10 - 12 May 2021 - Within the framework of EU funded CRIMJUST Global Programme and Global Illicit Flows Programme (GIFP), UNODC and RFAI facilitated an online training on Interregional Cooperation on Asset Recovery, which main objective was to promote transnational cooperation as well as to enhance capacities for undertaking financial and asset investigations into drug trafficking. The event had the participation of 65 law enforcement officials and prosecutors from Argentina, Paraguay, Panama, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Peru and Colombia. This regional training follows the delivery of country-specific financial investigation and asset recovery training courses to officials in Argentina, Paraguay, Panama, Bolivia, Dominican Republic over the past 6 months.
Mr. Olivier Inizan, UNODC Deputy Representative in Colombia, opened the event, welcoming the participants and highlighting CRIMJUST’s strategy focused on reinforcing criminal investigation and cooperation. Mr. Chris Hoornaert, European Union Ambassador to Panama, also outlined the importance of CRIMJUST’s work to disrupt organized crime and drug trafficking, as well as the crucial recognition of production and transit countries of cocaine regarding the expansion of CRIMJUST’s scope.
The topics on the first day included sessions on how the criminal and asset investigation should be planned and executed in order to identify the financial profile of criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking. In addition, experts from Colombia and Peru shared best practices and experiences on how the theory of the case should be designed when investigating in parallel the criminal liability of the members of the drug trafficking organization and their illegal assets.
The training included dedicated sessions on the discussion of the planning methods of criminal and property investigations, particularly what methods of criminal and asset investigations are recommended for providing unlawfulness of the assets and taking a final decision on the restriction of the right ownership and what recommendations can be applied to streamline and optimize the ordering and preparation of asset and accounting surveys. In addition, the common and differentiating factors of the different types of asset forfeiture were analyzed. The UNODC platform SHERLOC, an initiative to facilitate the dissemination of information on the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, was also presented.
Finally, on the last day of training, the main challenges of formal cooperation in cases involving drug trafficking and related offenses were outlined by prosecutors from Spain and Argentina. The exchange of experiences regarding joint investigation teams and other operational forms of international cooperation strengthened the participants knowledge.
This online training further adds to CRIMJUST’s efforts to strengthen criminal justice cooperation, through sharing information on criminal investigation and on different strategies and experiences.
This CRIMJUST activity was funded by the European Union under the framework of the "Global Illicit Flows Programme" [GIFP]). It seeks to enhance law enforcement and judicial counter-narcotic strategies beyond interdiction activities and to foster transnational responses targeting each stage of the drug supply chain.
For more information, please visit:
