The 11th Annual General Meeting of the Asset Recovery Interagency Network–Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP), hosted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in New Delhi under India’s 2026 presidency, has concluded after discussions on cross-border asset tracing, confiscation and the return of proceeds of crime.The meeting was held from September 28 to October 1, 2026, under the theme “Closing the Loop: From Tracing to Return”. Representatives from member jurisdictions, observer organisations and Indian agencies participated in discussions focused on strengthening international cooperation in asset recovery.Key Highlights11th ARIN-AP Annual General Meeting concluded in New DelhiIndia hosted the meeting under its 2026 presidencyFocus on tracing, freezing, confiscation and return of illicit assetsVirtual asset tracing and cryptocurrency-related investigations featured in discussionsIndia handed over the ARIN-AP presidency to Singapore for 2027Focus on Cross-Border Asset RecoveryThe ARIN-AP meeting brought together law enforcement and judicial contact points working on the recovery of proceeds of crime across the Asia-Pacific region. The network facilitates informal and rapid exchange of information between jurisdictions to support asset tracing and recovery.During the meeting, ED Director Rahul Navin highlighted the need to improve cooperation beyond the initial tracing stage. Discussions covered the challenges involved in securing assets, obtaining confiscation orders, managing recovered property and ultimately returning assets to victims or other rightful beneficiaries.Virtual Assets and International CooperationVirtual assets were also part of the discussions, reflecting the growing role of digital assets in cross-border financial investigations. The meeting included discussions on virtual-asset tracing, freezing and seizure, along with the need for quicker coordination with international counterparts and relevant service providers.The programme also covered beneficial ownership information, non-conviction-based confiscation, management of confiscated assets and restitution and return mechanisms.India Hands Over ARIN-AP Presidency to SingaporeIndia held the ARIN-AP presidency for 2026 and hosted the annual meeting for the first time. The presidency has now been handed over to Singapore for 2027.The ED said the network currently includes 32 member jurisdictions and observer organisations, including international bodies such as INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Bank.The conclave underlined the importance of continued cooperation between investigators, prosecutors and other agencies in tracing and recovering assets linked to financial crime across borders.
