– This unit must look for the facilitator. Typically the accountant who may appear to be a proper business, but who actually helps to launder money and facilitate criminal activity, says Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum (SP) to NTB.
The national unit will work closely with Økokrim.
– The aim is to take much more of the money around the criminal. It is estimated that the unit will have up to approximately 20 employees who will have it as their main job, says Vedum.
“The Black Swan”
He points to the Danish TV series “The Black Swan” to explain what the unit will work with.
– Everyone who watched that TV series saw the type of professional organisers, who wear nice suits, go to work and are somewhat in the best company. But what they really do is help criminals to carry out their financial activities, he says.
Vedum says that the unit is being placed in Hamar following an assessment the government has made in consultation with the Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority.
– It is important for the government that this type of competence environment is also built up in various places, but this must therefore be a national unit, says Vedum.
– Must stop the money
The government has set aside NOK 12 million for the establishment of the unit in the proposal for the national budget, which will come in on Monday. Thereafter, the plan is to step up gradually so that there will be full activity with 20 employees in 2027.
The Minister of Finance places the measure in the context of several other steps the government is taking in the field.
– To stop crime, we have to stop the money. We are also strengthening Økokrim in the budget. We are also making changes to the legislation that make it easier to confiscate valuables from criminals, such as large cars, expensive watches and other valuables. And we are also taking action on customs, says Vedum.
– The sum of the measures will make it more difficult to earn money and harder for criminals to keep assets, he says.
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2024-10-04 05:18:33
