Cross border cooperation on Cybercrime, Virtual Assets, and Digital Evidence

A Regional Training Workshop on Cybercrime, Virtual Assets and Digital Evidence, jointly organised by the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA), the US Department of Justice, Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, kickstarted this morning, at the Integrated Customs Clearance Centre in Plaine Magnien.

The workshop brings together professionals from Mauritius and Seychelles, alongside the Programme Manager, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mr Jeffrey Rees; and Attorney Advisor, Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training, Mrs Kristina Cervi.

The five-day workshop aims to upgrade the investigative and prosecutorial capacities of Mauritian and regional institutions. It will strengthen cross-border cooperation, improve the handling and admissibility of digital evidence, and build skills to effectively investigate and disrupt cyber-enabled and transnational financial crimes. Moreover, it will bolster Mauritius’ position as a regional hub for combating cybercrime.

In his keynote address, the Junior Minister of Finance, Mr Dhaneshwar Damry, underpinned Government’s efforts to put the economy on the right track last year, as evidenced by the increased growth rate, rise in international reserve and gross tourism earnings; stabilised inflation rate; and a flow of Rs 38 billion of Foreign Direct Investment. He also underscored the need to scale up efforts in terms of creation of job opportunities, improving the quality of life and cost of living.

According to the Junior Minister, digital finance and international digital finance will be two key important contributing factors for the country’s continued economic growth. Mauritius, he said, is not only promoting digital finance domestically, but proposes to enhance its existing international financial centre.

Mr Dhaneshwar Damry underlined the relevance of the objectives of the workshop in supporting Mauritius in its endeavours related to digital finance, adding that it will also contribute in endorsing Financial Action Task Force commitments.

Mauritius, he said, is poised to become a key player in the value chain of digital finance and assets, emphasising the need to create the necessary ecosystem to preserve the country’s reputation and integrity as an international finance centre.

On his part, the Director-General of the MRA, Mr Rohit Ramnawaz, highlighted that the regional workshop provides a strong, practical framework for strengthening institutional capacity to address cyber-enabled crime, virtual assets, and digital evidence. It forms part of a broader institutional journey toward stronger governance, greater transparency, and more effective enforcement in the digital age, he added.

He cautioned that cybercrime knows no borders, recalling that MRA’s engagement with Seychelles reflects a shared responsibility within the region to strengthen cooperation, align operational approaches, and build trusted professional networks.

22 January 2026

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Topics: Technology