As part of the Haiti-Dominican Customs Cooperation Program, promoted and implemented by MINUSTAH’s Border Management Unit in partnership with Caribbean Export and financed by the European Union, 20 customs officials from Haiti and the Dominican Republic increased their capacity following a two-week training program targeting “Investigations on illicit economy and financial flows” imparted last November by the Italian Guardia di Finanza at the premises of the Tax Police School (Scuola di Polizia Tributaria) in Rome, Italy. This Academy due to the internationally recognised reputation in the economic and financial studies, has been accredited by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as first International Academy for Tax Crime Investigation in 2014.

Cross-border crimes are a common threat for both Haiti and the Dominican Republic resulting in the need for this training to help combat such crimes. Joint training of this nature ensures both sides of the border are skilled at identifying possible threats thus tempering the impact of illicit financial activities such as corruption, money laundering and transnational organized crime.

In addition, continuous training with the "Scuola di Polizia Tributaria" was discussed to promote possible legislative changes to combat tax evasion and money laundering; enhanced inter-agency and international co-operation; and greater capacity to fight illicit flows. These programmes have been identified to meet the need for further cooperation against financial crimes at the international level.

HL/ HaitiLibre