The little known Egmont Group moves its international  HQ to Toronto, Canada. The group, named for the location of the first meeting at the Egmont-Arenberg Palace in Brussels on 9 June 1995, is the international co-ordinating body for national based Financial Intelligence Units (FIU’s). 

Generally they are responsible for co-ordination and sharing of information to catch international criminals, and maintain protection of privacy and customer confidentiality, while protecting the integrity of the financial systems worldwide.

TheStar.com – Toronto to be home of top intelligence group

Ottawa is spending $5 million over five years to make Toronto the permanent headquarters of an organization made up of 101 financial intelligence units around the world, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said yesterday, adding that Canada’s new government will be relentless in its effort to fight terrorism financing.

Egmont Group mandate:

“ A central, national agency responsible for receiving (and, as permitted,  requesting), analyzing and disseminating to the competent authorities,  disclosures of financial information:

(i) concerning suspected proceeds of crime and potential financing of terrorism, or

(ii) required by national legislation or regulation,  in order to counter money  laundering and terrorism financing.”

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