18.07.2026 17:31
The Financial Crimes Investigation Board aims to increase seizure, confiscation, and preventive measures against money laundering and terrorist financing crimes with its 2026-2030 strategy document. Under the new plan, complex cases will be prioritized for analysis, share registers will be transferred to electronic environment, and working groups will be established.
The Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) Presidency's new action plan will further tighten the circle against money laundering and terrorist financing crimes.
NEW REGULATIONS AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING ARE COMING
According to information obtained by an AA correspondent, a new action plan against financial crimes has been prepared with the Strategy Document for Increasing Effectiveness in Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing and Confiscation Practices in Turkey (2026-2030).
The strategy document aims to effectively conduct judicial and administrative processes related to seizure and confiscation practices against money laundering and terrorist financing crimes in Turkey, and to improve compliance with obligations. It also aims to ensure the coordinated implementation of preventive and suppressive measures to deprive criminals of their proceeds of crime.
In addition to the crimes in the high-risk category specified in the relevant circular of the Ministry of Justice's General Directorate of Criminal Affairs and judicial investigations initiated within the scope of cash controls, investigations will be prioritized in cases that give the impression that a laundering crime has been committed.
Suspicious transaction notifications related to complex cases will be prioritized by MASAK for analysis. Judicial requests received will also be prioritized for response. At the same time, the fate of reports prepared by MASAK will be systematically monitored with the contributions of relevant institutions.
OLD RECORDS OF SHARE LEDGERS WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO ELECTRONIC ENVIRONMENT
In all terrorism cases involving a financing element, a simultaneous investigation into "terrorist financing" will be initiated.
Basic information checks in the trade registry will be enhanced with additional data that can be obtained from other public information systems. The scope of the requirement to keep the share ledger in electronic environment will be expanded, and old records will be transferred to the electronic environment.
To detect possible erroneous notifications in the beneficial ownership registry, the Ministry of Trade and the Revenue Administration will jointly conduct studies at least every 6 months.
In case of detection of an unexplained discrepancy between the beneficial ownership registry and the trade registry, the data will be reported to MASAK and the Tax Inspection Board with explanations. Including the taxpayer in risk analysis studies and taking them under the audit program will also be evaluated separately.
WORKING GROUPS WILL BE ESTABLISHED
Within the scope of the implementation of the strategy document, new sub-working groups consisting of representatives of relevant institutions will be established under the existing working groups formed for the assessment of threats and vulnerabilities related to money laundering and terrorist financing. Policy objectives and implementation results will primarily be discussed in the meetings of the Financial Crimes Coordination Board.
Working Groups on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Threats will consist of a coordinator from MASAK representative, and representatives with technical expertise deemed appropriate by the Ministry of Justice, the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK), relevant institutions and organizations of the Ministry of Interior, the General Directorate of Customs Enforcement of the Ministry of Trade, the General Directorate of Accounting of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the General Directorate of National Estate of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, and the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT).
These working groups will conduct joint studies to improve operational effectiveness and risk assessment. In connection with the Working Groups on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Threats, a Legislation Sub-Working Group to discuss legislative development measures as needed, and a Case Sub-Working Group to enable discussions on ongoing cases at the operational level may be established.
A Vulnerability Working Group and a Sanctions Monitoring Working Group will also be established.
Main working groups will meet regularly, at least once every three months. National-level policies regarding the issues addressed in the strategy document, as well as the realization status of strategic goals, targets and activities, problems encountered in implementation, and solution proposals will be reported to the Presidency.