Tracing assets of illicit origin, securing electronic evidence and strengthening international cooperation in corruption investigations were the focus of the 16th meeting of the Law Enforcement Network (LEN), held in Tirana from 27 to 29 October. The event, organized by the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) in cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), brought together 70 investigators and prosecutors from 28 jurisdictions, as well as representatives of three international organizations.
Over the three days of the meeting, participants exchanged practical experiences on methods for investigating corruption, the lawful use of initial information, the preservation of electronic evidence and the verification of the illicit origin of assets. Special attention was given to the challenges faced by law enforcement authorities in investigations with an international dimension, when persons under investigation, information of interest to the case or suspected assets are located in different jurisdictions.
In such cases, the identification and tracing of assets, as well as securing evidence that can be used in criminal proceedings, require coordination among the institutions of the countries involved. SPAK stressed the importance of creating a sustainable chain of evidence through close international cooperation, particularly in cases where investigations are not confined to the territory of a single state.
The meeting held in Tirana is part of the OECD Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ACN), a cooperation mechanism aimed at exchanging experiences and strengthening the capacities of law enforcement institutions in the fight against corruption. The event was co-organized by SPAK and the OECD, with the support of the European Union and the Government of the United Kingdom. In concluding the announcement, SPAK thanked the OECD and its Anti-Corruption Network for co-organizing, as well as international partners for their support.