Suspicious transaction reports to MASAK exceeded 425,000 in 2022

According to the data of the Ministry of Finance and Finance, MASAK meticulously carries out the tasks of data collection, analysis, evaluation, investigation and examination of the collected data, and communication of the information and results obtained to the relevant authorities. in the field of prevention of money laundering and financing of terrorism.

Although MASAK received 439,815 notifications for 482,120 people in 2022, 425,322 of these notifications were suspicious transaction notifications, 13,817 judicial/police investigation requests, and 676 other notifications.

While most suspicious transaction reports were received electronically last year, banks, e-money and payment institutions, and crypto asset service providers were the parties required to submit the most suspicious transaction reports.

In the suspicious transaction reports sent by financial institutions and other reporting entities in 2022, it was seen that the majority were suspected of tax evasion and evasion, illegal betting and gaming, and not declaring that the transactions were made on behalf of another person.

In the field of individual and scheduled compliance audits, 441 reporting entities were audited and in 2022 the highest number in the last 5 years was reached. As a result of liability audits carried out in the past year, an administrative fine of more than TL 105 million was imposed.

INVESTIGATED 56,819 PEOPLE

On the other hand, in 2022, 7,139 analysis files were completed, during these analyzes 56,819 people were investigated, and 4,940 reports and informative notes were prepared. The information and findings obtained on a total of 31,650 people through reports and informative notes were sent to the judicial or police authorities in charge of combating crime, as well as to other administrative institutions and agencies that are empowered to carry out investigations or inspections on the matter.

A total of 346 analysis files for the crime of illegal betting were concluded and intelligence gathering and analysis studies were carried out on 17 thousand 37 people within the scope of these files. As a result of the studies, 303 analysis reports and informative notes and 49 “Value Obtained from Crime Reports” were prepared and sent to the corresponding prosecutor’s offices or to the Department for the Fight against Cyber ​​Crimes of the General Directorate of Security, to be used. in the determination of illegal betting crimes.

As a result of the analysis and evaluation studies, 395 people and 101 people as a result of the money laundering investigations, a total of 496 people were prosecuted.

Last year, financial intelligence units from 96 different countries made a total of 711 requests for information, a total of 82 requests were received from financial intelligence units from 47 different countries. However, in the same period, financial intelligence units from 44 different countries shared financial intelligence information 219 times in total, regardless of demand.

Although a budget of 24 million 686 thousand liras was allocated for MASAK’s activities in 2022, this amount was increased to 49 million 461 thousand liras for this year. It is planned to spend 59 million 399 thousand lira in 2024 and 67 million 877 thousand lira in 2025 for the continuation of these activities. (AA)