The Austrian police have been intensifying the use of drones since 2020. For this purpose, separate competence centers were set up at the Cobra/DSE task force and at the flight police. For the last two years, the main focus of the drones has been on the Austrian state border in combating people smuggling. The Austrian police currently have around 130 drones at their disposal.

In September 2022, Austrian police officers passed on their know-how in the field of drone control and aerial reconnaissance to law enforcement officials in Montenegro. A team of four police officers was on site for a week to share their tactical and technical knowledge. The Montenegrin police will use their drones for border security and in difficult situations such as searches and access.

“Supporting our partners in the Western Balkans is an important part of the Austrian security strategy. Drones are a key tool in combating the brutal business of people smugglers," said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.

At the meeting of interior ministers on October 6, 2022 in Belgrade, Interior Minister Karner assured his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vulin, of support for the Serbian police. Austria will send police officers and drones to the Serbian-North Macedonian border. Drones will also be used on the Hungarian-Serbian border (external EU border) - there are currently up to 70 police officers from Austria on duty there.

Interior Minister Karner welcomes the prospect of a Frontex operation on the Serbian-North Macedonian border to combat smuggling, as suggested by EU Commissioner Margaritas Schinas. "A Frontex operation on the Serbian-North Macedonian border is an important contribution to the joint and consistent action against the international smuggling mafia," said Karner.