On 28-29 November 2024, a training event "International Cooperation Instruments in Tackling the Excise Crime" was held in Jūrmala, organised by the State Revenue Service (hereinafter - SRS) Tax and Customs Police Department. The event was hosted as part of the framework of the Internal Security Fund project "Tackling Excise Crime in the Baltic Region".
The training event was attended by 49 delegates from the SRS Tax and Customs Police Department, the Prosecution Office of the Republic of Latvia, the Taxes and Customs Affairs Prosecution Office, the Latgale Judicial Region Prosecution Office, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), as well as from the Financial Intelligence Unit and the State Police. The presentations were delivered by 9 Latvian and 2 foreign experts – representatives of the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration and the EPPO Customs Fraud Unit.
The aim of the event was to strengthen international cooperation and promote the exchange of expertise in tackling the excise crimes. Over the course of two days, participants gained insight into the latest trends and challenges in tackling the excise crimes and analysed a number of key issues, including examples of best practices and results achieved by the SRS, the practical application of the Naples II Convention and the advantages of the European Public Prosecutor's Office in investigating the customs crimes. The support instruments provided by Eurojust and the opportunities for cooperation between the law enforcement authorities were also evaluated.
The programme of the event featured a diverse range of activities, including discussions and exchanges of expertise. Participants actively engaged in dialogue and shared their accumulated knowledge, strengthening mutual support and enhancing professional competencies.
The SRS Tax and Customs Police Department expresses its gratitude to all participants and speakers for their active participation and valuable contribution to the success of the event. Such training events are essential for strengthening international cooperation and tackling the excise crimes effectively in the Baltic region.
