Targeting the Proceeds of Crime: Bottlenecks in International Cooperation

Abstract

Since the eighties of the last century, the legislation on confiscation of the proceeds of crime has developed into an important instrument in the fight against all forms of crime, on the national as well as on the international level. This development was stimulated to no small degree by the drafting of various international treaties and conventions. The limited knowledge about the functioning of international cooperation in confiscation matters in actual practice was the reason for a comprehensive study, a report of which is made in this article. Our study was intended to provide insight into the procedures of international cooperation in confiscation matters, the bottlenecks occurring in this and the consequences of international cooperation for the confiscation of illegally obtained assets. To gain such insight, the cooperative relations between the Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey, Spain and the United Kingdom were studied by means of file study, telephone and face-to-face interviews, an expert meeting and the circulation of a questionnaire. An orientation took place as well to the legal framework of international cooperation at international and European level.

Keywords: confiscation, proceeds of crime, international cooperation

JEL Classification: K14