA tactical units flew via helicopter for a high-risk warrant service where simulated missile systems were located and secured. The ICITAP-trained investigators were then required to prepare the international case for prosecution. This exercise and training is supported with funding from EUCOM through the efforts of JICTC in conjunction with DOS/CT.

Updated January 20, 2025