Boosting European law enforcement's crypto-investigation power through EMPACT

With the illicit use of crypto-assets on the rise, organized crime groups are increasingly relying on specialized intermediaries and facilitators. These networks combine traditional money laundering techniques with sophisticated operations within crypto-asset markets, posing significant challenges to law enforcement agencies across Europe.

To strengthen the capacity for an effective response to this threat, an intensive regional training program on crypto-asset investigation was held from February 16 to 20 in Madrid, Spain. The training was co-organized by the State Police of Latvia and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), in close cooperation with the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA), the Belgian Federal Police, the Italian Guardia di Finanza, the Irish An Garda Síochána, and Europol’s European Financial and Economic Crime Centre (EFECC).

Supported by the TOPCOP project, this activity was implemented in alignment with the EMPACT priority 'High-Risk Criminal Networks' (HRCN), which encompasses combating the criminal exploitation of crypto-assets.

This training program serves as a direct testament to the vital role of EMPACT in coordinating Member States' efforts. It not only facilitates the mastery of the latest investigative technologies but also ensures that international cooperation remains swifter and more effective than the methods employed by criminal entities.