Financial Crime World

Financial Flows Feed Criminal Groups: Guardia di Finanza’s Crucial Role

The Italian Guardia di Finanza plays a vital role in monitoring financial flows that support national and international criminal groups, preventing money laundering and terrorist financing.

Anti-Terrorism Strategy

As part of its anti-terrorism strategy, the Guardia di Finanza analyzes and evaluates intelligence on domestic and international terrorism, develops reports on suspicious transactions, and implements financial sanctions against countries threatening international peace and security.

Structure and Functions

Legislative Decree No. 231/2007 confirms the Guardia di Finanza’s structured system of functions and procedures, reflecting its attributions in tax matters and combating tax evasion and avoidance. The agency works closely with other actors in the system, including the Revenue Agency and Customs and Monopolies Agency, to strengthen the overall internal anti-money laundering mechanism.

Specialized Units

The Guardia di Finanza has established specialized units, such as:

  • Nucleo Speciale Polizia Valutaria (Special Currency Police Unit), which operates in close connection with Economic and Financial Police Units based in each provincial capital.
  • Over 500 territorial units throughout Italy, tasked with developing reports on suspicious transactions.

Efforts to Combat Money Laundering

In recent years, the Guardia di Finanza has intensified its efforts to combat money laundering, seizing over €2.8 billion in assets linked to criminal activities. The agency’s constant increase in reports of suspicious transactions has led to the adoption of new “work patterns” and IT infrastructures designed to efficiently manage information flows.

International Cooperation

The growing awareness of the cross-border dimension of crime has led the Guardia di Finanza to emphasize the importance of international cooperation and collaboration with other law enforcement agencies. The agency has been working closely with foreign counterparts for over 20 years, promoting and implementing forms of operative cooperation to counteract economic and financial crimes.

DIREZIONE INVESTIGATIVA ANTI-MAFIA (D.I.A.)

The DIREZIONE INVESTIGATIVA ANTI-MAFIA is an investigative body that plays a crucial role in containing the expansion of criminal organizations and mafia phenomena in the economy. The agency’s efforts focus on:

  • Preventing the infiltration of organized crime into the financial system
  • Vital ganglia of the country

Conclusion

The Guardia di Finanza’s efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing are crucial to preventing the financial support of criminal groups. International cooperation and collaboration with other law enforcement agencies are key to tackling global threats and protecting the State Budget and the European Union.