Law Enforcement Agencies in the Caribbean Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Strengthen Approach to  Financial-Economic Crime with Training in Financial Crime Scripting

35

 

Money laundering and other forms of financial-economic crime are widespread in the Caribbean region. However,  detecting such offenses in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is particularly complex. This complexity arises from  various factors, such as the fact that many Caribbean countries still operate largely as cash economies, and money  laundering practices often have a transnational nature. Additionally, budget constraints and limited capacity pose  challenges to the detection of such crimes. The use of modern technology by criminal networks adds another layer  of complexity. 

To enhance the detection and investigation of financial-economic crime, the Board of the Chiefs of Police in the  Caribbean part of the Kingdom organized a training on financial crime scripting from February 10 to 14. This  training focused on the following key questions: How do criminal organizations operate, and how do their financial  flows work? 

Financial crime scripting is a methodology that helps analyze and expose criminal business processes and revenue  models. By systematically mapping these, law enforcement agencies can take more effective action against money  laundering, fraud, and other forms of financial-economic crime. This method builds on the well-established crime  scripting methodology, which is an analytical tool designed to understand how criminal activities are carried out,  what steps are involved, and which people, resources, and locations play a role. 

A total of eighteen law enforcement professionals from the four police forces and various national detective  agencies in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom participated in the training. The training was conducted by Teun  van Ruitenburg, Lecturer in Undermining at Avans University of Applied Sciences, Thom Snaphaan, Associate  Lecturer in Data, Crime, and Security, and Richard Oranje, former Strategic Operational Specialist of the Dutch  National Police. 

Over the course of four days, participants received both practical and theoretical tools to better map and combat  financial-economic crime. They also gained insight into criminal financial flows and business processes and applied  the methodology to case studies. 

A deep understanding of criminal financial flows is crucial for targeted intervention and exposing money  laundering schemes. This not only aids in identifying offenders but also in disrupting their financial networks.  However, police and judicial authorities cannot tackle this issue alone. Such forms of crime require a  multidisciplinary approach. 

To involve partner organizations in law enforcement and provide senior officials with insight into this  methodology, a masterclass was organized following the training. In addition to representatives from the Curaçao

Police Force (KPC), the Curaçao National Detective Agency (LR), and the Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM),  representatives from the Customs Office, the Financial Intelligence Unit Curaçao (FIU-Curaçao), the Royal  Netherlands Marechaussee (KMar), and the Criminal Investigation Cooperation Team (RST) also participated. 

In the coming period, participants will apply their newly acquired knowledge in practice. With the masterclass and  training, law enforcement partners have taken a significant step forward in strengthening their expertise and  cooperation in the fight against financial-economic crime.