Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit

The Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit is the national central agency in Malta that is responsible for the collection, collation, processing, analysis and dissemination of information to combat money laundering and the funding of terrorism. The Unit became operational on 1 October 2002, when it was established by virtue of Legal Notice 297 of 2002. This legal notice brought into force the comprehensive amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (Act XXXI of 2001). Though set up as an agency within the ministry responsible for finance, the Unit has a separate judicial personality and operates autonomously from its own offices with its own staff. The responsibilities related to the governance of the Unit are divided among the Board of Governors and the Director, with the Board establishing the policy and the Director being tasked with the execution of that policy. The Director is also responsible for carrying out all other functions of the Unit not attributed to the Board by the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. He is assisted by permanent staff operating within six distinct sections responsible for Intelligence Analysis, Supervision and Enforcement, Legal Affairs, Corporate Services & People Performance and Culture, Policy and Quality Assurance, and Technology and Information Security.