29/03/2023
Bolivian justice, security and financial institutions combat drug trafficking-related crime
Integrated Police Investigation System Course
Human smuggling and trafficking, money laundering and mistreatment of women and children are some of the crimes related to drug trafficking, and the second phase of the European project “Support to special anti-drug forces in Bolivian law enforcement” is working to combat these crimes in the Andean country. For a week, several activities have been organised in different cities in Bolivia to work and improve the fight against these crimes.
On the one hand, an operational investigation course specialising in the fight against human trafficking and human smuggling was held. The aim of the course was to improve the ability to identify possible victims of trafficking through knowledge of detection indicators and interview techniques. In addition, knowledge on victim protection has been expanded through the socialisation of the single protocol of care for victims of trafficking approved by the Attorney General’s Office of Bolivia with the support of the FIIAPP.
In addition, a financial investigation course was held. Through lectures on basic principles, workshops and specific practical exercises, specialists have provided tools for working in financial investigation and asset tracing. In addition, working groups have been formed to carry out practical exercises promoting inter-institutional coordination between police units, prosecutors and members of the Financial Investigation Unit, creating a climate of trust and collaboration.
And finally, a training course has been organised in the new Integrated Police Investigation System (SIIP) “Adela Zamudio II” and in the preparation of the single complaint form, in compliance with the “Law 1173 Law of criminal procedural abbreviation and strengthening of the comprehensive fight against violence against children, adolescents and women, 8 May 2019”, which obliges the Bolivian Police to have a single computer system interconnected with the Public Prosecutor’s Office system “Justicia Libre” and other state systems with which they are connected, children, adolescents and women, 8 May 2019″, which obliges the Bolivian Police to have a single computer system interconnected with the system of the Public Prosecutor’s Office “Justicia Libre” and the other state systems with which it needs to interoperate for data interaction. This system, in addition to being used for the preparation of the single complaint form, facilitates the Bolivian Police Investigation Units to record all their actions and create a repository with all the information provided by each one of them, which will improve data extraction and therefore decision-making and operability.
These three training courses have trained almost 180 Bolivian public administration staff in specialised areas, fostering coordination between institutions, the exchange of experiences between national and European institutions (four Spanish specialists from the Attorney General’s Office and the National Police have been involved) and the capacity to work in geographical areas of the country where there is no presence of international cooperation or of the Bolivian state itself.
