The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) recently held its 17th Global Programme on Anti-Corruption, Financial Crimes and Asset Recovery in Colombia, which focused on combating financial crimes associated with cocaine trafficking in Latin America.
The course drew more than 40 senior investigators from 11 countries in Latin America to share experiences and best practices for investigating cases of corruption and money laundering associated with the illicit drug trade.
The five-day training workshop was developed by Interpol in conjunction with the Colombia National Police with expertise support by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and law enforcement officials from Brazil and Chile. With estimates of the cocaine value in Europe reaching the tens of millions, the course was conducted by CRIMJUST, an initiative of the European Union’s Cocaine Route Programme.
Topics discussed in the course included the links between cocaine smuggling and corruption, bribery, laundering of illicit proceeds, international cooperation in corruption and asset recovery investigations, facilitating secure information exchange using Interpol systems, and evidence management in anti-corruption and money laundering investigations.
Cocaine trafficking from Latin America via West Africa to Europe has become an increasing problem for law enforcement along all trafficking routes. In 2016 alone, Bolivian authorities seized eight tonnes of cocaine set for shipment to West Africa. Additionally, Moroccan law enforcement seized approximately 200 kg of cocaine from a clandestine drug lab, arresting Moroccans, Peruvians and French nationals in the process.