Attorney-General: Mozambique’s GIFiM to join Egmont Group

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Attorney-General: Mozambique’s GIFiM to join Egmont Group

3:58 CAT | 30 Apr 2025

Photo: Procuradoria Geral da República Moçambique

The government has authorized the Financial Intelligence Office of Mozambique (GIFIM) to join the Egmont Group, aiming to strengthen its technical capabilities in combating money laundering crimes.

According to the Attorney General of the Republic Américo Letela, Mozambique currently has observer status at the Egmont Group, with the expectation of becoming a full member in June.

“The admission of GIFIM will allow access to a secure international platform for the exchange of intelligence information and the continuous development of the capabilities of our financial intelligence unit, facilitating the systematization of financial data and increasing the effectiveness of intelligence operations,” said Américo Letela.

The Egmont Group is a united body of 177 financial intelligence units (FIUs), which are uniquely positioned to support national and international efforts to counter-terrorist financing. FIUs are also trusted gateways for sharing financial information domestically and internationally per global anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) standards.

The Egmont Group provides FIUs with a platform to securely exchange expertise and financial intelligence to combat money laundering, terrorist financing (ML/TF), and associated predicate offences.

What is an #FIU? What role do they play in the fight against #moneylaundering and terrorist financing? Watch this new video by #ECOFEL and find out https://t.co/BPwBiNRCHx pic.twitter.com/1mFerujb6e

— Egmont Group of FIUs (@EGFIU) July 18, 2019

The Egmont Group adds value to member FIUs’ work by improving stakeholders’ understanding of ML/TF risks and draws upon operational experience to inform policy considerations, including AML/CFT implementation and AML/CFT reforms. FIUs around the world are obliged by international AML/CFT standards to exchange information and engage in international cooperation. As a global financial intelligence forum, the Egmont Group facilitates and prompts this exchange amongst its member FIUs.

The Egmont Group supports international partners’ and other stakeholders’ efforts to implement the resolutions and statements of the United Nations Security Council, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and G20 Finance Ministers. The Egmont Group does not conduct financial investigations. Instead, domestic law enforcement and investigative authorities manage such inquiries.

READ: Mozambique’s remaining step to exit FATF’s grey list

Mozambique has already complied with 25 out of 26 FATF recommendations

During the presentation to the Assembly of the Republic yesterday of the PGR’s report to the country on legality, Attorney General Américo Letela revealed that, in 2024, the Public Prosecutor’s Office received 68 financial information reports from GIFIM. Of this number, 49 resulted in criminal proceedings, 19 of which were for money laundering and 30 for financing terrorism.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office received a total of 81 communications from financial and non-financial institutions, within the scope of the duty to refrain from suspicious transactions, resulting in the initiation of 75 proceedings for money laundering.

The reports are the result of the observation of the use of large sums of money in cash, through fractional transactions, which, as a whole, are outside the client’s transactional profile, raising strong suspicions about the origin of these funds.

Regarding statistical data, in 2024, 191 money laundering cases were registered, compared to 519 in the same previous period, a reduction of 328, corresponding to 63.2%. Of these, 42 cases were concluded, with indictments being issued in 16 and cases being dismissed in 26.

Source: MzNews /Egmont Group