On October 15, 2024, a training cycle titled "Virtual Currencies from an Investigative Perspective" was launched at the Investigators' Training Center of the State Police College. This initiative was made possible thanks to the European Union's Internal Security Fund, as part of the co-funded project "Strengthening the State Police's Response Mobility and Counterterrorism Capabilities through the Creation of a Practical Training Center."
The two-day training cycle, held on October 15th and 16th, brought together 40 participants from various State Police units – the Main Criminal Police Department, Riga Regional Department, Kurzeme Regional Department, Zemgale Regional Department, and Latgale Regional Department – as well as representatives from the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Internal Security Bureau, the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau, the Military Police, and the State Border Guard. During the two-day training, Latvian and German experts shared their knowledge and practical experience in working with virtual currencies to enhance the investigative capabilities of officials.
Dmitrijs Homenko, the director of the State Police College, stated upon opening the training cycle: "Based on the findings from our investigations into economic and cybercrimes, I have concluded that criminal organizations are heavily involved in the circulation of virtual currencies. Moreover, cryptocurrencies are increasingly being used in various types of crime. It is crucial to examine this issue from a counterterrorism perspective as well. Therefore, it is important to understand, study, and analyze the issues related to virtual currencies to enhance investigators' understanding and practical experience in tracking cryptocurrency flows."
Project No. VP/IDF/2024/5 "Strengthening the State Police's Response Mobility and Counterterrorism Capabilities through the Creation of a Practical Training Center" is being implemented within the framework of the European Union's Internal Security Fund's 2021-2027 planning period. The managing authority in Latvia is the Ministry of the Interior.
This project is a prime example of how the European Union supports member states in the fight against cross-border crime and promotes a higher level of security across Europe.
The project is scheduled to run from April 1, 2024, to December 31, 2029.
