Remarks of Ambassador Jeff Daigle on the Occasion of “Financial Intelligence Gathering and Sharing with INTERPOL Tools”
Training Funded by INL and Implemented by UNODC
Hotel Praiamar, Prainha
October 23, 2023
Madam Minister of Justice (Joana Rosa)
Madam Resident Coordinator of the UN (Patricia Portela de Souza)
Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre
Dear Members of the law enforcement, legal, and financial regulatory communities
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is an immense pleasure for me to be present at this ceremony. This week’s training marks another important step in the partnership between the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (or INL), UNODC, and Cabo Verde’s community of law enforcement professionals and financial specialists who combat financial crime.
The United States understands the importance to our collective security of being able to target illicit financing, which is used to support drug trafficking or terrorist activities. That is why the United States has committed $1,000,000 in funds into this program in partnership with UNODC.
The entire Embassy Praia team has been impressed with the high level of commitment and outstanding professionalism we have seen from all partners up to this point. I am confident we are achieving our goals of improving the ability of criminal justice agencies to investigate financial crimes, implementing international best practices, and strengthening cooperation with Interpol.
I want to thank UNODC for coordinating this important event, and the trainers from Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, from whom I am sure we will all learn a lot over the course of the week.
The Embassy, UNODC, and the attendees here today have done so much over the past few years to improve Cabo Verde’s laws and capacity to investigate financial crimes. But there is still more work to do. Just as criminals adapt, so must we. The strong partnerships that we have created over the years will help us work together to meet these challenges in the future. I am proud that U.S. Embassy Praia can be part of this team that is doing such important work to make Cabo Verde, the region, and the United States safer from financial crimes.
I address a word to the attendees. I hope you are as excited as I am about this training and that you are able to take advantage of this great opportunity you have to engage with our friends from Interpol.
I conclude by thanking UNODC, expressing our appreciation for the work your team has done to implement this project and to help the Embassy achieve our goal of greater security cooperation here in Cabo Verde.
Thank you.
