CEPOL training activity on excise fraud investigation took place in Estonia

CEPOL training activity 22/2021 on excise fraud investigation took place in Narva, Estonia on 5 – 8 October 2021. It has been been organised by the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences together with the Estonian Tax and Customs Board, in conjunction with EU Justice and Home Affairs Agencies, Finland, Lithuania, Belgium and industry representative.

The course welcomed approx. 30 participants mainly from EU countries. The keynote speakers come from Customs authorities of EU Member States. The EMPACT Excise priority received high attention, as well as cooperation with different law enforcement authorities like Border Guard, Prosecutor`s Office and FIU. The participants have been offered an insight to every-day practical cooperation of Estonian Customs and Border Guard officials in Narva Border Crossing Points.

According to Siim Rudissaar, head of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board’s investigation department’s Northern unit, the agency has managed to decrease the market share of illicit cigarettes by half in Estonia.

"We are happy to host colleagues to talk about resolved cases and listen to the experiences of experts from other countries and agencies. In the training, we discuss the fraud schemes of fuel, alcohol and tobacco products and their research methods. Aspects of international criminal co-operation are also very important," added Mr. Rudissaar.

The training course took place in the new premises of the Estonian Security Sciences Academy in Narva. According to Director of Police and Border Guard College, colonel Kalvi Almosen, it is a great pleasure to host foreign colleagues in this location and to share experience of inter-agency cooperation which is a part of every-day work in Narva. He adds that in today's world cooperation skills are essential in all fields and it is important to develop those skills also at EU external border.

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