embassy events 2009

Regional Financial Intelligence Unit Conference

25 June 2009

Regional Financial Intelligence Unit Conference

On 22 and 23 June, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) together with the Department for Financial Information of the Polish Ministry of Finance (MoF) conducted a regional conference for financial intelligence units.  The conference addressed the use of wire transfers and bulk cash smuggling by money launderers and terrorist financiers to move the proceeds of crime and funds for terrorist operations.  Central to all conference discussions was the implementation of international standards and best practices in order to detect and interdict such movements of money.  The conference was co-sponsored and co-funded by OTA and the MoF; additional financial support was provided by the Council of Europe Project against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in the Russian Federation.  The total of approximately 50 attendees included representatives from eight countries’ financial intelligence units, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the European Commission, Council of Europe, European Union, U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Polish Bankers’ Association, Polish Customs Service and Border Guards.