NEW DELHI: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has made a pitch before the government for collaboration between financial intelligence units of various countries to help India in its fight against black money. UNODC executive director Yury Fedotov met with finance minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday on the issue. 

Speaking after the meeting Fedotov said, "We discussed this with the finance minister... Now we are discussing project which would bring together financial intelligence units from different countries to share their experiences and expertise and intelligence. This meetings may take place in India but we need to discuss it." 

He added that he had met with officials from the ministry of external affairs and would have discussions with the revenue department on Wednesday. "UNODC can provide support and methodology. We are running the global program against money laundering, proceeds of crime and financing of terrorism. We can use other tools including strengthening inter-regional cooperation," he said. 

Describing black money and money laundering as an "overwhelming concern" Fedotov said, "Illicit money flows are feeding organized crime, illicit drugs and terrorism. Lot of proceeds of illicit money flow comes from criminal business like drugs, crime and gangs supporting terrorism. Taliban gets millions from militia drug money every year." 

The UNODC has recently started "networking the networks" an initiative to work with law enforcement agencies. The first meeting took place about a year ago in Istanbul in December last year. "Now we are discussing the possibility of having another meeting of "networking the networks" in India that could bring together experts law enforcement agencies on illicit money," he added. 

In recent years, the discussion on black money has moved to the G20, the group comprising the world's 20 largest economies, with OECD, the Paris-based think tank, leading the fight through a series of measures that have resulted in greater disclosure and new norms to ensure that multinationals don't get away by not paying taxes anywhere. 

In addition, the Financial Action Task Force, also housed in the OECD headquarters, is dealing with money laundering issues.