CyberSEE in cooperation with CEPOL strengthen regional law enforcement capabilities on illegal use of virtual assets and asset recovery

The Council of Europe’s Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC), through its CyberSEE joint project of the European Union and the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), co-organised a Regional Training on Money Laundering, Criminal Financing and Asset Recovery: New Tools and Technologies, from 7–11 July 2025, in Bucharest, Romania.

Bringing together nearly 40 participants from police, financial intelligence units, customs, and prosecution offices from across the Western Balkans, the activity contributed to strengthening the operational capacities in investigating and prosecuting criminal use of virtual assets. Experts from EUROPOL, TRM Labs, European Investment Bank, Romanian Asset Recovery Office and academia contributed to the delivery of key  topics and engaged in discussions on the practical aspects.

Participants explored key topics such as the fundamentals of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, the use of anonymisation tools, and crypto tracing techniques. They got involved in practical exercises using blockchain forensic tools to investigate illicit flows, manage seized digital assets and strengthen cross-border collaboration. Legal aspects, including EU AML Directive and the upcoming MiCA regulation, were also addressed to enhance national and regional preparedness.

This activity highlighted the growing commitment of CyberSEE and CEPOL to equipping law enforcement with the expertise and resources needed to address fast-evolving financial crime threats. It contributed to a common understanding of the legal, investigative, and technical challenges related to crypto-enabled money laundering, echoing priorities outlined in EU SOCTA 2025 and regional cooperation frameworks.

By facilitating this initiative, CyberSEE reaffirms its role in supporting regional cooperation, capacity building in line with the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention).

 CyberSEE project

 Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC)

 Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention)