Bosnia and Herzegovina Modernizes Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS)

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Bosnia and Herzegovina is modernizing the AFIS/APIS automatic fingerprint and palm print identification system, which will ensure more efficient work and cooperation of security agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Furthermore, by establishing the new AFIS, BiH is aligning its system with EU countries, enabling international data exchange and strengthening cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime.

The users of the AFIS system are the State Investigation and Protection Agency, the Border Police of BiH, the Forensic Investigations and Expert Examinations Agency, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, the police of Brčko District BiH, and ten cantonal ministries of internal affairs, whose representatives signed a memorandum in Sarajevo today establishing future cooperation. The Ministry of Security of BiH is the owner of the system and will provide support to the competent police agencies through server hosting and maintenance.

This action also fulfills a prerequisite for the procurement of equipment for the AFIS system, worth seven million BAM, from the EU's IPA assistance program.

Minister Dragan Mektić emphasized that the creation of a unified database of latent prints and fingerprints and palm prints will significantly increase the scope and efficiency of crime detection in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- This is a powerful tool in the hands of the police that will be of great assistance in detecting and solving criminal offenses - Mektić said.