UNWE team led by Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov starts a two-year research project

On August 1, 2017, a research project on ” Contraband & Counterfeit Risk Identification (Business Process Analysis and Spatial Aspect)” was launched.

For the purpose of the project, the participants among whom are proven associate professors will explore the modus operandi and spatio-temporal dependencies of the illegal tobacco trade and related crimes, as well as the gaps and deficiencies in the national legal frameworks, and  will also propose legislative amendments in the field. The application of the Risk Identification methodology will focus on the counteraction of contraband and counterfeit on the most vulnerable places, thus saving time and efforts. In addition, experts will seek to raise awareness of the problem of smuggling and related crimes by developing training materials and organizing training courses that will be included in various modules of the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs at the University. Training courses are also provided for experts in the field.

The project funded by PMI IMPACT – a global grant initiative by Philip Morris International to support projects dedicated to fighting illicit trade and related crimes. The selection for funding was made by a council of independent experts in the fields of law, anti-corruption, and the fight against organized crime and illegal trade who reviewed and selected the projects from more than 200 applications submitted by private and public organizations from over 40 countries.