India is stepping up to lead the fight against economic crimes in the Asia-Pacific region. Starting in 2026, the country’s Directorate of Enforcement (ED) will take the helm of the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP). This move highlights India’s growing push to recover stolen assets and tackle financial crimes head-on.
India first joined ARIN-AP’s Steering Committee back in 2024, setting the stage for this leadership role. In 2026, the nation will host the network’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), bringing together experts from across the region to boost cooperation.
ARIN-AP plays a key role in tracking, freezing, and seizing money from crimes like money laundering and corruption. This effort lines up perfectly with India’s G20 priorities on global financial security. The network includes 28 member countries and nine observers, making it a vital hub for cross-border teamwork in asset recovery.
The handover happened at the 10th ARIN-AP AGM in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, running from September 23 to 26, 2025. Mongolia passed the presidency to India, marking a smooth transition.
For India, this isn’t just a title—it’s a chance to drive real change. In his acceptance speech, a Joint Director from the ED called ARIN-AP more than a network: it’s like a family where agencies share tough challenges, build solutions together, and foster trust across borders.
India plans to focus on a few key areas during its term. These include faster direct contacts between frontline officers, training programs for better skills, and spreading success stories through newsletters to raise awareness.
At its core, ARIN-AP is an informal group of experts and law enforcement pros. It helps speed up information sharing to identify and recover criminal proceeds, making it easier to fight transnational crimes. The network operates under the larger Camden Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network (CARIN), which spans over 100 countries worldwide. In India, the ED serves as the main point of contact.
By hosting the 2026 AGM, India aims to spark deeper partnerships and influence global standards on asset recovery. The ED will link up with international efforts to combat proceeds of crime, sharing expertise on money laundering and financial crimes.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has urged all central and state agencies in India to tap into ARIN-AP for spotting and seizing illicit assets. This builds on India’s work in other global forums, like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), G20 discussions, and the Global Network (GlobE).
Overall, it shows India’s “follow-the-money” strategy: cut off criminals from their dirty profits to deter organized crime. This echoes commitments from the 2018 G20 Summit, including a nine-point plan against fugitive economic offenders and principles on mutual legal assistance and asset recovery during India’s G20 presidency.
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