Between 7 and 9 March 2022, UNODC’s Global Firearms Programme organised a training course to strengthen cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of firearms trafficking between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, which took place in Asuncion, Paraguay.
The objective of the course was to promote judicial and police cooperation between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, based on the knowledge acquired during previous activities organised by UNODC’s Global Firearms Programme, in order to identify common cases that could lead to the establishment of joint investigation teams; and sought to provide advanced tools and techniques on skills required in the investigation and prosecution of firearms-related crimes; as well as to strengthen the knowledge of participating public officials in charge of law enforcement, criminal justice and investigation by introducing new practices to make their profession more efficient. To that end, the training gathered 24 criminal justice practitioners from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, from relevant institutions involved in international cooperation in criminal matters, including police officers, prosecutors, judges, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The activity was very dynamic and interactive, with theoretical sessions and practical sessions, and offered a set of lectures by experts from UNODC and other international organisations and national institutions, as well as case studies on investigation and prosecution methods, plenary discussions and exchange of experiences and good practices.
The participants highly appreciated the course, thinking that it helped to strengthen subregional cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of firearms trafficking between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, and they expressed their interest that the UNODC, through its Global Firearms Programme, continue to support to the three countries, in order to strengthen national capacities in the detection, investigation and prosecution of illicit firearms trafficking and related crimes.
