CBI Trains 24 Officers from 16 Countries in Tackling Corruption and Recovering Illegal Assets

Ghaziabad: The fight against corruption is no longer confined to national borders, as networks involving illicit wealth, benami properties and financial crimes continue to spread internationally. Recognising the need for stronger global cooperation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has trained 24 officers from 16 countries in investigating corruption-related cases and identifying and recovering illegally acquired assets.

One-Week International Training Programme Held in Ghaziabad

A specialised one-week training programme was organised at the CBI Academy in Ghaziabad from November 4 to 10 under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme of the Ministry of External Affairs.

The concluding ceremony, held on November 10, was presided over by CBI Special Director N. Venugopal.

Officers from 16 Countries Participate in the Programme

A total of 24 law enforcement and investigation officials participated in the international training programme. The delegation included three officers from Botswana; two each from Lebanon, Mali, Mauritius, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe; and one each from Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Madagascar, Maldives, Myanmar, Namibia, Panama and Paraguay.

Among the 24 participants, 11 were women and 13 were men. The programme provided an opportunity for officials from different countries to exchange professional knowledge and investigative experiences.

From Digital Evidence to Cryptocurrency: What Did Officers Learn?

The training covered important legal provisions under the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and Indian laws dealing with corruption-related offences.

Participants received detailed guidance on identifying and collecting digital evidence, tracing investments in cryptocurrencies, monitoring assets and connecting financial transactions. Special emphasis was placed on exposing networks involving benami properties and shell companies.

Experts also discussed methods of recovering proceeds of crime, civil and criminal asset confiscation, strengthening evidence for judicial proceedings and improving the effectiveness of prosecution.

Foreign Delegation Visits CBI's Advanced Investigation Facilities

As part of the programme, the foreign officers also visited the Network for Evidence Tracing, Research and Analysis (NETRA) laboratory and the Global Operations Centre at the CBI headquarters.

During the visit, participants were introduced to modern technologies used in evidence analysis, investigations and international coordination. An educational tour of historically significant sites in Delhi was also organised for the visiting delegation.

India Strengthens International Cooperation Against Financial Crimes

The CBI's initiative is being viewed as an important step towards strengthening cooperation among investigation agencies across countries. By sharing expertise, investigative techniques and technological knowledge, the programme aims to improve the capabilities of law enforcement agencies in tackling corruption, financial crimes and the recovery of illegal assets.