English
Establishing strong security coalitions is a matter of the highest national interest, as it enables a more robust, unified global effort to combat illegal migration and serious crime. Since July 2024, the Customs Administration has prevented the entry of 246 illegal migrants—primarily from Egypt, Sudan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. “At the same time, we have significantly intensified the fight against organized crime during this period,” stated Boban Nikolovski, Director of the Customs Administration, at today’s operational meeting of the joint migration task force, organized by the Public Security Bureau.
He added that these facts demonstrate the role played not only in protecting our own borders but also in safeguarding the borders of EU countries through timely and coordinated action.
Nikolovski emphasized the critical importance of information exchange and inter-institutional cooperation at both national and international levels—cooperation that has improved significantly, as evidenced by the results achieved. He noted that this year alone, customs mobile teams and K9 units from the Operational Affairs Department have assisted in 41 operations conducted by the Ministry of Interior. “The exchange of information, shared risk profiles, and coordinated action are tools that allow us to identify risks much earlier—even before they reach our border. While I acknowledge the significant progress made so far, we can and must do more, because crime never rests, never waits, and knows no borders. We remain fully committed to this goal and will continue to strengthen our capacities and enhance existing cooperation in order to effectively tackle illegal migration and organized crime. At the same time, we will continue to build trust and operational cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the Public Security Bureau, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, as well as customs administrations and security institutions across the region,” stated Nikolovski.