Embassy of the U.S., Timor-Leste –
From August 12-14, 2015, the U.S. Embassy's Resident Legal Advisor Glenn
Alexander hosted a counter-narcotics seminar with prosecutors from the Office of
the Prosecutor General at the Timor Plaza Hotel in Dili. The training session
covered all aspects of narcotics investigation and prosecution, including
undercover investigations, the use of informants, case studies, and included
blocks of instruction on money laundering and financial crimes. Mr. Alexander,
as well as representatives from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the
U.S. Department of Justice led the training. This training is part of the
Embassy's ongoing assistance to help strengthen capacity in the justice
sector.
In her opening remarks, said "As we have seen in countless places around the
world, once traffickers find a vulnerable location they will exploit it and
expand their criminal enterprises and the destabilizing effect of criminal
enterprise can compromise a country's security and its legitimate economic
growth," said U.S. Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Katherine Dueholm at the seminar's
opening. She added that Timor-Leste has an opportunity to avoid these problems
which have plagued countries around the world and the United States is pleased
to assist in that effort. For his part, Prosecutor General Jose Ximenes said
that U.S. Government support is essential in order to improve Timor-Leste's
capacity to fight against the organized crime.