Kinyarwanda
English
The Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO), in partnership with the European Union Action against Organised Crime and Terrorism (EU-ACT), launched a four-day regional intermediate training course on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Investigations on Monday, July 20, at the Rwanda National Police (RNP) General Headquarters in Kacyiru.The training brings together law enforcement officers from EAPCCO member countries to strengthen their capacity to investigate crimes involving blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies, which are increasingly exploited by organized criminal networks.Apollo Africa Sendahangarwa, the Chief Executive Officer of EAPCCO and Head of the INTERPOL Regional Bureau, said the training reflects EAPCCO's vision of strengthening regional capacity through joint learning to effectively combat transnational organized crime. “This training, made possible through our partnership with the EU-ACT Project, aligns with EAPCCO’s vision of working together to build our collective capacity to detect, investigate, and effectively combat transnational organized crime,” he said.
He noted that the course complements other EAPCCO initiatives, including joint investigations, operations and exercises, adding that the skills acquired will be critical in tackling increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.
Apollo also thanked the EU-ACT for its continued partnership and encouraged participants to maximize the opportunity to strengthen both their technical expertise and professional networks.
Peter Karake, the Director General in charge of Crime Intelligence and Counter Terrorism at the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) and Chairperson of the EAPCCO Crime Intelligence Subcommittee, said the programme is part of a long-term strategy to build a regional network of highly skilled investigators.
"This course is not a standalone event. It is one step in a deliberate, structured programme to build a network of elite investigators equipped to tackle the most complex financial crimes of our time," Karake said.
He noted that the intermediate course builds on the foundational training conducted in Nairobi, Kenya, in December 2025 and forms part of a three-tier programme that will culminate in an advanced course on multi-jurisdictional case management and specialized forensic techniques.
"This intermediate course will give sharper analytical skills, practical investigative techniques, and the confidence to handle more complex cases," he added.
The training is facilitated by experts from the Italian Carabinieri's Cryptocurrency Investigation Unit with support from the EU-ACT Project and the EAPCCO Secretariat.
