Under the framework of CRIMJUST, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) delivered a workshop in International Judicial Cooperation in cases of organised crime, drug trafficking and money laundering, in collaboration with the National Commission for Development and Life Without Drugs (DEVIDA PERU) and the Iberoamerican Network of Anti-Drug Prosecutors (RFAI), on 26-28 June 2018.
The workshop contributed to strengthening judicial cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean by improving the capacities of criminal justice officers from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Panama and Peru. During the workshop, mechanisms of international cooperation in drug trafficking and related organised crime, as well as the effective application of treaties, bilateral and multilateral agreements were analysed.
Through the participation of several focal points of the RFAI, key topics related to flexible methods for formal cooperation such as spontaneous information exchange or networking were addressed.
At the inaugural event, Ms. Pilar Sosa, Director of DEVIDA’s Global Commitment Directorate, expressed her commitment to “support national and international entities that fight against drug trafficking and money laundering. Hence, with the technical assistance of UNODC, the curriculum of the workshop seeks to meet the needs of the justice sector and aims to have a multiplier effect.”
Mr. Stefaan Pauwels, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union, highlighted the support towards efficient criminal investigations and the need to further strengthen the fight against drug trafficking in Peru and the region.
Representing the UNODC office in Peru and Ecuador, Mr. Juan Carlos Araneda mentioned that it is essential for the UNODC to actively promote regional and international judicial cooperation through the exchange of good practices and technical assistance at a national and regional level.
Overall, participants were able to expand their knowledge of the standards and regulations of the different countries in the region, as well as the current mechanisms, procedures, and successful experiences, which will allow to improve the levels of effectiveness in the processes of judicial cooperation.
