Enhancing Investigative Capabilities through Financial Intelligence

Enhancing Investigative Capabilities through Financial Intelligence
© UNODC-Pakistan

23 January 2025, Karachi and Islamabad– Financial intelligence plays a pivotal role in disrupting criminal networks and safeguarding national security. Recognizing this, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) hosted two three-day workshops to empower key officials from Sindh, Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan on Financial Intelligence. These workshops mark a transformative step towards combating terrorism financing. The first series of the workshop, held from September 3–5, 2024, in Karachi, engaged participants from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Sindh, CTD Balochistan, and the Federal Investigating Agency (FIA). The second series of workshops held from January 20–22, 2025, in Islamabad and oriented officials from CTD KP, CTD Punjab, and FIA. Both initiatives aimed to equip investigators with cutting-edge tools to transform financial data and intelligence into actionable insights, strengthening Pakistan’s fight against terrorism financing.

These workshops began with insightful opening remarks from FMU and UNODC representatives. Day one of these workshops laid the groundwork by exploring FMU’s role in national security, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations, and international sanction regimes under United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1267 and 1373. Participants delved into transaction monitoring systems, banking product vulnerabilities, and reporting Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) and Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA).

Day two emphasized practical applications, focusing on the real-world use of financial intelligence through case studies and hands-on exercises. Participants gained a deeper understanding of goAML (Anti-Money-Laundering System), FMU’s advanced reporting platform, and explored strategies for enhancing domestic and international coordination mechanisms.

Enhancing Investigative Capabilities through Financial Intelligence
© UNODC-Pakistan
Enhancing Investigative Capabilities through Financial Intelligence
© UNODC-Pakistan

On the final day, participants collaborated on crafting informal international cooperation requests and discussed safeguarding the confidentiality and improving feedback systems. The event concluded with a spirited certificate distribution ceremony, celebrating the participants’ achievements and growth.

Building on the learnings from the 1st workshop in Karachi workshop, the 2nd workshop at Islamabad reinforced the importance of collaboration and innovation in combating terrorism financing, equipping participants with actionable strategies to address the ever-evolving challenges of global terrorism financing.

A total of 50 participants attended both workshops that included 44 men and 06 women officers. The workshops are an important milestone of the project, Strengthening Pakistan’s Response to Effectively Prevent the Spread of Violent Extremism Virtually and amongst Youth in Vulnerable Communities (SPRE). Supported by Denmark, the SPREE project underscores the importance of building legal and technical capacities to address the evolving challenges of cross-border crimes effectively.

Enhancing Investigative Capabilities through Financial Intelligence
© UNODC-Pakistan
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