The FIAU’s Training on Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Sanctions Circumvention Risks

On the 8th of October 2026, the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) hosted a 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬, bringing together more than 150 compliance, regulatory and financial crime prevention professionals for a sold-out event dedicated to strengthening Malta’s AML/CFT framework and enhancing the sector’s understanding of emerging risks and effective mitigation measures.

Throughout the day, participants heard from local and international experts on key developments shaping the AML/CFT landscape. Sessions explored updates on Malta’s National Risk Assessment, presented by the National Coordinating Committee on Combating Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism (NCC), the role of risk factors in developing effective risk-based compliance programmes, and the latest developments relating to AMLA’s Risk Factor Guidelines. Participants also benefited from a keynote address delivered by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), which highlighted ongoing public-private partnership initiatives aimed at strengthening fraud detection and prevention, while emphasising the importance of collaboration between authorities and subject persons in mitigating money laundering and terrorist financing risks.

A keynote session delivered by Mr Yehuda Shaffer provided valuable insights into current and emerging terrorist financing threats. Drawing on extensive international experience, he examined evolving terrorist financing methodologies, the challenges they present to both public and private sector stakeholders, and the critical role of robust preventive measures in addressing these risks.

The programme also featured a session delivered by the The Sanctions Monitoring Board – Malta (SMB), which examined sanctions circumvention risk factors and recent regulatory developments. In addition, the FIAU’s Intelligence Analysis Section presented practical terrorist financing case studies, offering attendees insight into key typologies, indicators and red flags associated with illicit financial activity.

Through initiatives such as this training event, the FIAU remains committed to supporting the private sector through knowledge-sharing, capacity-building and ongoing engagement. By fostering greater awareness and strengthening AML/CFT expertise across the sector, the FIAU continues to contribute to the resilience and effectiveness of Malta’s framework for combating financial crime.