Financial Crime World

Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit Reports Increase in Case Dissemination to Law Enforcement Agencies

The Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has released its annual report for 2022, showcasing a significant increase in case dissemination reports (CDRs) to law enforcement agencies.

Key Findings

  • The FIU disseminated 219 CDRs in 2022, a notable increase from 174 in 2021.
  • These CDRs contained information on 359 individuals and 13 entities.
  • A total of 87 intelligence products were provided to law enforcement agencies, containing information on 797 individuals and 30 entities.

Case Dissemination Reports (CDRs)

The FIU’s report highlights the importance of CDRs in supporting investigations. These reports are developed directly from suspicious transaction reports (STRs) received in 2022 and prior to 2022. The CDRs were disseminated to various law enforcement agencies, including:

  • Fiji Police Force
  • Financial Intelligence and Compliance Agency (FICAC)
  • Department of Immigration
  • Customs Division

Financial Intelligence Products

The FIU provided financial intelligence products to law enforcement agencies upon request, with a total of 87 products disseminated in 2022. These products contained information on:

  • 797 individuals
  • 30 entities

These products were related to investigations into suspected money laundering activities and other predicate offenses.

Tracing and Temporary Suspension of Funds

The FIU facilitated the tracing and temporary suspension of funds suspected to be proceeds of crime held within financial institutions, ensuring that the funds are immediately secured while formal investigations are underway. The unit also provided:

  • 131 financial data reports on:
    • 345 individuals
    • 151 entities
    • 190 addresses and phone numbers

Credibility Check Reports

The FIU’s credibility check reports played a crucial role in supporting investigations, with 82 government departments and authorities receiving these reports.

International Cooperation

The FIU received 19 foreign information reports from other Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) through the Egmont Secure Web (ESW) in 2022. The unit also sent three requests for information to foreign FIUs through ESW. Additionally, five Alert & Instruction Notices were issued to financial institutions to protect the financial system from being used by adversely reported individuals and business entities.

Conclusion

The Fiji FIU’s annual report provides a comprehensive overview of its activities and achievements in 2022, highlighting the importance of effective financial intelligence gathering and sharing in supporting law enforcement efforts to combat financial crime.