Two Bermudian-based police officers learnt about financial crime trends and practices last month in South Korea.

Detective Chief Inspector Leroy Mathurin and Acting Detective Inspector Zoenique Williams, of the Bermuda Police Service specialist investigations department, attended the eleventh Asset Recovery Inter-agency Network’s Asia-Pacific seminar in Seoul from April 21 to 22.

A spokesman explained: “The specialised training brought together asset recovery practitioners, prosecutors, investigators, financial intelligence experts and international law enforcement representatives from multiple jurisdictions to discuss emerging trends, legislative developments, investigative strategies and best practices in asset tracing, restraint, confiscation, forfeiture and international co-operation.”

It came as Bermuda strengthens its anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, proliferation financing and sanctions enforcement framework ahead of the Financial Action Task Force’s next evaluation.

Effective asset recovery, including the identification, tracing, restraint, confiscation and recovery of criminal proceeds, was said to be critical component of the FATF assessment.

The training honed officers’ knowledge of conviction-based and non-conviction-based asset recovery, which the spokesman called “essential” in disrupting organised crime, depriving criminals of illicit proceeds and protecting Bermuda’s financial system.

The seminar also gave officers valuable opportunities to strengthen professional networks with international asset recovery specialists and partner agencies.