5th conference on criminal assets - General meeting of the CARIN network
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© Direction des Douanes
- from: 07.10.2008
- to: 08.10.2008
- In: Paris
The CARIN network conference will provide an opportunity to review the operations carried out in the past year, adopt the amendment of its articles and elect new members. Workshops will also be on improving the management of seized criminal assets and promoting the creation of national offices to manage these assets.
The Camden Asset Recovery Interagency Network (CARIN) was created in October 2002 during a meeting of representatives of EUROPOL and European agencies responsible for fighting money laundering. The aim of this network is to study the resources that are needed for the identification, freezing and seizure of proceeds and property acquired with funds linked to criminal activities (terrorism, drug trafficking, cigarette smuggling, counterfeiting, etc.) in the different countries of the European Union. Indeed, in a context of growing cross-border crime, offences may be committed in one country and their profits invested in others.
The Constituent General Meeting for the CARIN Network was held in The Hague (Netherlands) at the end of 2004. It established a network of national correspondents with the power to exchange information about assets that might be concealed in financial products, real estate, yachts or works of art.
In the first instance, these exchanges allow requesting countries to be informed of the existence of such assets and then provide guidance about implementing legal proceedings in order to freeze and/or seize them. This support plays an essential role in improving the efficiency of the recovery of fines and penalties.
Magistrates, police officers from anti-money laundering agencies and customs officers participate in the CARIN network. France was elected to the Steering Committee in 2005. It is represented by a customs officer and a police officer specialising in these fields.
With the proliferation of illegal transactions worldwide, the network was soon extended to third countries and new participating States join each year. In addition to the 27 Member States of the European Union, 19 third countries and 6 international organisations which are involved in the fight against organised crime networks (EUROPOL, EUROJUST, OLAF, INTERPOL, EGMONT GROUP and the UNODC), are now CARIN members or observers.
- Updated: 07.10.2008
