The cash buyer. The company with no track record winning major contracts. The request to transfer funds to an account in another country. Seemingly ordinary transactions can be red flags of money laundering, which fuels criminal and terrorist networks worldwide.
Helping countries detect, trace and recover illicit funds is at the heart of UNODC's work. Its goAML software solution has become one of the world's most widely used tools for financial intelligence and cross-border cooperation. We spoke with Lisette Heerze, Acting Head of the Netherlands' Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-Netherlands) and newly elected Chair of the goAML International Users Group (IUG), about the role of technology, the rise of AI and the importance of working together.
FIUs are the financial intelligence hubs of every country. We analyse millions of transactions, identify suspicious patterns and share intelligence with law enforcement. Financial institutions, casinos and other reporting entities rely on us to assess the red flags they detect.
Governments combat money-laundering both by strengthening regulations, such as Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, and by improving their ability to detect criminal activity. Technology like goAML enables FIUs to exchange information quickly and securely, helping us respond to criminals who operate across borders.
Our priority is to strengthen cooperation and make the fight against financial crime more inclusive. We want greater engagement from all stakeholders and more information sharing on emerging threats and trends.
I strongly believe in teamwork and burden sharing. Through initiatives such as regional groups, we can learn from one another, avoid duplicating efforts and move faster together. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel, just join forces so that our wheels can go faster.
FIUs operate within legal frameworks, respecting privacy and due process. Criminals do not. While we work across separate jurisdictions, criminal networks operate seamlessly across borders and increasingly use AI to avoid detection.
An AI-powered criminal operation can move funds, create false identities to open accounts and exploit vulnerabilities at unprecedented speed. To keep pace, FIUs need common tools and common languages. goAML is already exploring the use of large language models to identify increasingly sophisticated patterns and connections. The larger the network of countries using the platform, the stronger our collective ability to detect and disrupt illicit activity. Real-time information sharing will be a game changer.
One case in the Netherlands involved a healthcare provider generating millions of euros in annual revenue despite indications that little or no care was being delivered. Funds were channelled through a network of individuals posing as healthcare workers, many with no relevant background.
FIU analysts identified suspicious patterns, including international transfers, large cash withdrawals and payments with no apparent business purpose. The investigation involved analysing around 100 bank accounts and more than 60,000 transactions across multiple financial institutions and jurisdictions. Without advanced technology and data analytics, uncovering the scheme would have been virtually impossible.
Our strategy for the IUG is built on practical cooperation and shared commitment. No single FIU can tackle money laundering alone. By working together, sharing knowledge and implementing common solutions, we can strengthen the global response to financial crime. We can only do this together. Let's get to work.
