9m euro sequestered in 2017 as Money Laundering Directory increased inspections

9m euros have been sequestered last year by the Money Laundering Prevention Directory out of 11.2m euros blocked in total.

During the annual report to the parliamentary security commission on the operation of this institution, Director Arlind Gjokutaj stated that 401 suspected money laundering cases were referred in 2017, while 52 blocking orders, mainly bank accounts, were issued.

According to Gjokutaj, the problem is the lack of a system for dealing with seized assets and shortcomings in the filing of preliminary investigations.

Asked by DP MP Ervin Salianji if there were politicians involved in money laundering, Gjokutaj replied that there were 13 cases involving politicians.

The available data show that trafficking of narcotics is on the top with 46 cases, 16 cases involve tax evasion, 15 fraud, 13 corruption and 9 money laundering.

Gjokutaj emphasized the increase by 40% of the number of inspections and an increase of 7% in suspicious cases compared to 2016.

While for 2017, 7,000 persons have been verified for suspicious money laundering activities.

SCAN

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