Ecuador Takes Steps to Enhance Financial Crime Reporting with ICAR Training
Ecuador has made a significant move towards strengthening its capacity to investigate and prosecute corruption and money laundering cases, thanks to intensive training sessions held over the last two weeks. The International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR) partnered with the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ecuador (FGE) to conduct the workshops.
Building Capacity to Investigate Corruption and Money Laundering
The training programme focused on building capacity to investigate and prosecute corruption and money laundering cases, as well as recover illicit assets. It brought together participants from various agencies, including:
- Financial Intelligence Unit (UAFE)
- National Police
- Procuraduria General del Estado
- Judiciary
This multi-agency approach allowed officers with diverse backgrounds and responsibilities to work together to solve a complex simulated case tailored to the Ecuadorian context.
Effectiveness of the Training Sessions
The training sessions were praised by participants for their effectiveness in combining theoretical knowledge with practical experience. One participant commented that “the group work was excellent – dynamics were the best” and that the course was “very useful for our job performance.” The programme also provided an opportunity for participants to discuss recent changes in the Ecuadorian anti-money laundering and asset forfeiture legal framework, including a new non-conviction based forfeiture law.
Capacity Building for ICAR and Green Corruption Programmes
The training sessions were not only beneficial for the participating officers but also served as a chance to train five Latin America-based members of ICAR and the Green Corruption programme. These individuals will now be equipped to deliver ICAR’s flagship financial investigations and asset recovery training programme to partner agencies across the continent, including Ecuadorian officers who will learn to “follow the money” in the context of environmental crimes.
International Support for Capacity Building
The workshops were partially financed by the UK’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund through an ongoing Green Corruption project in Peru and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. This support reflects the international community’s commitment to helping Ecuador strengthen its capacity to combat financial crime and corruption.