Gibraltar’s War on Financial Crime: The Brave Battle Against Organised Criminals
The Royal Gibraltar Police’s Money Laundering Investigation Unit (MLIU)
In recent years, Gibraltar has been at the forefront of the battle against financial crime. The Royal Gibraltar Police’s Money Laundering Investigation Unit (MLIU) has played a vital role in seizing or recovering millions of pounds worth of luxury assets and cash from organised criminals.
Detective Chief Inspector Tunbridge: Leading the Fight Against Financial Crime
At the helm of this unit is Detective Chief Inspector Tunbridge, who has spent over two decades serving with the RGP. As part of the Economic Crime Unit (ECU), the MLIU works closely with the Fraud Squad to tackle money laundering.
The Challenges of Fighting Money Laundering
Money laundering is a crime that happens wherever there is criminal activity. With Gibraltar’s strategic location between Morocco and Spain, it is no surprise that the island has become a hub for organised criminals seeking to launder their ill-gotten gains.
The MLIU Team: Highly-Skilled Detectives
Under DCI Tunbridge’s command are some of the most highly-skilled detectives in the force, including:
- An inspector
- Two detective sergeants
- Six detective constables
- Two retired police officers
- One civilian administration officer
- Two accountants
Together, they work tirelessly to track down and prosecute those responsible for money laundering, a crime that not only harms the economy but also perpetuates drug addiction and violence.
The Complex Nature of Money Laundering Investigations
The MLIU’s work is complex and often takes years to complete. Detectives must be prepared to dedicate themselves to a single case for an extended period.
- “You need to be ready and willing to keep going for a long time on the same thing,” DCI Tunbridge explains.
- “We have to go through large quantities of data from phones, computers, banks and hard copy documents.”
Significant Progress Made by the MLIU
Despite the challenges, the MLIU has made significant progress in recent years. Seizures include:
- Luxury yachts
- Apartments
- Watches
- Over £2 million in cash
The Importance of Cross-Border Cooperation
However, DCI Tunbridge is clear that more needs to be done, particularly in terms of cross-border cooperation.
- “The short answer is yes,” he says, when asked if there is much collaboration between Gibraltar and other law enforcement agencies.
- “It’s a very important part of what we do in terms of targeting money laundering.”
The Challenges of Post-Brexit Cooperation
However, the departure from the European Union has made cooperation more challenging. Requests for evidence now take longer to process.
Looking to the Future: Investing in the ECU
DCI Tunbridge hopes that in the future, the ECU will receive more investment, allowing them to bring in experts such as dedicated legal counsel, data analysts and accountants.
Conclusion
For now, however, he remains committed to fighting financial crime where it hurts the most - by helping to seize the money and assets of organised criminals. As he says, “We will have a day of action, where we seize the evidence we need, but then we have to review that evidence and that takes a long time.” With his team’s expertise and determination, Gibraltar can be confident that its war on financial crime is in good hands.