ARIN-AP 11th Annual Meet in New Delhi: India hands presidency to Singapore
Synopsis
India's Enforcement Directorate concluded its ARIN-AP presidency by hosting the network's 11th Annual General Meeting in New Delhi, uniting prosecutors, investigators, and asset managers from 32 jurisdictions under the theme 'Closing the Loop.' The presidency now passes to Singapore for 2027, as the Asia Pacific region doubles down on cross-border asset recovery cooperation.
Key Takeaways
The 11th ARIN-AP Annual General Meeting concluded in New Delhi on 2 October 2026 , hosted by India's Directorate of Enforcement .
The meeting theme was 'Closing the Loop: From Tracing to Return' , covering the full asset recovery life cycle.
ARIN-AP has 32 member jurisdictions and 10 observer organisations across the Asia Pacific region.
The network was launched in Korea in November 2013 , modelled on Europe's CARIN network.
India formally handed over the ARIN-AP presidency to Singapore , which will lead the network in 2027 .
Investigators, prosecutors, and financial intelligence officers from across the Asia Pacific region convened in New Delhi for the 11th Annual General Meeting of the Asset Recovery Interagency Network, Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP), hosted by India's Directorate of Enforcement (ED) under India's presidency. The three-day meeting concluded on 2 October 2026 with the symbolic handover of the ARIN-AP presidency from India to Singapore, which will lead the network through 2027.
Theme and Focus of the Conclave
This year's meeting was held under the theme 'Closing the Loop: From Tracing to Return', designed to trace the full life cycle of an asset recovery case — from the first investigative lead through confiscation to the eventual return of proceeds to victims. Participants included prosecutors, investigators, asset managers, financial intelligence officers, and policy practitioners drawn from ARIN-AP's 32 member jurisdictions and 10 observer organisations, along with special invitees from partner agencies and representatives of Indian enforcement bodies.
What the ED Director Said
In his closing remarks, the Director of the Directorate of Enforcement noted that asset recovery is routinely discussed in silos: investigators focus on tracing, prosecutors on the confiscation order, and asset managers on custody — while victims, he observed, 'too often, nothing at all.' The meeting was deliberately structured to bridge these fragmented stages so that every participant left with the complete picture rather than a single piece of it.
About ARIN-AP
ARIN-AP is an informal network of law enforcement and judicial contact points covering all aspects of recovering proceeds of crime across the Asia Pacific region. It was launched in Korea in November 2013, modelled on the CARIN network of Europe. The network facilitates direct and rapid exchange of information and best practices among its members. India held the presidency for the current cycle, making this year's New Delhi meeting the flagship event of its tenure.
Presidency Handover to Singapore
The closing session marked the formal transfer of ARIN-AP leadership to Singapore, which will steer the network's agenda and host its flagship annual meeting in 2027. The handover signals continuity in the region's collective push to close loopholes in cross-border asset recovery — an area that has gained urgency as criminal proceeds increasingly flow through digital channels and offshore jurisdictions. How Singapore shapes the network's priorities next year will be closely watched by enforcement agencies across the region.
Point of View
And victims rarely see returned proceeds. India's tenure as ARIN-AP president coincides with a period of intensified ED activity domestically, yet the gap between high-profile confiscation orders and actual victim restitution remains wide — a pattern mirrored across the region. Handing the presidency to Singapore, a major financial hub, is symbolically significant: whether Singapore uses that platform to address beneficial ownership transparency and digital asset tracing will determine whether ARIN-AP evolves beyond a networking forum into a genuine enforcement multiplier.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ARIN-AP and what does it do?
ARIN-AP, or the Asset Recovery Interagency Network Asia Pacific, is an informal network of law enforcement and judicial contact points focused on recovering the proceeds of crime across the Asia Pacific region. Launched in Korea in November 2013 and modelled on Europe's CARIN network, it facilitates rapid information exchange and best-practice sharing among 32 member jurisdictions and 10 observer organisations.
What was the theme of the 11th ARIN-AP Annual General Meeting?
The theme was 'Closing the Loop: From Tracing to Return,' designed to follow an asset recovery case through its entire life cycle — from the first investigative lead to confiscation and the eventual return of proceeds. The aim was to give all practitioners a complete, end-to-end picture rather than a fragmented view of their own stage in the process.
Which country hosted the 11th ARIN-AP meeting and who will host next?
India, through the Directorate of Enforcement, hosted the 11th Annual General Meeting in New Delhi under its ARIN-AP presidency. The presidency was formally handed over to Singapore at the closing session; Singapore will lead the network and host its flagship meeting in 2027.
Who participated in the ARIN-AP New Delhi meeting?
The meeting brought together prosecutors, investigators, asset managers, financial intelligence officers, and policy practitioners from ARIN-AP's 32 member jurisdictions and 10 observer organisations, along with special invitees from partner agencies and representatives of Indian enforcement agencies.
Why does the ARIN-AP annual meeting matter for India?
India's Directorate of Enforcement used its presidency to advocate for a more holistic approach to asset recovery — bridging the gap between tracing, confiscation, and victim restitution. The meeting strengthens India's standing in international financial crime enforcement and builds bilateral and multilateral channels that can support cross-border investigations involving Indian proceeds of crime.
