In the second half of 2023, the UIF, the Financial Information Unit of the Bank of Italy, received 72.811 reports of suspicious transactions, a decrease of 10,4 percent compared to those received in the second half of 2022, bringing the total number of reports to 150.418. received in the whole of 2023 (-3,2 percent compared to the previous year).
The decline was mainly determined by the banking and financial sector which reduced its contribution by 14,7 percent; in particular, there have been decreases in reports transmitted by electronic money institutions, payment institutions and banks and post offices.
The Unit analyzed and transmitted to the investigative bodies 73.359 reports (-9,2 percent compared to the corresponding semester) and evaluated 94 requests for suspension, 11 of which with a positive outcome (11,7 percent of the total), for a total value of 5,5 million euros.
Aggregate anti-money laundering reports recorded a general increase compared to the previous half-year, both in the number of operations and in the amounts handled (+3,2 percent and +4,8 percent respectively). The increase in amounts occurs to varying degrees in all economic sectors with the exception of Construction industry and agriculture which presents a decrease of 3,1 percent. Gaming service providers recorded a strong increase in the number of reports (1.380 SOSs, +31,4 percent). In total there were 5.768.
6 inspections were launched against different types of operators, involving for the first time a gaming house and a gold operator; Furthermore, paperwork checks were carried out on 5 obliged entities.
During the semester, the judicial authority sent 221 requests for information to the FIU and received 361 response notes from the Unit, confirming the growing trend of such exchanges.
As regards the exchange of information with foreign FIUs, the FIU forwarded 332 requests, in line with those of the second half of 2022, while there was a 9,0 percent drop in the number of those received.
Legislative Decree 104/2023 required obliged entities to ensure that the procedures adopted do not exclude certain categories of entities from offering products and services exclusively due to their high exposure to the risk of money laundering or terrorist financing. Furthermore, with respect to occasional cash withdrawal operations carried out through affiliated entities and agents, the 2024 Budget Law (L. 213/2023) has limited the fulfillment of due diligence obligations to withdrawals of a total amount exceeding 250 euros per day .
From 1 February 2024, the new phenomenon codes introduced in light of the new anomaly indicators can be used in reports of suspicious transactions.
