CEPOL onsite activity on Excise Fraud investigation takes place in Lisbon

The CEPOL onsite training activity 23/2023/ONS: Excise Fraud - Investigation, took place in Lisbon-Portugal, from 15 -19 May, 2023.

The School of Guard, together with the Portuguese Guarda Nacional Republicana Fiscal Action Unit, organised this training activity, under the umbrella of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL).

The aim of the course was to enhance the fight against excise fraud by improving the knowledge on existing patterns in excise fraud in general, exchanging good practices of excise investigations and facilitating the use of financial investigative techniques in excise cases. The course paid particular attention to illegal tobacco, alcoholic beverages and fuel trade and production.

26 law enforcement officials from different European countries, such as Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, The Netherlands, Ukraine and Portugal, participated in the course.

The course was based on theoretical training sessions delivered by renowned national and international speakers and trainers, representing institutions such as OECD, EUROPOL, OLAF, European Commission Joint Research Centre, The European Public Prosecutor's Office and EUROJUST, companies such as Philip Morris International, Japan Tobbaco International, Imperial Tobacco, Prime, Empor Habanos Portugal, Galp and Repsol, as well as Member States such as Italy, Spain, Hungary, Lithuania and Portugal.

In addition to the theoretical component, the sessions also included a practical component. Through the application of practical exercises and the approach to several case studies, knowledge and experiences were shared, thus contributing to the formalisation of a unified vision on how to fight this crime in the European Union.

Author: Guarda Nacional Republicana (Portugal)

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