On September 12–13, 2023, an online meeting of the Paris Pact Working Group of Experts on Illicit Financial Flows was held in Ankara, in which employees of the CARICC Information and Analytical Department took part.

The event was attended by more than 160 participants representing 35 partner countries and 10 international and regional partner organizations.

Participants reviewed current issues as well as recent key operational actions and took stock of the recommendations adopted at the last EWG meeting on illicit financial flows. The meeting decided to propose four priority operational recommendations for further consideration and approval at the 17th Policy Advisory Group Meeting (PCGM), scheduled to be organized from 11 to 12 December 2023 in Vienna.

Also, the meeting participants paid special attention to the issues of countering the criminal use of virtual assets and «Hawala» type money transfer systems in the financial support of the illicit trafficking of Afghan opiates.

Based on the results of the event, the participants developed recommendations containing response measures, including a strategy and plans for joint action.