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Türkiye is preparing new steps in its fight against money laundering and terrorism financing under a new action plan drafted by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK).
According to information obtained by Anadolu Agency, the measures are included in Türkiye's Strategy Document on Increasing Effectiveness in Combating the Laundering of Proceeds of Crime and the Financing of Terrorism and in Confiscation Practices for 2026-2030.
The strategy aims to ensure the effective conduct of judicial and administrative processes related to seizure and confiscation in money laundering and terrorism financing cases.
It also seeks to improve compliance with obligations and ensure the coordinated implementation of preventive and suppressive measures to deprive criminals of proceeds of crime.
In addition to judicial investigations opened within the scope of cash controls and crimes listed in the high-risk category under the relevant circular of the Justice Ministry's Directorate General for Criminal Affairs, priority will be given to launching money laundering investigations in cases that indicate such an offense may have been committed.
Suspicious transaction reports involving complex cases will be analyzed by MASAK as a priority.
Judicial requests will also be answered as a priority.
The status of reports prepared by MASAK will be systematically monitored with the contributions of relevant institutions.
In all terrorism cases involving a financing element, a simultaneous terrorism financing investigation will be launched.
Basic information checks in the trade registry will be improved with additional data that can be obtained from other public information systems.
The scope of the obligation to keep share ledgers electronically will be expanded, and old records will be transferred to electronic format.
The Trade Ministry and the Revenue Administration will carry out joint work at least every six months to detect possible erroneous declarations in the beneficial ownership registry.
If an unexplained discrepancy is found between the beneficial ownership registry and the trade registry, the data will be reported, together with explanations, to MASAK and the Tax Inspection Board.
Whether the taxpayer should be included in risk analysis work and audit programs will also be evaluated separately.
As part of the strategy document's implementation, new sub-working groups made up of representatives of relevant institutions will be established under existing working groups created to assess threats and vulnerabilities related to money laundering and terrorism financing.
Policy goals and implementation results will first be discussed at meetings of the Coordination Board for Combating Financial Crimes.
The Working Groups on Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Threats will be coordinated by a MASAK representative and include officials with technical expertise from several institutions.
These include the Justice Ministry, the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK), relevant institutions and organizations of the Interior Ministry, the Trade Ministry's Directorate General of Customs Enforcement, the Treasury and Finance Ministry's Directorate General of Public Accounts, the Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Ministry's Directorate General of National Property, and the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT).
The number of representatives will be determined according to need.
The working groups will carry out joint work to improve operational effectiveness and conduct risk assessments.
In connection with the Working Groups on Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Threats, and when needed, a Legislation Sub-Working Group may be established to discuss measures to develop legislation.
A Case Sub-Working Group may also be formed to allow discussions on ongoing cases at the operational level.
A Vulnerability Working Group and a Sanctions Monitoring Working Group will also be established.
The main working groups will meet regularly and at least once every three months.
National-level policies and the status of implementation regarding strategic objectives, targets and activities in the strategy document, as well as problems encountered in implementation and proposed solutions, will be reported to the Presidency.
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