The Rwanda National Police (RNP), in partnership with the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) and the European Union Action against Organised Crime and Terrorism (EU-ACT), on Friday, July 24, concluded a four-day regional intermediate training on blockchain and cryptocurrency investigations.
Held at the RNP General Headquarters in Kacyiru, the training brought together investigators from EAPCCO member countries to strengthen practical skills in analyzing blockchain transactions, tracing illicit financial flows and investigating complex, cross border crimes involving digital assets.
Officials Call for Greater Regional Cooperation and Practical Training
Peter Karake, Director General in charge of Crime Intelligence and Counterterrorism at the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) and Chairperson of the EAPCCO Crime Intelligence Subcommittee, presided over the closing ceremony, calling for continued investment in specialised skills, practical exercises and regional cooperation to strengthen the response to technology enabled and cross border crime.
“The EAPCCO member countries need to work more and do more practical exercises on how to deal with this problem,” Karake said, proposing regional tabletop exercises to strengthen preparedness and operational response further.
Law Enforcement Urged to Keep Pace with Evolving Technology
He also stressed the need for law enforcement agencies to continuously adapt as technology and criminal methods evolve, urging them to look beyond technical skills and focus on upholding the rule of law in the digital age.
he said: “Let’s look forward, not just to technical skills, but also to new results in upholding the rule of law in the digital age. It is moving fast, and we are really lagging behind.”
European Union Encourages Continued Learning and Networking
Dr. Uwe Wissenbach, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union to Rwanda, commended participants for their commitment and encouraged them to continue strengthening their technical expertise, professional networks and cross-border cooperation.
“I encourage you to continue learning and especially to continue to work together and interconnect,” Wissenbach said, stressing that “cooperation, coordination and networking are extremely important.”
Judiciary Encouraged to Build Capacity on Emerging Digital Crimes
He also called for greater involvement of prosecutors and judges in understanding the technical dimensions of emerging crimes, enabling the wider justice system to adapt to evolving criminal methods.
