UNODC continues enhancing the capacity of competent Uzbek authorities in parallel financial investigations and disrupting illicit financial flows

UNODC ROCA jointly with INL and the national partners represented by the Academy of the General Prosecutor`s Office (Academy) of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Department on Combating Economic Crimes under the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Department) conducted a workshop within 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” (Initiative). The objectives of the Initiative are improving the effectiveness of the national system on countering money laundering from drug trafficking, preparation of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the mutual assessment in compliance with FATF standards and enhancement of the inter-agency cooperation.

In 2020 a working group was formed on the basis of the Academy consisting of a number of qualified specialists of the following state authorities: General Prosecutor’s Office, Department, Academy, State Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, National information-analytical Center on drug control under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. International and national experts conducted several online meetings with the working group in accordance with the methodology and developed over 40 documents for the simulation training.

the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, online format of the meetings and turnover of members of the working group caused objective difficulties in the project implementation. However, with the support of the national partners, the first stage of the Initiative is completed in February 2021.

On 24-26 February a Train-the-Trainer workshop was conducted by the Academy where the first stage of the initiative was presented, the national specialists were trained to conduct the simulation training and discussed the issues of further project implementation. In total, 15 representatives of Uzbek competent authorities took part in the workshop and national trainers were prepared to deliver a simulation training in April 2021.

Mr. Aliaksandr Vadziany, UNODC Regional Adviser on Anti- Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism in Central Asia marked that issues and problems of drug trafficking are relevant all over the world, and the more specialists are trained in the field of combating money laundering from drug trafficking, the more effectively countries will be able to confront this global problem.

Mr. Russell Singer, Director of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Section in the Embassy of the United States of America to Uzbekistan welcomed the participants emphasizing the importance of the programme being implemented in the country, which will enhance the interagency cooperation in parallel financial investigations and strengthen the further development of the capacity building od competent authorities of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Mr. Yevgeniy Kolenko, Head of the Academy under the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan noted the relevance of the educational simulation training. Also, the speakers stressed the importance of conducting a financial investigation in the criminal prosecution of drug trafficking.

During the Train-the-Trainer course, UNODC and CARICC presented the analysis with up-to-date information on the capabilities of CARICC and international organizations, the main tools used in combating drug trafficking The training aimed to fill the knowledge gaps regarding international cooperation and possibility of using CARICC’s platform in parallel financial investigations. Also, the participants were provided with recommendations and support to establish and maintain the pool of national experts in AML area. The national trainers were trained to deliver the simulation training and the training materials developed.

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.

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For media queries, please contact

Shakhnoza Zafari

Communication and External Relations Officer

UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia (Tashkent)

Email: shakhnoza.zafari[at]un.org

Mobile: +998935547895