Toshkovski: The fight against organized crime in prisons requires joint cooperation and coordination

Minister of Interior Panče Toshkovski took part in the Regional Conference “Organized Crime in Prisons: Strengthening Integrity, Intelligence and Cooperation in Southeast Europe,” organized by the OSCE Mission to Skopje. Representatives of the responsible institutions, as well as experts from countries across the region, participated in the event.

In his speech, Toshkovski underlined that the activities of criminal groups within correctional institutions cannot be viewed solely as a prison-related issue. According to him, even when deprived of their freedom, criminal structures can continue communicating, exerting influence and operating their networks, undermining institutional integrity and the effectiveness of the criminal justice system as a whole.

“We must acknowledge without reservation the weaknesses that exist. Overcrowding, the way pretrial detention is implemented, the insufficient development of alternatives, the risk of vulnerable individuals being recruited and the possibility of exerting influence through corruption create conditions that are exploited by criminal structures. At the same time, pressure, intimidation and corruption can directly undermine the integrity and resilience of prison staff. These are concrete challenges, and we must not minimize them,” Toshkovski said.

The minister described integrity as an important foundation for addressing this phenomenon. He mentioned the need for defined professional standards, responsible leadership, functioning systems for controlling and preventing corruption, as well as institutional support for officers so that they can withstand various pressures and influences.

According to him, intelligence within correctional institutions is also of particular importance. Toshkovski emphasized that the timely identification of risks depends on securing quality information, accurate analysis and effective communication among prison services, the police, the prosecution and other competent institutions.

“None of these measures can produce complete results in the absence of cooperation. From prevention and investigation, through the filing of indictments and trial, and all the way to the enforcement of sanctions, institutions must treat crime as a shared responsibility. Only through coordinated operational mechanisms, the effective exchange of information, joint training and clear procedures for safeguarding integrity can we create resilient institutions capable of protecting security and human rights,” Toshkovski said.