Financial Crime World

Tunisia Tackles Cryptocurrency-Led Money Laundering with Intensive Training Programme

Boost to Anti-Money Laundering Efforts in Tunisia

Tunisian authorities have received a significant boost in their fight against cryptocurrency-led money laundering, thanks to an intensive training programme for officials from the country’s Financial Analysis Commission (TFAC), National Guard, and Customs and Economic Brigade.

The Training Programme

The four-day virtual course on cryptocurrency and money laundering was funded by the German development agency GIZ as part of a global initiative to combat illicit financial flows. The International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR) team delivered the training, which included simulated investigations into suspected money laundering cases.

Key Areas of Focus

  • Use of Bitcoin in Money Laundering Schemes: Participants learned how to analyse blockchain data, trace properties purchased with laundered funds, and conduct forensic analyses of suspects’ computers to recover unspent Bitcoins.
  • Basics of Cryptocurrency: The training covered the basics of cryptocurrency, different blockchains, money laundering techniques, red flags, asset tracing and recovery, and mutual legal assistance and international cooperation.

Outcomes

Pre- and post-training assessments showed an 81% increase in knowledge among participants. A follow-up survey revealed that:

  • 100% of respondents rated the course as “excellent” or “very good”.
  • Nearly three-quarters of respondents said it had led to a “paradigm shift” in their work.

Impact on Tunisia’s Anti-Money Laundering Efforts

The training programme is seen as a significant step forward in Tunisia’s efforts to combat cryptocurrency-led money laundering, which has become a growing concern globally. Money launderers and terrorist financiers are increasingly using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin to transfer funds anonymously and evade detection by authorities.

Next Steps

Tunisia’s Financial Analysis Commission (TFAC) and other relevant law enforcement agencies will now be better equipped to detect and investigate cases of cryptocurrency-led money laundering, thanks to the training programme. The country’s efforts to combat financial crime have been boosted further with its participation in the 4th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptocurrencies, which is being co-organised by the Basel Institute, Interpol, and Europol.