Officers from the RGP’s Economic Crime Unit, HM Customs Financial Investigations Team and their Crown Counsel are strengthening their expertise in combatting economic crime during a two-week intensive course in Gibraltar.

The “Investigating Economic Crime and Money Laundering” programme is being held at Bleak House from the 24th of February to the 7th of March. 

A total of 12 persons are on the course, which is delivered by leading financial crime specialists and is designed to enhance officers’ expertise in tackling money laundering, financial fraud and other economic crimes. 

Participants will be provided with advanced investigative techniques, case study analysis and best practices aligned with international anti-money laundering standards. 

In addition, officers will also receive additional training on cryptocurrency investigations and all aspects of domestic and international money laundering.

Detective Inspector Luis Miguel Garcia White, who heads the RGP’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “The Royal Gibraltar Police is committed to ensuring that officers involved in financial investigations receive the necessary development to perform their roles to the best of their ability. Financial crime is an emerging global threat, and it is vital that we are equipped to detect, investigate and disrupt illicit financial activities. To achieve this, we focus on providing ongoing training and professional development, ensuring our officers are equipped with the skills, knowledge and tools needed to combat financial crime effectively. This commitment ensures that we remain at the forefront of tackling financial crime, both locally and internationally.”

A spokesperson for HM Customs, said: “HM Customs has worked hard to develop its capabilities for investigating financial crime associated with customs related matters. This course equips more officers with the right tools to perform this task effectively and efficiently. The three newly trained customs investigators are key to providing the organisation with resilience in this area.”

The Minister for Justice, the Hon Nigel Feetham KC MP, added: “I am pleased to see continued commitment of our law enforcement agencies to their professional development. The collaboration between the RGP’s ECU and HM Customs Financial Investigations Team highlights the inter-agency approach in combatting financial crime. A key priority for my Ministry is fostering cross-agency cooperation and intelligence sharing.”

Funding for this training comes from the Gibraltar Recovered Assets Fund, a special fund established under the Public Finance Act. 

The course will be repeated in November to ensure that all team members receive the training.