Ukrainian law enforcement is undergoing training in cryptocurrency crime investigation, provided by EU experts. As Ukraine aligns its cryptocurrency and blockchain strategies with Brussels, the involvement of EU officials has increased.
According to a release by the Bureau of Economic Security (BEB), officers in Lviv, Ukraine participated in an international workshop facilitated by the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM).
During the seminar, participants delved into the procedures of probing crimes associated with cryptocurrencies.
The training equipped officers with techniques to monitor the movement of crypto assets across blockchain networks and provided guidance on identifying parties involved in transactions.
The BEB asserted that cryptocurrencies have potential uses in money laundering, illicit gambling, and other criminal behaviors.
Established just a year ago, the bureau’s primary objective is to combat financial malpractices, specifically tax evasion and corruption.
Earlier in the year, the BEB disclosed that they had undertaken a study on cryptocurrency exchanges.
The agency believes that over the past decade, the Treasury missed out on tax revenues amounting to at least $80 million.
With an intent to rectify this oversight, the country is eager to regulate the cryptocurrency domain, drawing inspiration from EU’s cryptocurrency regulations.
Crypto Crime Busting: EU Trains Ukrainian Law Enforcers
The BEB indicated that staff from the Security Intelligence Service of the Lviv region participated in the training sessions.
They were accompanied by representatives from various other law enforcement entities.
The gathering also included prosecution authorities, judicial members, scholars, and international specialists.
Participants were introduced to innovative software tools designed to assist officers in combating crimes driven by cryptocurrencies.
Mykola Popovych, the head of BEB in Lviv, remarked:
“Cryptocurrency’s rise presents a global challenge for law enforcement, not just in Ukraine. […] Our BEB analysts and detectives are continually learning new techniques to probe crimes associated with virtual assets and cryptocurrencies.”
The authorities emphasized the significance of accumulating knowledge and continuously sharing insights with international counterparts, experts, and police officials from various nations.
In Ukraine, the EU’s mission is primarily focused on organizing training programs to enhance the capabilities of Ukrainian law enforcement, as highlighted by the BEB.
Additionally, this past May, Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency introduced a strategy to address the escalating issue of corruption facilitated by cryptocurrencies.
