A Workshop was recently held focusing on Asset Recovery and Management, primarily under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Chapter 11:27 and the Civil Asset Recovery and Management and Unexplained Wealth Act, No. 8 of 2019.

The event was hosted by the Attorney General’s Office in collaboration with the British High Commission and Gentium UK led by Alex Ferguson and Andy Tennant.

The five-day workshop ran from July 8th to 12th 2024, aimed at ensuring training on asset recovery and management, training on how Standard Operating Procedures for Asset Recovery and Management will be applied in practice, and utilization of case scenarios from the inception of intelligence to applying for an asset recovery order to demonstrate how the law and procedure will work in tandem.

The Workshop was attended by key Stakeholders with representatives who are involved in the seizure, management and forfeiture of property and assets such as:

• Ministry of Finance – the Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago, Treasury’s Solicitor’s Department, and the Customs and Excise Division
• Office of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs – Anti-Terrorism Unit, Criminal Justice Unit, Central Authority Unit, Solicitor General’s Department, Chief State Solicitor’s Department, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
• Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, Ministry of National Security
• Trinidad and Tobago Police Service – Financial Investigations Branch, Special Investigations Unit, Fraud Squad, Stolen Vehicles Unit, and Special Branch Unit
• The Police Complaints Authority

The AG’s Office says Government has acknowledged that targeting the proceeds of crime is an effective tool in the fight against serious and organised crime and corruption.

It adds, “The Financial Action Task Force has set standards for jurisdictions to have in place legal and institutional frameworks to allow for the investigation, prosecution, and recovery of the proceeds of crime. This Workshop serves to ensure that Trinidad and Tobago is required to achieve high levels of effectiveness in putting asset recovery legislation and procedures into practice and to be seen to be recovering the proceeds of crime.”