The Gibraltar Financial Intelligence Unit (GFIU) has this week launched an online reporting system for Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR). The system, called Themis, consists of two separate parts – an online ‘portal’ for use by Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLROs) and a system visible only to the GFIU.

The MLRO portal is accessible to any MLRO to which GFIU have granted access. An MLRO can represent one or more organisations and all MLROs for an organisation can see all of the information relating to their own organisation, including that created by other MLROs. When the SAR is submitted it will be automatically transferred to the internal system and an acknowledgement of receipt is automatically sent to the MLRO.

Once received, the GFIU’s Financial Intelligence Officers will carry out the processing of the SAR in the internal system and an analysis of the information which may require allocation to law enforcement agencies or foreign Financial Intelligence Units.

Superintendent Edgar Lopez, the project lead for Themis said “The online reporting system will not only further enhance the GFIU’s capabilities to combat money laundering and terrorist financing but also enhance the security of the data shared with the GFIU. It will also ensure that we are compliant with international standards and recommendations.”

Last month a large number of MLROs were provided training on the use of the new system.

Composed of officers from the Royal Gibraltar Police, HM Customs and civilian staff, the GFIU was established in January 1996 to facilitate the receipt, analysis and dissemination of SARs made by financial and other institutions. It functions in accordance with the Financial Action Task Force Recommendations and Standards and is evaluated by the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL). In July 2004, it was accepted as a full member of the worldwide Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units.

Registration for those MLROs or nominated officers who wish access to be granted can be done via https://www.gfiu.gov.gi/reporting