CONFISCATION OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION CRIMINAL LAW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15837/aijjs.v7i3.670Keywords:
“criminal proceedsâ€, “confiscationâ€, “reduce and preventâ€, “the European Union criminal lawâ€, “Joint Action and Framework Decisionâ€Abstract
AbstractThe confiscation of proceeds of crime has long been seen within the European Union
and beyond as an important tool in the armory of weapons to fight organized crime. The
rationale for focusing on the confiscation of criminal proceeds is at least two- fold. First it
addresses concerns that enormous criminal wealth, generated most notably by various forms
of trafficking offences, risks destabilizing financial systems and corrupting. As such the
confiscation of criminal assets seeks ultimately to reduce and prevent crime by making known
that criminals will not be allowed to legitimate society. Second it attempts to undermine the
“raison d'íªtre” behind most organized crime activity, namely the maximization of profit by
illicit means. As such the confiscation of criminal assets seeks ultimately to reduce and
prevent crime by making known that criminals will not be allowed to enjoy their illicit wealth.
By the same token, focusing on confiscation of criminal wealth can send an important
message by removing negative role models from local communities.
References
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