India hosts 11th ARIN-AP meeting to urge faster asset recovery

India is hosting the 11th Annual General Meeting of the Asset Recovery Interagency Network, Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP) in New Delhi from September 28 to October 1. The meeting brings together delegations from 32 member jurisdictions and various observer organizations, including INTERPOL and the World Bank.

During the inaugural session, Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director Rahul Navin emphasized the need for faster cross-border asset recovery. He noted that while international cooperation is often strong during the initial stages of an investigation, cases frequently encounter delays during cross-border confiscation, the enforcement of foreign orders, and the repatriation of assets.

As part of its upcoming 2026 presidency, India has proposed that the network prioritize speeding up response times and ensuring the actual confiscation and return of crime proceeds. The ED suggested that ARIN-AP should track the number of cases where assets are successfully returned to improve accountability and address bureaucratic obstacles.