Grenada’s Financial Crime Investigation Methods Exposed: A Deep Dive into Asset Recovery Techniques
Financial crime investigators in Grenada are employing innovative methods to recover assets and bring perpetrators to justice. At the forefront of these efforts is the creation of detailed subject profiles, which provide a comprehensive overview of targets and their associates.
Building Subject Profiles
According to sources, investigators collect and maintain extensive information on targets, including:
- Name, date, and place of birth
- Copies of birth certificates, passports, and national identity cards
- This data is regularly updated to ensure accuracy and is shared with foreign counterpart agencies in multijurisdictional cases.
Gathering Financial Data and Evidence
In addition to subject profiles, investigators gather financial data and other evidence from a wide range of sources, including:
- Government agencies
- Financial institutions
- Law and accounting firms
- Real estate agents
- Art dealers
- Insurance companies
- Business competitors
- Travel programs
- The targets themselves.
This information is used to build a picture of a target’s assets, income, and expenses.
Open-Source Investigations
Practitioners also utilize open-source investigations, which involve gathering publicly available information through:
- Social media
- Internet searches
- Government agencies
- Other sources. This data is used throughout the investigation, from developing leads to compiling financial profiles and laying the groundwork for search and seizure warrants.
Categories of Open-Source Information
Categories of open-source information include:
- Official public records
- Private databases
- Civil litigation documents
- Corporate filings
- Patent applications
- Nonprofit registrations
- Tax filings
- Social media postings. Investigators also scour the internet for:
- News articles
- Educational records
- Reports from organizations such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and nongovernmental organizations like Global Witness.
Effective Techniques
The use of these techniques has proven effective in linking targets to foreign jurisdictions and uncovering hidden assets. For example, a search of a business or residence may reveal evidence that links a target to a domestic or foreign account, while physical surveillance may identify potential gatekeepers or intermediaries.
Data-Driven Approaches
As financial crime investigators in Grenada continue to refine their methods, they are increasingly relying on data-driven approaches to build cases and recover assets. By combining traditional investigation techniques with cutting-edge digital methods, they are able to stay one step ahead of sophisticated criminals and bring them to justice.