United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

The UNODC Regional Office in East Africa (ROEA)

Following the Trail: UNODC Empowers Tanzanian Law Enforcement to Unravel the Mystery of Money Laundering Cases, from Suspicious Cash to Financial Intelligence

Zanzibar (Tanzania) – 27 February 2024 – From Southeast Asia to Eastern Africa, money laundering scandals are like cancer that slowly eats away at nations' economies and governments. Policymakers have pointed fingers at crime cartels, tax havens, and new techniques like cyberlaundering, but the problem of dirty money has been around for much longer. The absence of unified rules regulating global finance has created a vacuum that criminals have been more than happy to fill. They continue to take advantage of the world's disparate legal systems to stash the proceeds of their crimes without fear of retribution. 

Over the years, UNODC has been a leading figure in delivering expert assistance to countries that are committed to tackling the complex issues surrounding money laundering and l terrorism and financing. Through its partnership with the Canadian government, UNODC continues to deliver capacity-building training and mentorship programs to equip law enforcement authorities with the requisite expertise to investigate financial crime effectively. Most recently, the UNODC recently concluded an advanced training program on developing critical thinking skills in conducting financial investigations. The program covered topics such as money laundering, sources of financial intelligence, financial search and seizure, and identifying and handling suspicious cash. 

“Insufficient investigative and prosecutorial capacities have been identified as significant impediments to the effective implementation of extant legislation aimed at combatting financial crime. The underlying cause of this challenge is rooted in the underdeveloped policies and strategies, which have failed to coordinate the requisite stakeholders in the public and private sectors,” A member of the committee expressed confidence, highlighting that the Committee’s advisory and coordination mandate will be considerably strengthened with the assistance of UNODC, which will extend and enhance the capabilities of all relevant stakeholders, enabling them to counter financial crime better.

The authorities from the Zanzibar Drugs Control and Enforcement Authority (ZDCEA), as well as the Zanzibar Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Authority (ZAECA), were equipped with the knowledge and tools to investigate potential money laundering cases and deter financial criminality effectively. The authorities learned the various techniques, strategies, and advanced critical thinking skills to identify and investigate financial crimes. They gained insights into identifying patterns and anomalies that may indicate fraudulent activities and making sound judgments based on the evidence found, including the importance of ethical considerations, equipping them with the expertise to handle sensitive information.

UNODC’s training programs are the product of a team of experts who leverage their extensive knowledge and experience to create high-quality, interactive, and engaging sessions. The programs are designed to be comprehensive, evidence-based, and tailored to meet the specific needs of stakeholders and reflect the organization's unwavering commitment to delivering optimal outcomes.

The program's triumph is a testament to the UNODC's steadfast commitment to enhancing law enforcement agencies' abilities to address financial crimes. Participants have gained invaluable knowledge and skills that will significantly impact their work. With these newfound abilities, they will be better equipped to investigate and prosecute financial crime, ultimately deterring such crimes in the region.

For more information, please contact: 

Ms. Atuweni-Tupochile Agbermodji (atuweni.agbermodji@un.org)

Adviser, Global Programme Against Money Laundering

UNODC Regional Office for Eastern Africa