IRS completes financial investigative techniques workshop in Grenada

Last week saw the completion of a workshop in Grenada designed to help intelligence units across the eastern Caribbean to better handle financial investigations.

The course had the back of the US Department of the Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

According to a release, it was designed “to assist police and financial intelligence units” in the region to “better identify, assess and pursue” instances of financial wrongdoing.

The training was conducted by the IRS’s National Criminal Investigation Training Academy with assistance from US Embassy Bridgetown and its International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs section.

Topics covered included methods for identifying fraud and money laundering, evidence gathering and analysis, interviewing, preparation for courtroom activities, and an in-depth practical exercise.

'Organisations must work together'

The workshop was part of a continuing series of efforts by the US Government, in collaboration with Grenada and other partner governments in the region, to enhance financial investigations and raise awareness of illicit financial transactions.

“With the rapid expansion of global banking and instantaneous transfers of money, there is a need for financial intelligence units, revenue and customs authorities, law enforcement personnel, government prosecutors, and judges to work closely with each other to stop financial crimes,” said Linda Taglialatela, US ambassador to Barbados, the eastern Caribbean, and the OECS.

“Cooperation between these partners can ensure that financial investigations are pursued and investigated, and that money launderers do not take advantage of potential vulnerabilities in the financial system.”

Ambassador Taglialatela said Grenada was a good choice to host the workshop because of its proactive approach on combating financial fraud.

“We commend Grenada for recently taking important steps such as the signing of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, also known as FATCA, with the United States, and actively participating in the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force.”