NB imparts anti-money laundering tactics
Three anti-money laundering experts from Financial Investigation Narcotics Bureau (FI NB), together with a Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecution of the Department of Justice, conducted an anti-money laundering (AML) course in Hanoi, Vietnam, between January 5 and 9, at the invitation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Since 1989, FI NB has been running an annual international AML course in Hong Kong for local and overseas law enforcement agents, financial intelligence officers and financial regulators. As the course has been so popular that only limited places can be allocated to Vietnam each year, the UNODC decided to run a similar course in Hanoi for the benefit of more Vietnamese officers.
The Hong Kong trainers were Superintendent FI NB Nelson Cheng, Chief Inspector FI 3 NB John Tse, Senior Inspector FI 2 NB Russ Harding, and Mr Gavin Shiu, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecution. The course consisted of sessions on both the theories and practices of fighting money laundering, covering International AML Standards, Financial Investigation, Financial Intelligence System and International Co-operation. In addition, there was a simulated financial investigation exercise for all course participants.
Mr Hon Chan, the International Project Coordinator of the UNODC, said after the course: "The training course has directly contributed to improving the capability of over 30 Vietnamese law enforcement officers and prosecutors in detecting and investigating money laundering offences."
Echoed Mr Shiu: "The course for Vietnam was useful for both jurisdictions in the fight against money laundering and organised crime because it strengthened understanding of each other's systems and showed the real benefits of international co-operation. Legal assistance among jurisdictions is essential for fighting crime in the 21st century."
SP Cheng noted: "Since Hong Kong belongs to the 'Providers Group' of the Technical Assistance and Training Initiative of the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering, we have an obligation to provide training for our counterparts whenever possible. The Force has been very forthcoming in providing trainers for overseas courses, as well as conducting training in overseas countries. Our counterparts treasure our expertise very much and we stand ready to help other jurisdictions in the region as well, as and when we are able to do so."
Commercial Crime Bureau's anti-money laundering experts with their hosts in Hanoi