Addressing money laundering is of critical importance, as it enables the criminals to enjoy these profits without jeopardizing their source. The estimated amount of money laundered globally in one year is 2 - 5% of global GDP, or $800 billion - $2 trillion.
UNODC provides in-depth assistance to member states to build and strengthen their anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) capacity.
As part of these efforts, on 15-17 October, UNODC, jointly with the Law Enforcement Academy of Uzbekistan, held a regional Train the Trainer workshop on basic investigative actions during investigations of money laundering and asset recovery, focusing on search, interrogation, arrest and confiscation. Representatives from the law enforcement and academia of Central Asian states took part in the workshop.
First Deputy Head of the Law Enforcement Academy of Uzbekistan Mr. Yevgeniy Kolenko noted the importance of the interagency cooperation and the concept of the Train the Trainers modality, allowing national trainers to disseminate gained knowledge and experience within their agencies.
The workshop enhanced knowledge and skills by providing participants with in-depth understanding and practical skills in conducting searches, seizing assets, making arrests, and interrogating suspects in ML investigations; facilitating the exchange of information and best practices among Central Asian countries to improve cross-border cooperation in combating ML; developed a common understanding of investigative procedures and legal frameworks to ensure consistency and effectiveness across the region; strengthened the capabilities of participants in tracing, freezing, and recovering assets linked to ML activities.
The seminar participants shared their opinions and noted that in practice, difficulties often arise in matters of proving facts of money laundering. Participants positively assessed the format of the workshop, which allowed them not only to obtain certain knowledge, but also, during discussions, to find acceptable answers to problematic issues related to the investigation of money laundering and the return of criminal assets.
Additionally, eight Masters’ students of the Law Enforcement Academy took part in the session on seizure and could practice in group exercise. The students are obtaining a master’s degree in AML/CFT area.
On the 18th of October, the Law Enforcement Academy held an advanced training for specialists- practitioners of the Department for Combating Economic Crimes (25 representatives) and investigators and interrogators of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (30 representatives) where UNODC provided expert support in a session on international standards and practical problems in the field of combating money laundering.
As the result of the training activities, the understanding of basic investigative actions (search, interrogation, arrest and confiscation) was strengthened on ML cases; tactical features of the preparation, conduct, and evaluation of the results of these investigative actions in ML cases are demonstrated. Based on the results of the regional training, recommendations were developed for the main investigative actions that will increase the efficiency of investigation of cases related to ML.
The course materials were developed by the UNODC experts with the support of the Global Programme against Money Laundering, Proceeds of Crime and the Financing of Terrorism and the Anti-Corruption Branch. The workshop was delivered with the financial support of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.
