OSCE course highlights importance of financial intelligence in preventing and countering terrorism

On 5-7 September 2023, the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department, with the support of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo (OMiK) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), organized a three-day training course in Pejë/Peć on how to use financial intelligence to effectively cut off terrorism financing channels.

Participants learned about proactive and reactive analytical techniques and investigative methods for financial investigations, as part of comprehensive counter-terrorism investigations.

The training module emphasized the importance of collecting, handling, and using financial intelligence in counter-terrorism investigations. A team of local trainers, previously trained by the OSCE and supported by international experts, delivered sessions on the analysis of financial information and application of analytical techniques in counter-terrorism operations. They also actively involved inter-agency teams in exercises on the intelligence cycle, grading of intelligence, and data and network analysis.

Edward Anderson, Director of the Department of Public Safety and Security at OMiK, highlighted during his opening remarks that stemming the flow of funds to terrorists and terrorist networks should be at the forefront of counter-terrorism efforts and thanked all participants for their dedicated work.

The course represents the second module of the OSCE-UNODC training programme on countering the financing of terrorism. The aim of the programme is to build the operational framework of local bodies to prevent terrorists from moving, using, and raising funds for terrorist purposes, in line with international commitments and standards. The course was organized with the financial support of the United States.