The 181st UNAFEI International Training Course“Countermeasures against Transnational Organized Crime–The 20th Anniversary of UNTOC–”
1. Duration and Participants From 12 May to 8 June 2023
 25 overseas participants from 19 jurisdictions
 3 participants from Japan
2. Programme Overview
This programme mainly focused on the challenges that criminal justice practitioners
face in Countermeasures against Transnational Organized Crime. In particular, theprogramme considered the following topics: (1) Effective legal frameworks and measuresin investigation, prosecution and trial in various transnational organized crime cases suchas organized violent crime cases, organized drug smuggling cases, organized financial
crime cases and organized human trafficking/migrant smuggling cases; (2) Effective legal
frameworks and measures on matters which often arise in various transnational organizedcrime categories and require special consideration, such as tracing and confiscation ofproceeds of crime, asset recovery, witness and whistle-blower protection and mutual legal
assistance, etc.; (3) Good practices, challenges and solutions in specific cases oftransnational organized crime in each jurisdiction with regard to issues under paragraphs(1) and (2). Also, this programme, through lectures on best practices and the participants’
discussions, aimed to enhance the participants’ knowledge of measures to improve antitransnational-organized-crime efforts in their respective jurisdictions and to establish a
global network for the exchange of updated information on the practices of the respective
jurisdictions.
3. Contents of the Programme(1) Lecturers
The following visiting experts from overseas and Japanese experts, as well as
UNAFEI faculty members, gave lectures as follows:Visiting Experts- Mr. Rosario Salvatore Aitala
Judge, International Criminal Court
Lecture on investigation in transnational organized crime cases and the roleof the International Criminal Court-Mr. David Jaffe
Chief of Organized Crime and Gang Section
U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division“Challenges in Complex Transnational Investigations and Prosecutions”-Ms. Daniela Buruiană
Chair of the Eurojust Anti-Trafficking Team and National Member forRomania

European Union Agency for Criminal Justice cooperation“Eurojust’s Work against Trafficking in Human Beings: Current Landscape,
Challenges, Available Tools”
Japanese Experts- Mr. HARADA Ryotaro
Superintendent, Organized Crime Department, Criminal Affairs Bureau,
National Police Agency
Lecture on investigation in transnational phone scam cases-Mr. HORII Takashi
Superintendent, Organized Crime Department, Criminal Affairs Bureau,
National Police Agency“Current situation of Boryokudans in Japan”-Mr. OKADA Tetsuaki
Public Prosecutor, Criminal Affairs Department,
Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office“Problems with Investigations and Trials in Transnational Economic Crimes”(2) Individual Presentations
Participants shared the practices and the challenges in their respective
jurisdictions regarding the theme of the programme through their individualpresentations. Materials of all presentations were uploaded online for later
reference by participants.
(3) Group Workshops
The participants were divided into three groups and exchanged their views andknowledge through discussions on the following topics: (1) Effective legal
frameworks and measures in investigation, prosecution and trial in varioustransnational organized crime cases such as organized violent crime cases,
organized drug smuggling cases, organized financial crime cases and organizedhuman trafficking/migrant smuggling cases; (2) Effective legal frameworks andmeasures on matters which often arise in various transnational organized crime
categories and require special consideration, such as tracing and confiscation ofproceeds of crime, asset recovery, witness and whistle-blower protection andmutual legal assistance, etc.; (3) Good practices, challenges and solutions in
specific cases of transnational organized crime in each jurisdiction with regard toissues under paragraphs (1) and (2).
In each group, the participants mainly discussed effective measures to identify
perpetrators in investigating transnational organized crime cases involving ICTs
including network services with high anonymity, enhanced use of special
techniques, forfeiture of proceeds of crimes and domestic/international
cooperation among authorities etc. Participants recommended the following
practices: legal frameworks and practices which enable disclosure of various

information from various network service providers, effective use of nonconviction-based confiscation and enhancing protection of witness/whistleblowers.
Each group concluded the programme by presenting their recommendations
based on the challenges they identified and what they learned in the lectures,presentations by the fellow participants and discussions.
4. Feedback from the Participants
Most participants commented that the lectures, individual presentations and group
workshops helped them gain knowledge. On the other hand, some commented that it
would have been better if more specific information and best practices had been
exchanged and intensive discussion on mock cases had been included in the Programme.
We appreciate all the feedback from the participants and take them into consideration inplanning our future training programmes.
5. Comments from the Programming Officer
Transnational organized crime is an issue that all countries face, and identifying
countermeasures thereto is an urgent issue throughout the world. I felt the enthusiasm of
the participants in the programme by their active participation. The participants werehighly interested in the lectures, presentations and group workshops, which led to active
discussions. We hope that the knowledge gained from this course will help thedevelopment and enhancement of each participant’s jurisdiction.
This programme was held in person at UNAFEI’s facilities for the first time since its
in-person training courses were suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In-person
communication among both overseas and Japanese participants throughout theprogramme made it easier for them to understand the content of the programme as wellas to establish personal connections. We hope that this personal network will contributeto preventing transnational organized crime in the future.