Over fifty Turkish law enforcement and financial intelligence officials took part in a workshop on asset recovery on 21-22 November 2022, in Ankara.

The workshop addressed several issues around the recovery of illicit assets but also the terrorist financing. On asset recovery topic, the discussions evolved around the international standards and strategic aspects with regard to recovery of illicit assets, the indicators to measure its effectiveness of and the roles and responsibilities of various authorities in this process, and the management of recovered assets. The Belgian approach to establishment of Asset Management Office and Asset Recovery Office was put in focus, by presenting the roles and functioning of the country’s Central office for Seizure & Confiscation.

Turning to financing of terrorism, emerging trends and typologies with regard to the main financial resources of terrorist and criminal organizations, legislation facilitating investigation and prosecution of terrorist financing and parallel financial investigation methods and red flags related to major phases concerning foreign terrorist fighters were presented and discussed with the participating Turkish law enforcement and financial intelligence officials. Engaging the participants in a group work on a case relating to terrorist financing investigation drew attention to the practical questions around collection of evidence, financial investigation methods and seizure of assets.

The workshop was organized within the EU/Council of Europe Horizontal Facility II: Action against Economic Crime in South East Europe and Turkey – Regional Project.