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REGIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM

Asset Recovery

The RSS Assets Recovery programme is an innovative approach to tackling serious organised crime in the Caribbean common law jurisdictions, through partnership and the robust application of proceeds of crime and money laundering legislation. It commenced in November 2015, taking over from the highly successful Eastern Caribbean Financial Investigations Advisory Team (ECFIAT) and Caribbean Criminal Assets Recovery Programme (CCARP). The team provides wider regional support to include key transit countries and the overseas territories of the United Kingdom.

The RSS ARU team is comprised of financial investigations and asset recovery experts who are law enforcement officers, financial investigators and or legal practitioners. The unit is staffed with administrative support and is based within a purpose-built International Law Enforcement Fusion Centre within the Regional Security System HQ at the Barbados Defence Force military base.

The unit seeks to enhance their efforts in countering serious organised crime, particularly drug trafficking, by utilising cash seizure, money laundering and confiscation legislation as key components in financial investigation and asset recovery. RSS ARU has recently completed the drafting of ‘model’ proceeds of crime legislation to remedy legislative deficiencies and encourage the introduction and use of civil forfeiture legislation.

To date, RSS ARU mentoring has assisted in the identification and restraint of US$26.8 million of criminal assets. In addition, US$7.5 million has been (civil) forfeited by the courts using cash seizure provisions, with a further US$4.5 million seized and in the court process. 120 money laundering investigations are being carried out, with 85 persons charged with money laundering offences.

RSS ARU is working with the Caribbean Financial Action TASK Force (CFATF) in devising and implementing a Training and Accreditation Programme for all financial investigators and analysts in the Caribbean. This will seek to standardise training and procedures regionally and result in internationally recognised accreditation. The team also works closely to ensure FATF recommendations are implemented and followed in conjunction with their national security requirements.

RSS ARU work closely with all Regional and International partners including US, UK, UNODC, OAS, OECS, CARICOM, CFATF, IMPACS. The Caribbean is used as a transhipment point for the trafficking of cocaine from South America to the major consumer markets of North America, UK and Europe. The profits generated regionally is a factor in the gang and gun culture across the region. Crime, violence and corruption, deters inward investment and hinders regional development. The RSS ARU is committed to taking the profit out of crime and supporting the Caribbean region in the fight against organised crime and corruption.

MITIGATING THE
INCREASE OF
NARCOTIC TRADING

RSS ASSET
RECOVERY UNIT
EXCEEDING
TARGETS
RSS
ASSET RECOVERY UNIT
TRAINING COURSE FOR
FINANCIAL
INVESTIGATORS

Mr. Grenville T.
Williams serves as
Director, Asset
Recovery Unit

OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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HUMANITARIAN & DISASTER RELIEF

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OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR

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OPERATIONS & PLANS

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TRAINING INSTITUTE

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ASSET RECOVERY UNIT

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RAPID RESPONSE MECHANISM

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