Investigations Department (I.D)

The Investigations Department is the investigative arm of the Office of National Drug and Money laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) in matters involving money laundering and the combating of the financing of terrorism. It is this subunit that the substantive portions of referrals from the FIU for investigations are made.

Our Work Force

Presently the Investigations Unit has a staff compliment of four Investiagators that includes a supervisor and one Manager. The unit is also supported by the Administrative and the Legal Department of the ONDCP.

Staff Training

During 2008, members of staff received training both locally and overseas. Training was provided in the areas of Cyber Security Awareness, Identification of Digital Evidence, First Aid, Insurance Supervision Training, Intelligence Gathering & Analysis, Techniques of Financial Investigations andAnti-Money Laundering Workshops.

Agencies such as the Caribbean Regional Drug Law Enforcement Training Centre (REDTRAC) in Jamaica, The Government Training Division, the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross, the Canadian Institute of Insurance and UK Security Advisory Team (UKSAT).

Regional and International Cooperation

Money laundering is clearly an international phenomenon and in order to deal effectively with the issue of money laundering countries have to work together. This is not an issue which is peculiar to one jurisdiction or the Caribbean jurisdiction as a whole; it is a global issue which requires a global approach and a global solution. In order to properly share information certain necessary mechanisms had to be implemented to allow for
effective cooperation.

Some of these mechanisms are:-

• The Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty(MLAT) signed with the U.S. in 1999
• The Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act
• The Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy
  Act, 2003
• The Money Laundering (Prevention) Act, 2006

The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) in its 2008 Mutual Evaluation Report on Antigua and Barbuda credited the country for having what they termed a robust mutual legal assistance regime.

Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty Requests

During the year ID received a total of 7 formal and 2 informal MLAT requests these figures continue to demonstrate a downward trend. Increased contact with regional and other foreign partners has been initiated to try and reverse this trend.

Money Laundering Typologies

During the previous years, several observations were made with respect to activities and trends as it related to the conduct of money laundering. Included at Annex B were several typologies inserted for the benefit of the readers to assist with providing a better understanding of how money laundering can occur.