Project CAST

Timeframe: February 2026 – February 2027 
Donor: Government of Japan

The situtation

Cryptocurrency is widely exploited by criminal networks across the financial crime landscape and has emerged as a significant and growing threat. The speed, borderless nature, and anonymity of cryptocurrency make it a preferred tool for criminals to move funds without detection, creating significant challenges for law enforcement in tracing illicit cross-border transactions. 

As the threat posed by scam centers continues to grow worldwide, the exploitation of cryptocurrency within their operations makes it essential for law enforcement to strengthen capabilities to trace, seize, and recover virtual assets as part of broader efforts to combat transnational financial crimes.

Project summary

Through Project CAST, the INTERPOL Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC) will strengthen the capacities of beneficiary countries in addressing crypto-related financial crimes. This will be done through the delivery of regional workshops on crypto-related financial crimes, as well as providing operational support, including case mentoring, to beneficiary countries. 

Project CAST will be built on results and best practices achieved from the Project RESCUE, VICTOR, TORAID and TORII initiatives from the same project donor, but with a renewed focus on crypto-related financial crimes. 

Project CAST will address the following: 

• Provide law enforcement officers with knowledge and skills immediately applicable to combat new financial crimes and the convergence of scams, in their day-to-day work, with a focus on cyber-enabled financial crimes such as romance baiting scam; 
• Enhance law enforcement’s ability to react promptly and effectively investigate transnational financial crimes, especially the use of virtual assets and other emerging technologies (e.g. AI and Deepfakes); 
• Expand the existing network of specialized law enforcement officers that have the necessary skills, contacts and authority to be used as international points of contact to coordinate efforts on transnational financial crime; and 
• Provide law enforcement with operational support and dedicated case mentorship/guidance in promptly tracing illicit transaction activities on virtual assets (through the use of virtual asset tracing tools), as well as the case follow-up actions needed.

Project activities

• Basic and Advanced Regional Trainings on Virtual Asset Investigations
• Operational/Mentorship Support on Virtual Asset Investigations in beneficiary countries
• National Domestic Trainings on Virtual Asset Investigations in beneficiary countries
• Donation of a virtual asset investigative tool
• Strategic Conclusion Meeting

Partners

Project CAST is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and includes law enforcement partners from the following participating countries:

• Brunei
• Cambodia
• Indonesia
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Vietnam