The 42nd session of the CFATF Heads of FIU Forum took place on Sunday 25th May 2025, during the CFATF 60th Plenary and Working Group Meetings. The meeting was chaired by the Head of the FIU, Jamaica, Ms. Berdie-Dickson Daley, under the theme “Preparing FIUs and Operational Agencies for the Fifth Round of Mutual Evaluation: A Focus on Asset Recovery and the Role of the FIU”. The meeting saw a presentation from the CFATF Secretariat, which focused on the revisions to Immediate Outcome 8 (Asset Recovery). The objective of this presentation was to share with delegates the key changes made to IO.8, as reflected in the 2022 FATF Methodology, examined the characteristics of an effective system, and provide examples of information relevant to addressing its Core Issues.
Jamaica’s Financial Investigations Division also delivered a case presentation, “Report to Recovery”. The objective of this presentation was to highlight the Jamaican Asset Recovery System, detailing the mechanisms in place from the receipt of a STR/SAR through to the confiscation of illicit assets. This scenario aims to identify key gaps, lessons learned, and essential elements of an effective asset recovery system.
The highlight of the meeting was a panel discussion featuring all-female panelists with expertise in financial intelligence, prosecution, asset recovery, money laundering investigations and prosecutions and international cooperation. The objective of the discussion was for the panelists to share their perspectives on an effective asset recovery framework, lessons learned and successes.
Delegates at the CFATF HoFIUs’ Forum also received an update from the Egmont Group’s Regional Representatives for the Americas Region on the group’s activities and the status of the applications for Haiti and Montserrat to join the Egmont Group.
The meeting also saw the presentation and adoption of the HoFIUs’ Six Months Update Report, which details, inter alia, the activities, including ML/TF risks identified by FIUs and typologies produced during the period from November 2024 to April 2025.
To strengthen international cooperation mechanisms, Memoranda of Understanding were signed between the FIUs of several CFATF Member Countries, including Aruba, Anguilla, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sint Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, The Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago.
