Cape Verde: Money laundering taints economic growth

4 Nov 2008

Faced with a growing number of drug trafficking, money laundering and organised crime investigations, the head of Cape Verde's judiciary police told IRIN his agents may know who the traffickers and money launderers are, but do not have enough resources to catch them all.

Illegal housing settlements accommodate the growing urban population, Praia. (Image: Phuong Tran/IRIN)

Oscar Silva dos Reis Tavares, who directs high-level crime investigations at the judiciary police, told IRIN his agents are handling 150 investigations, including 10 money laundering cases. But the police should be looking into more, he said: “We can't just go up to someone on the street and use what they say as evidence in a court of law. This is a small community. People may know who earns money illegally, but we need proof.”

In the past five years, the islands have increasingly been used as a transit point for drugs coming from Latin America, destined for Europe and West Africa, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Minister of Justice Marisa Morais told IRIN Cape Verde's geography has left it open to transatlantic traffickers: “Our geographical location is both a privilege and a threat.”

Read the full article here