Europol-OperationImperiumEAST was formed to facilitate (cross-border) public and private sector cooperation in the fight against organised criminal groups (OCGs) engaged in financial crime. Law enforcement officers lead this fight and, since 2004, EAST has worked with Europol in Europe to facilitate communication and cooperation between national law enforcement organisations and the industry.

EAST has supported Europol, working with INTERPOL and ASEANAPOL, at five Strategic meetings on Payment Card Fraud in Asia-Pacific (Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta and Hanoi) attended by officers from the 10 ASEAN Nations, and with a similar meeting with INTERPOL and AMERIPOL (Bogota) attended by officers from Latin America.  EAST has also supported Europol at three major training courses on Payment Card Fraud Forensics and Investigations and participates in Europol’s Advisory Group (AG) Financial Services.

Europol and Eurojust are approved Associate Members of EAST and over 100 Law Enforcement and judicial organisations from around the world are Associate Members.  INTERPOL and the US Secret Secret Service attend the EAST Expert Group on All Terminal Fraud (EGAF) and the EAST Payments Task Force (EPTF).  Other law enforcement officers participate in the two EAST Expert Groups and the EPTF and all Law Enforcement organisations qualify for free Associate Membership of EAST.