Financial Investigation Procedures Crucial in Mayotte’s Fight Against Serious Crime

The fight against organized crime has shifted its focus towards targeting the financial gains of criminal activity, with the aim of making it less profitable and attractive for criminals. Financial investigations play a vital role in this effort, seeking to deprive criminal groups of the resources necessary to continue their illegal activities.

Importance of Identifying Illegally Obtained Funds

To secure the confiscation of illegally obtained funds, it is essential to identify these assets promptly and apply provisional measures to prevent them from being hidden by the criminal network. A systematic approach to financial investigations has been established, with these probes being carried out simultaneously with criminal investigations to trace the material benefits linked to illegal activity.

Competence for Conducting Financial Investigations

The competence for conducting financial investigations is often shared among different state authorities at various stages of the procedure. An efficient framework for cooperation between them is necessary to ensure effective investigations. The Financial Intelligence Unit plays a significant role in this process, drawing on its extensive financial intelligence database.

Key Elements for Effective Financial Investigations

Attributing Sufficient Powers

• Access to data
• Special investigative tools

International Cooperation

• Conducting financial investigations that take into account trans-border aspects
• Information sharing and joint actions

Ensuring Expertise and Resources

• Providing sufficient expertise among involved authorities and their staff
• Adequate resources for these probes to be carried out in practice