News Numerous TV series and a plethora of films have made America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation, better known under the acronym «FBI», famous the world over. Although closely associated in the collective consciousness with the home of Uncle Sam, few of us know that this department carries on its activities worldwide through the intermediary of American diplomatic representations and with the support of local agents recruited specially for their particular skills.
For their benefit, the FBI regularly organises continuing training conferences at different locations. From 20 to 24 October this year, it was the turn of the Principality of Monaco to host the thirtieth session of the European conference of the FBI, or for those in the know, the «FBI National Academy».
Commander Olivier Jude, who chaired the session and is head of the Principality’s criminal investigation department, began the proceedings with a talk on «Policing with Luxury Industry», a highly topical subject to judge by the numerous armed robberies of firms and jewellers that have made the headlines recently, sometimes with tragic consequences. And furthermore, what better location to talk about luxury than Monaco?
A number of specialists were invited to discuss their experiences concerning prevention, security and investigations in relation to the chosen theme. In this capacity, the head of the FH Anti-Counterfeiting Department had the occasion to outline to the 175 delegates present the anti-counterfeiting strategy put in place by Swiss watch manufacturers and masterminded by the FH Anti-Counterfeiting Group. It was a particularly apt setting to mention the growing involvement of organised crime in the trafficking of fake watches. Boundaries are gradually becoming blurred between different criminal activities: theft, falsification of goods, receiving stolen goods, money laundering and counterfeiting. Several ongoing investigations show how stolen watches are bundled with counterfeit products and second-hand timepieces on a burgeoning black market that is subject to no controls whatsoever. Imagine the shock when an enthusiast of fine watches, who in good faith visits a small shop specialising in «second-hand» timepieces, one day stands accused by a prosecutor of «receiving stolen goods, money laundering, tax avoidance and being a member of an organised gang»!
«The safety of individuals depends on our ability to protect the luxury sector». These words, spoken by the Monaco chief of police, could not better express the challenges facing the conference. And with his job profile, he is ideally qualified to make such pronouncements.
November 13, 2012
