Expanding UNODC’ cooperation with national partners in Uzbekistan on combating money laundering and financing of terrorism

The Regional Office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Central Asia (UNODC ROCA) provides ongoing technical assistance in strengthening the capacity of Uzbekistan's law enforcement agencies in anti-money laundering and the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). 

In this regard, on April 14-15 of this year, during the visit of Aliaksandr Vadziany, the UNODC Regional AML/CFT Advisor in Central Asia and the South Caucasus, working meetings were held with national partners represented by relevant departments of the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO), the Academy of the PGO and Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The issues of further cooperation and rendering of technical assistance in strengthening the capacity of the competent authorities of Uzbekistan in the field of AML/CFT were discussed during the meetings. 

During the meeting, the representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan noted the successful work in conducting investigations of criminal cases related to the financing of terrorism. An example is given when practitioners of the Ministry of Internal Affairs uncovered a criminal scheme for transferring funds ($1,500) from Uzbekistan to Syria. The recipient of the funds was identified as a terrorist. The representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that the criminal scheme was uncovered by an officer who successfully completed training under the Programme for Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT). The next stage of the implementation of  the Programme for CFT is scheduled in autumn 2022.

As part of the national strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Anti- Money Laundering, Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (AML/CFT/FPWMD), measures have been planned to improve the efficiency of activities of the competent authorities to identify and investigate crimes related to money laundering and financing terrorism. In support of this strategy, the General Prosecutor's Office, the Academy of the Prosecutor General's Office, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan expressed their firm intention to cooperate with UNODC and participate in activities related to the development of the national AML/CFT system aimed at increasing the capacity of the competent authorities to counter modern challenges and threats. An exchange of views and best international practices took place during the meetings for conducting financial investigations in criminal cases related to money laundering and terrorist financing.

Aliaksandr Vadziany emphasized that UNODC closely cooperates with the Republic of Uzbekistan and provides technical assistance on an ongoing basis by strengthening the capacity of national AML/CFT partners.

These activities were carried out with the expert support of the Global Programme against Money Laundering and the financial assistance of Norway and the International Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).  

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