CARIB Caribbean Asset Recovery Network: A Key Player in Combating Transnational Crime
The CARIB Caribbean Asset Recovery Network (ARIN) plays a crucial role in combating transnational crime by facilitating international cooperation among law enforcement agencies and judicial authorities.
Membership Criteria and Obligations
To become a member of ARIN, countries must submit up to three national contact points from relevant law enforcement agencies, asset recovery offices, or judicial authorities. Members are also required to:
- Provide an overview of their legislation
- Offer practical guidelines for civil and criminal asset forfeiture
- Commit to engaging internally within their own contacts and liaising with the ARIN network
Steering Group and Leadership
ARIN’s steering group is responsible for making key decisions regarding the network’s operations. The group typically elects a rotating presidency or chair on an annual or bi-annual basis.
Country Representatives
Each member country must put forth:
- 2 to 3 relevant persons in law enforcement, asset recovery offices, and judicial authorities
However, contact points often vary from one country to another, with some countries not providing sufficient or adequate representatives, particularly those with lower capacities.
Funding
ARIN’s funding is generally ad hoc or dependent upon third-party contributions. The network’s manuals do not specify funding requirements, and financing is usually provided on a voluntary basis.
Secretariat Roles and Responsibilities
The secretariat plays a crucial role in facilitating communication among member countries and ensuring the smooth operation of the network. Secretariats are responsible for:
- Receiving operational requests from member countries or the ARIN secretariat
- Providing feedback within a specified timeframe
- Sharing good practices
Challenges Persist
Despite these efforts, challenges persist. Respondents noted that some countries do not respect timelines for sharing information and providing feedback, hindering progress in asset tracing and recovery cases. Additionally, some countries with lower capacities may not regularly submit or provide up-to-date legislation and information on their civil asset forfeiture laws.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the CARIB Caribbean Asset Recovery Network plays a vital role in combating transnational crime by facilitating international cooperation among law enforcement agencies and judicial authorities. While challenges exist, the network’s membership criteria, obligations, leadership structure, and secretariat roles all contribute to its success.