The Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance is hosting a Meeting of Expert Working Group on Paris Pact Initiative on Illicit Financial Flows deriving from the trafficking of Opiates originating in Afghanistan. The Meeting consists of Sessions spread over two days on 27^th and 28^th  June, 2019 and is being organised with the support of United Nations Office on Drugs & Crimes (UNODC). The Meeting will be inaugurated by the Additional Secretary, Revenue Mr. Anil Kumar Jha and will be attended by the representatives of the Member Countries of Paris Pact, Regional Representatives of UNODC and Senior Officers of the Indian agencies like DRI, ED and NCB involved in countering the money laundering/illicit financial flows related to drug trafficking.

Paris Pact is a group of 58 countries and 23 International Organisations affected with drug trafficking of Afghan Opiates. Under the ambit of UNODC, Paris Pact Initiative has addressed the issue of drug problem related to opiates originating in Afghanistan, both at policy and implementation level. It has provided the platform for the Member Countries and International Organizations to coordinate and combat the trafficking and consumption of opiates on the principle of common and shared responsibility.

The experts from other countries and International Organisations will share their experiences during this Expert Working Group Meeting. This will provide an opportunity for Indian Agencies to understand the updates on current threats posed by illicit financial flows which may include new methods to assess such threats and activities. The Meeting will also highlight upon the technical assistance needs and new capabilities to enhance understanding and disruption of illicit financial flows. This will lead to improving the effectiveness of India’s AML/CFT framework as per FATF standards with respect to illicit financial flows linked to drug trafficking.

Illicit financial flows: experts convene to update threat assessments and strengthen AML/CFT responses to drug related laundering. A two day Paris Pact expert meeting hosted with UNODC support convenes national enforcement agencies and international experts to share experience, update threat assessments, and identify methods and technical assistance needs to detect, disrupt and prosecute illicit financial flows linked to opiate trafficking, with the objective of strengthening India's AML/CFT framework and operational cooperation.