Cooperation between Bolivia and Colombia against the laundering of illicit profits

With the financial support of the European Union in Bolivia, the European support project in the fight against drugs in Bolivia, has organised a trip to exchange experiences and understanding of working practices in Colombia. The internship took place in the city of Bogota, where the Bolivian delegation, composed of police officers and officials from the Financial Investigations Unit (UIF) together with the FIIAPP expert, visited key institutions involved in the fight against the crime of laundering of illicit proceeds.

Within the framework of the internship, they visited the facilities of the Financial Information and Analysis Unit (UIAF), a peer institution of the Bolivian one, where they were able to exchange ideas on the capacities and results obtained by both entities. In addition, the meeting was used to plan virtual meetings to support the training of regulated entities (any natural or legal person, public or private, who must report on their actions and justify them in public, because they receive public money or resources) in Bolivia.

The working group has also been received in the different strategic centres of the Colombian police, DIRAN (anti-drug trafficking), DIJIN (anti-crime investigation and interpol). They were able to visit a state-of-the-art centralised operational room, where all containers entering and leaving Colombia are coordinated and controlled by scanners. As a result, it was possible to share practices and experiences, providing possible ideas for work improvements.

The internship concluded with a visit to the Special Assets Company (SAE), which oversees monetising seized assets, particularly in relation to the products resulting from the laundering of illicit proceeds. The successful way in which they manage confiscated or seized assets has been demonstrated, and a virtual meeting has been planned with the monetisation body in Bolivia, DIRCABI, to provide information and training in the administration of seized assets.

Colombian institutions and their authorities have shown great interest in receiving the Bolivian delegation. Proof of this is the time they have taken to provide the best information during visits to their facilities, providing exclusive accompaniment and attention. Thanks to a combination of lectures and presentations by all hosts, the visit has been successfully concluded. In addition, focal points have been created between Colombian and Bolivian institutions with an exchange of contacts that in the future will be able to speed up the procedures and exchange of information between countries.