At the launch of the 3rd workshop on forensic accounting in Algiers, Marc Shapiro, praised Algeria’s huge strides in battling money laundering and terror financing.

Back in this “magnificent country” after nearly 20 years, Shapiro beamed about returning to work. “So much has changed since 2009,” he said, pointing to Algiers’ glow-up and stronger US-Algeria ties. One thing stays the same? “The Algerian people’s warmth, generosity, talent, and work ethic.”

Teamwork Beats Cross-Border Crime

Shapiro stressed that drug trafficking and financial crimes don’t respect borders they demand a global game plan. “No one wins alone against transnational threats,” he noted. He hailed the workshop’s ties with Algeria’s Justice Ministry as “essential” for shared security, calling local teams not just effective but a joy to work with. US trainers, he added, rank Algerian pros among their all-time best. “Algeria’s a top-tier partner,” Shapiro said, perfect for leading in North Africa and the Sahel.

Grey List Exit in Sight?

Big news: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) confirmed in February that Algeria nailed its action plan. Positive signs point to a potential exit from the grey list soon much like Malta’s 2022 success, which Shapiro knows firsthand. “A real triumph,” he called it. Wrapping up, he bet on the participants’ skills delivering real-world wins through US-Algerian judicial teamwork.