rcmp Canada’s Financial Intelligence Agency says many tips about possible crimes “cannot be investigated” due to a lack of policing resources and conflicting priorities.
Mountains made candid admission in briefing notes prepared for the Minister of Public Safety marco mendicino On the working relationship between the National Police Force and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Center of Canada, known as FINTRAC.
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The Canadian Press used the Access to Information Act to obtain the briefing memo, which was approved by RCMP Commissioner Brenda Luckey last September 1.
The RCMP receives financial intelligence from FINTRAC, which can shed light on money laundering or terrorist financing in two ways.
The first is through a Voluntary Information Record response, which advises FINTRAC of possible criminal activity and may prompt the Center to release information related to suspects.
The second is through proactive disclosure from FINTRAC when they point to potential criminal activity derived from analysis of information received by the Center from banks, casinos and reporting organisations.
An RCMP briefing note states that Fintrac’s analysis is of “significant strategic importance” to the force, as it may uncover previously unknown conspirators, assets, transfers and ties.
“In some files, assets can only be identified through FINTRAC intelligence _ which is critical for the RCMP to obtain the restraint and seizure,” it continues.
However, obtaining intelligence through Voluntary Information Records, or VIRs, “can be a lengthy process,” the note says.
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FINTRAC’s turnaround time for submitting a non-required financial disclosure can take several months, “which affects its ability to conduct investigations in a timely manner” and may impede investigations.
“Many proactive disclosures provided may not hold up to investigations based on law enforcement’s ability to analyze information in a timely manner as well as conflicting operational priorities,” the briefing note said.
“FINTRAC should prioritize disclosure of intelligence based on VIRs provided by law enforcement prior to any proactive action.”
When asked about the note, FINTRAC said its proactive disclosures to law enforcement and national security agencies are necessary to help protect vulnerable Canadians, fulfill the Centre’s “detect-and-take” mandate and meet international obligations. are important for
It pointed to Project Protect, a public-private partnership combating human trafficking for sexual exploitation, in which 90 percent of the center’s disclosures to law enforcement were proactive, “identifying criminals and criminal networks that were previously unknown and are helping to rescue and save the lives of many victims across the country.
Overall, Fintrac’s financial intelligence contributed to 335 major, resource-intensive investigations in 2021-22, as well as hundreds of other individual investigations at the municipal, provincial and federal levels, the center said.
“Several recipients of FINTRAC’s disclosures have told the Center that they will not launch a major project-level probe without seeking their financial intelligence.”
The center said an increase of nearly $90 million in the last federal budget is helping FINTRAC upgrade equipment to ensure its financial intelligence is “more timely and responsive”.
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Mendicino’s office declined to comment on the briefing note.
RCMP spokeswoman Robin Percival had little to add, saying the force’s partnership with Fintrac is vital in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.
“The RCMP continues to work closely with FINTRAC in both an investigative context and proactive crime prevention efforts.”
The RCMP note suggests the government consider broadening the scope of the federal Proceeds of Crime and Terrorist Financing Act to include other criminal offences, as the “current narrow focus” limits Fintrac’s analysis.
Percival said changes to information-sharing practices between the RCMP and its partners require legislative changes, which take time.
“The RCMP continues to work closely with the Department of Finance and Public Safety, providing recommendations on potential improvements to the anti-money laundering regime.”
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