FIU Organization
Financial Intelligence Unit Curaçao (FIU Curaçao), formerly known as Meldpunt Ongebruikelijke Transacties (MOT), was established in 1997 as part of Curaçao’s early efforts to combat money laundering and related financial crimes. Initially referred to internationally as the Unusual Transactions Reporting Center, the FIU Curaçao was also known locally as Sentro pa Reportá Transakshonnan No Usual in Papiamentu. In line with evolving international standards and updates to Curaçao’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Financing Terrorism (CFT) and Counter Financing Proliferation (CFP) legislation, the organization officially adopted the name FIU Curaçao — known in Dutch as Financiële Inlichtingen Eenheid.
FIU Curaçao operates as an independent administrative body, tasked with both supervisory and analytical responsibilities under the National Ordinance on the Reporting of Unusual Transactions (NORUT).
Our internal structure is organized into four (4) core departments. Together, these departments form a multidisciplinary team dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of Curaçao’s financial system and contributing to global efforts to combat financial crime.
Supervision Department
The Supervision Department of FIU Curaçao is responsible for the oversight of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs), as defined under the national anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing legislation (NORUT and NOIS). The DNFBPs play a critical role in protecting the financial system from misuse and are subject to specific compliance obligations under the NORUT.
By applying a risk-based approach, the Supervision Department monitors the compliance of DNFBPs with the applicable legal framework. This includes obligations such as client due diligence, record keeping, internal controls, and the timely reporting of unusual transactions.
The department also serves as a point of contact for DNFBPs seeking guidance, support, and clarification on regulatory expectations. Guidance is provided through awareness and outreach. In addition, the department also performs onsite visits based on a risk based supervisory planning.
A public registry of DNFBPs registered with FIU Curaçao is available on this website, offering transparency and helping to ensure that entities operating within these sectors are meeting their compliance obligations.
Analysis Department & Information Technology
The FIU serves as a central national agency (article 2 of the NORUT) responsible for, among other things, collecting, registering, processing and analyzing the data obtained and transmitting disclosures on suspicious transactions regarding ML and its predicate offences, TF and PF to the competent authorities. The tasks of the FIU are laid down in article 3 of the NORUT. The core functions of the FIU include among other things:
- Receiving and analyzing unusual transactions (UTRs) and disseminating suspicious transactions to the competent authorities;
- Conducting investigations into developments in the field of ML, TF and PF and into improvements of the methods to prevent and detect money laundering and terrorism financing;
- After due analysis of the received unusual transactions, and in case of suspicion of ML, associated predicate offences or TF or PF, these transactions are disseminated to the law enforcement agencies and to the PPO.
The Analysis & IT Department is one of the core pillars of FIU Curaçao and plays a central role in fulfilling the organization’s legal mandate. The department is responsible for receiving, processing, and analyzing Unusual Transaction Reports (UTRs) submitted by reporting entities from a wide range of sectors.
Currently, 27 sectors are obligated to report to FIU Curaçao. These include entities supervised by the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS), the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA), and the Financial Intelligence Unit Curaçao (FIU). These sectors range from banks, insurance companies, and trust service providers, to casinos, real estate agents, jewelers, and other designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs). Each sector plays a crucial role in the detection and deterrence of financial crime.
Analysts within the department conduct both operational and strategic analyses. Operational analysis involves examining specific transactions or patterns that may indicate money laundering, terrorist financing, or other predicate offenses. Strategic analysis identifies broader trends, emerging threats, and systemic vulnerabilities, contributing to national risk assessments and policymaking.
FIU Curaçao uses goAML, a secure and advanced reporting and analysis platform developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). This system enables electronic submission of UTRs, ensures secure data handling, and supports complex analytical functions such as data mining, link analysis, and risk-based profiling. The IT team maintains the technical infrastructure, ensures system availability, and continuously improves analytical tools to meet reporting needs.
In addition to its national responsibilities, the department collaborates with international partners through intelligence-sharing platforms such as the Egmont Secure Web, reinforcing Curaçao’s active role in the global network of FIUs.
Legal Department
The Legal Department provides essential legal support across all operational areas of FIU Curaçao. It ensures that the FIU’s activities comply with national laws and international standards, offering guidance on issues such as data protection, information exchange, and the use of financial intelligence. The department also contributes to the development and interpretation of AML/CFT/CFP legislation and supports the drafting of internal policies and procedures. By ensuring legal clarity and compliance, the Legal Department helps safeguard the integrity of the FIU’s work.
Administrative Department
This department oversees internal operations including human resources, finance, facility management, and general support services, playing a key role in the organization’s overall efficiency and continuity.
ANNUAL REPORTS
Explore FIU Curaçao’s annual reports for insights into its activities, achievements, and efforts to combat financial crime.