International training in Lithuania to strengthen financial security in the Baltic Sea Region
Last week, a training session of the EUROPOL-coordinated project EMPACT (European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats) was held in Lithuania for law enforcement officers from the Baltic Sea region - Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Finland and Sweden.
The first session of the training focused on strengthening international cooperation. Participants received theoretical training from international experts from the European Public Prosecutor's Office's VAT Fraud Investigation Group, the Belgian Tax Office and EUROPOL.
Practical exercises, exchange of experience and best practices were also held to improve professional skills:
- in detecting and investigating cross-border VAT fraud offences;
- using international communication channels in their daily activities;
- overcoming the challenges posed by the use and detection of virtual currencies and other modern technologies;
- recovering the proceeds of crime, so that financial crime does not pay.
The FCIS is responsible for the implementation of the EMPACT MTIC Fraud (Missing Trader Intra-Community) priority and is implementing the EUROPOL-coordinated Operational Action Plan 2024/2025. A series of 4 training courses, Baltic Training 2024/2025, is planned for 2024-2025. The aim is to train over 60 investigators, thus ensuring greater financial security for the Baltic Sea Region. The FCIS has received funding from EUROPOL for the training.
