A workshop on “Combating the Criminal Proceeds from the Trafficking of Illicit Drugs” was organized in Ankara on 6-7 December 2022 in co-operation with TAIEX[1] and the Ministry of Interior of Türkiye, Turkish National Police, Counter Narcotics Department.
The event was attended by 115 participants, including representatives of the Central and Regional Units of the Turkish National Police, Law Enforcement Agencies, Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), experts from EU Member States and Europol, as well as Police & Customs Attachés based in the Embassies & Consulates General in Türkiye. The Paris Pact Liaison Officer for Türkiye represented the Paris Pact Initiative in the meeting.
The Workshop brought together EU Member States’ experts from the law enforcement sector to exchange information, share best practices and discuss the necessary actions. The Workshop provided a sound platform for the EU and Turkish experts to share information on relevant operations, international legislation, projects and initiatives, and to review new methods and techniques used for money laundering. The workshop underlined the importance of international cooperation in suppressing illicit financial flows resulting from drug trafficking and further reinforced the need for strengthening capacity building activities in this area. The event was directly related to the Pillar II of the Vienna Declaration, which serves as the roadmap for the Paris Pact Initiative.
[1] TAIEX is the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument of the European Commission to support public administrations with regard to the approximation, application and enforcement of EU legislation as well as facilitating the sharing of EU best practices.
