POLICE-RELATED ACTIVITIES OF FIELD OPERATIONS central ASIA best practice related to countering terrorist financing and misuse of new internet technologies by organized crime. From 11 to 15 June, organized by TNTD in co-operation with UNODC’s GPML and the EAG, the Office facilitated a training seminar in Burabay, aimed at building national capacities in countering terrorist financing In total, 15 government officials from the law enforcement agencies were trained by international experts and four national trainers on disrupting terrorist financing schemes. From 22 to 26 July and 9 to 13 December, in co-operation with the US Embassy’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Programme and the GPO’s Law Enforcement Agencies Academy, the Office organized simulation exercises in Nur-Sultan and Almaty on countering drug-related money laundering. These events were developed for law enforcement officers involved in investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating cases related to laundering the proceeds derived from the illicit drug trafficking and trade, using also online tools and instruments. During the exercises, participants were familiarized with the peculiarities of co-operating with the private entities that are used by the criminals to hide their illegal activities. In total, some 61 police officers, prosecutors, officials from the MoF’s State Revenue and Financial Monitoring Committee along with officials of private entities participated in both exercises. On 12 July, in co-operation with the National Bank, the Office organized a training seminar in Almaty on the regulatory aspects of raising funds and countering measures to avert financial pyramids. In total, the event gathered 15 representatives from the National Bank. Experts from Moldova and Slovakia familiarized participants with the types and schemes of financial pyramids used in financial and capital markets as well as ways to identify, block and prevent them via a regulatory body. From 22 to 23 July, in co-operation with the UNODC GPML, the Office organized a study visit for six national trainers from government entities to a ToT course in Vienna, which focused on countering the funding of terrorism. Together with OSCE and UNODC experts, the participants will continue delivering training courses to their peers upon their return to the country. On 1 and 2 August, in co-operation with the National Bank, US Embassy and Association of Financiers, the Office organized a seminar in Almaty on “Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT)”. Experts from Belarus, Slovenia and Ukraine familiarized some 55 representatives from the National Bank, the MoF’s Financial Monitoring Committee, second-tier banks, insurance companies and securities markets with open source intelligence, financial technologies, virtual currencies and web-based money laundering typologies. Participants were also introduced to money laundering schemes linked with corruption offences as well as the ways of identifying, assessing and mitigating related risks. From 27 to 29 August, in co-operation with the MoF’s Financial Monitoring Committee, GPO Academy of Law Enforcement Agencies and US Embassy, the Office delivered a training seminar in Nur-Sultan on AML/CFT for 50 officials from the law enforcement agencies and judiciary. Experts from Israel and Lithuania as well as national trainers familiarized participants with best practice in the investigation and prosecution of money laundering cases, forfeiture of illegally acquired assets and interagency cooperation with key stakeholders. The experts also engaged participants in practical exercises on turning financial intelligence into evidence, searching for criminal assets and applying non conviction-based confiscation procedures. From 5 to 7 November, in co-operation with TNTD, UNODC’s GPML and UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia, the Office organized a training course in Burabay aimed at strengthening national capacities in disrupting the financing of terrorist networks. The workshop brought together 13 experts and practitioners from the GPO, Law Enforcement Agencies Academy, MoF Financial Monitoring Committee, MoIA and SSS. International experts also delivered the training alongside four local government officials, by focusing on localized real-life scenarios, familiarizing participants with complex analytical and operational planning methods. On 28 November, organized by International Centre for Not-for-profit Law, the Office participated in a seminar in Almaty on FATF standards and the level of interaction between government and civil society required to ensure their implementation. In total, 25 participants focused on FATF standards regarding the non-profit sector as well as examples of their impact on the non-commercial sector. A representative of Financial Monitoring Committee discussed the role of the Committee in the implementation of the recommendations. Counter-Terrorism & VERLT On 30 and 31 January, the Office participated in the “Regional Workshop on the Central Asian Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) Network” organized by UNODC’s Regional Office for Central Asia in Almaty. Some 60 representatives from the relevant agencies and CSOs from five Central Asian states and international organizations based in the region attended the event. Participants reviewed several case studies 123