Financial Crime World

Money Laundering Techniques in Paraguay Exposed: Authorities Trained to Identify and Seize Illicit Funds

A Major Breakthrough in Combating Transnational Crime

Asuncion, Paraguay - In a significant step towards combating transnational crime, 37 officials from Paraguay’s top law enforcement agencies have been trained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Attaché Office in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Training Program: Equipping Officials with Essential Skills

The training program aimed at equipping the officials with strategies and investigative techniques to seize illicit funds generated through money laundering schemes. Additionally, it focused on investigating ties between money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as intellectual property rights violations.

Participating Authorities and Key Figures

  • The participating authorities included:
    • National Police
    • Attorney General’s office
    • Customs
    • Immigration
    • Secretariat for the Prevention of Money Laundering (SENAD)
    • Financial Intelligence Unit (SEPRELAD)

Key figures in attendance were:

  • Oscar Boidanich, Minister for SEPRELAD
  • Dr. Francisco Javier Diaz Verón, Attorney General
  • Stella Owens, HSI Buenos Aires deputy attaché

US Ambassador’s Message of Support

US Ambassador to Paraguay, Leslie A. Bassett, delivered closing remarks during the graduation ceremony, expressing her country’s commitment to helping Paraguay combat money laundering and terrorist financing crimes.

Strengthening Institutions: A Broader Effort

The training is part of a broader effort by HSI to build capacity in countries around the world to identify and seize illicit funds generated by money laundering organizations. The agency has:

  • 62 operational attaché offices in 46 countries
  • Special agents working closely with foreign law enforcement agencies through Transnational Criminal Investigative Units

HSI also brings personnel from host countries to the US for training at the Department of Homeland Security Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia.

Conclusion

This initiative aims at strengthening institutions related to preventing, investigating, and prosecuting crimes that often originate with money laundering and terrorist financing activities.