Resumen de Prensa

26/05/2006

Reunión Inter-americana de OAS sobre la lucha contra el blanqueo de capitales (Usinfo)

Washington. Experts on controlling money laundering are meeting May 24-26 at the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington to discuss an illegal practice having a corrosive effect on economies worldwide, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In a May 23 statement, the OAS said topics to be discussed at the meeting include regional cooperative efforts to detect and seize assets illegally gained by corrupt officials in government and business.

Money laundering is described as the processing of criminal proceeds to disguise their illegal origin.

Among the scheduled speakers at the Washington meeting is Daniel Claman, a senior trial attorney in the Asset Forfeiture Program at the U.S. Department of Justice. Claman's office uses the USA Patriot Act and other U.S. criminal forfeiture statutes to seize assets accumulated through criminal acts such as theft, extortion, fraud and money laundering. Money laundering is a particular concern because it also can be used to finance terrorism.

The event at the OAS is being held under the auspices of what is called the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (known by its Spanish acronym, CICAD). The OAS established CICAD in 1986 as a forum regarding all aspects of the Western Hemisphere's drug problem. The United States and the 33 other OAS member nations each appoint a representative to work in CICAD.

CICAD's anti-money-laundering unit was established in 1999. The unit provides technical assistance and training to all OAS member states in judicial and financial measures and also to law enforcement bodies.

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