TRACFINs

TRACFIN is the French financial intelligence unit. Its full name is Traitement du renseignement et action contre les circuits financiers clandestins, which translates to Processing of Intelligence and Action against Clandestine Financial Circuits. Established in 1990, TRACFIN is a directorate of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Its primary mission is to collect, analyze, and process information relating to suspicious financial activities, particularly those associated with money laundering and terrorist financing. TRACFIN receives declarations of suspicious transactions from various professionals, including banks, notaries, insurance companies, and casinos. It then analyzes this information to identify potential illicit financial flows and transmits its findings to the relevant judicial and law enforcement authorities for further investigation and prosecution.

TRACFIN plays a crucial role in the French anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) framework. It contributes to the integrity of the financial system and helps combat organized crime and terrorism by disrupting their funding mechanisms. The unit collaborates with both domestic and international partners to exchange intelligence and enhance its effectiveness in tackling cross-border financial crime. Its work is essential for maintaining financial transparency and security.