The dynamic nature of trafficking in human beings (THB) and the plurality and complexity of its forms make it particularly difficult to investigate. However, these highly lucrative crimes are very difficult to operate without leaving an economic footprint.

UNCHAINED aims to enhance the capacity of experts and investigators operating within anti-trafficking, organized, and financial crime investigation units to use financial consultations and macro data analysis in suspected cases of THB.

A second objective of this project is to strengthen the capacity of public authorities and private companies to identify suspicious financial activities and to promote standardized reporting procedures for close cooperation with Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs).

The training provided by the UNCHAINED project will be delivered to more than 120 beneficiaries in 3 pilot countries. This training will be carried out through Training of Trainers (ToT) courses and will be subsequently extended with a larger number of courses throughout the European Union.

After the end of the project, it is foreseen to foster cross-border and cross-sector cooperation through Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG), a gamification method based on real-life case studies and business model trends, obtained by the project’s research.

UNCHAINED also aims to create a European network of experts and trainers that will extend the scope of training in the long term, beyond the end of the project.

The activities to be developed in the framework of this European project focus on cooperation, standardization, and innovation in training methodologies and research techniques. This is based on a broader understanding of financial investigation, as defined by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF): “investigation into financial matters related to criminal activity, to identify the extent of criminal networks and/or scale of criminality; identify and tracing the proceeds of crime, terrorist funds or any other assets that are, or may become, subject to confiscation; and developing evidence that can be used in proceedings”.