A meeting of cantonal ministers of internal affairs and representatives of cantonal ministries of internal affairs from the entire Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was held in Neum. The meeting was organized by the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs. During the meeting, the discussion was raised regarding the security situation on the territory of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, implementation of new legal regulations, education of cadets, while cantonal ministers submitted reports on implemented activities related to amendments of the new Law on Protection from Domestic Violence and Violence against Women in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At the meeting, Admir Katica, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton, and Emir Bašić, Director of the Federal Agency for the Management of Seized Property presented a Strategy and Action Plan for the Prevention and Suppression of Narcotic Drug Abuse in Sarajevo Canton for 2024-2028 periods, as well as Sarajevo’s Data Base regarding the Drug Abuse.
Strategic approach in fight against drug abuse in Sarajevo Canton over the last two years resulted in significantly higher number of police action and seized drug amounts, beginning of implementing drug tests in drivers, opening Counseling for Minors that experiment with drugs and other measures.
Director of the Federal Agency for Management of Seized Property, who is also a president of the Team for Monitoring the Implementation of Strategy, emphasized the significance of forming the first unique Data Base related to the drug abuse, which contains statistical date for the entire Sarajevo Canton. “Without reliable, systematic and comparative information, we cannot plan next steps or strategically approach this issue. This is why data base is an important tool. It provides facts, not assumptions, and creates basis for inter-institutional cooperation which is a prerequisite for the long-term success. That is why I am especially happy that at the start of the year we achieved cooperation with the Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office of Sarajevo Canton and Municipal Court in Sarajevo that deliver data about number of indictments and verdicts for criminal offences referring to drug abuse. The next step is cooperation with the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo,” Bašić explained.
“Strategy we are implementing in Sarajevo Canton, which was adopted on the suggestion and initiative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton sparked huge interest among other ministers, and those who attended the meeting. We are compliant that only the strategic approach in fight against drug abuse at the level of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina, can produce concrete results. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton has placed itself at the disposal of all cantons in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to offer advisory, technical, and every form of assistance in creating such document,” stated Admir Katica, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton.
