The National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT), Nagpur, organised the BRICS Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Capacity Building Programme from May 4 to 8. The programme was organised in backdrop of India’s Chairmanship of BRICS in 2026, marking its fourth tenure as Chair, under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The initiative reflects India’s commitment to strengthening cooperation among BRICS member countries. This is the first such capacity-building session of BRICS AML/CFT experts in response to the call of BRICS leaders in the Rio De Janeiro Declaration of 2025 on ‘Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance’.

 

The programme aimed to enhance the capacity of public sector officials to effectively detect, investigate, and combat money laundering and terrorist financing through a deeper understanding of global standards, emerging risks, and international best practices. The programme brought together policymakers, regulators, Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), law enforcement agencies, and tax authorities from BRICS countries. The programme saw the participation of officials from multiple BRICS countries, including representatives from the Russian FIU, UAE Public Prosecution, and South African tax authorities.

 

It covered key aspects of AML/CFT in an integrated manner, including the global legal and institutional framework, comparative legal systems, and the mechanics of money laundering and tax crimes as predicate offences. It also addressed issues such as trade-based money laundering, drug trafficking, benami transactions, and risks arising from virtual digital assets in the context of Financial Action Task Force compliance. The programme concluded with a focus on international cooperation mechanisms, including information exchange, mutual legal assistance asset recovery, and inter-agency coordination.