Innovations in countering money laundering from organized crime and drug trafficking

UNODC in cooperation with the Academy of the General Prosecutor`s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Department on Combating Economic Crimes under the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan has launched the initiative on “Enhancing the capabilities of competent Uzbek authorities to conduct parallel financial investigations and disrupt illicit financial flows related to organized crime and drug trafficking”. The Initiative aims to improve the effectiveness of national anti-money laundering (AML) frameworks to combat illicit financial flows related to organized crime and drug trafficking, to support the preparation of the Republic of Uzbekistan for mutual assessment for compliance with the Financial Action Task Force international standards, as well as to enhance inter-agency cooperation. The initiative plans to apply innovative approaches in organization of the events. International and national experts will develop materials and deliver simulation trainings on “Countering organized crime and drug-related money laundering" within the frame of the Initiative in 2020-2021.

The first working meeting between UNODC and competent authorities of the Republic of Uzbekistan was held on May 14, 2020, including the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Department on Combating Economic Crimes under the General Prosecutor's Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Security Service, the Academy of the General Prosecutor’s Office, and National Information-Analytical Center on Drug Control under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Considering the situation related to COVID-19 crisis, as well as, to comply with the requirements of self-isolation, the meeting was held online. UNODC Regional Advisor on AML/CFT, Mr. Aliaksandr Vadziany briefed the participants that the knowledge and skills required to conduct financial investigations will be enhanced. The innovations will be used to the professional training of the practitioners during the implementation of the project. In cooperation with national partners simulation trainings will be held for inter-agencies investigation teams. Besides, localized scenarios, legalization schemes and criminal profiles will be developed and will be used as the basis for the national training programme in related topic.

“This is a joint initiative which involves the leading law enforcement and state bodies of Uzbekistan for its implementation. Reducing the financial flows from drug trafficking and preparing the Republic of Uzbekistan for mutual assessment for compliance with FATF international standards are one of the Academy’s priorities in current year” – said Mr. Uygun Nigmadzhanov, the Deputy Head of the Academy of the General Prosecutor’s Office.

UNODC and national partners agreed to establish a working group consisting of the representatives of all interested agencies. The next stage of the program on development of materials for simulation trainings will be implemented remotely to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

The programme is implemented under UNODC Programme for Central Asia with the expert support of the Global Programme against Money-Laundering and with the financial support of the Department of State’s Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) under the Department of State of the USA and the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan.