FBI, Seychelles & Mauritius Join Forces to Stop Illicit Cross-Border Money Trails

In a major regional effort to dismantle sophisticated illicit financial networks, the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice have launched a high-level specialist training programme in Mauritius.

The five-day regional workshop, which commenced on 30 March at Custom House in Mer Rouge, has brought together approximately 40 investigators and prosecutors from Mauritius and the Seychelles.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) in partnership with American federal agencies, aims to sharpen the technical skills required to combat increasingly complex cross-border criminal activity.

Advanced Investigation Tactics

The curriculum focuses on advanced investigative techniques and interrogation methods.

Participants are engaging in practical exercises and expertise-sharing sessions designed to address the evolving strategies used by criminal networks to conceal their financial trails.

Rohit Ramnawaz, Director General of the MRA, highlighted the growing sophistication of financial crimes during the opening ceremony.

He stressed that modern enforcement requires structured, intelligence-led investigations.

“There is a vital necessity for structured investigations based on intelligence, as well as the importance of preserving the integrity of evidence to guarantee effective prosecutions,” Mr Ramnawaz stated.

Economic and Public Impact

The Director General also warned of the broader societal consequences of financial malpractice.

He noted that tax fraud leads to significant revenue losses for the state, which in turn weakens public services and creates unfair market competition.

Representing the U.S. Embassy, Caleb Goddard emphasised that institutional capacity building and regional cooperation are the only effective responses to these shifting global threats.

The collaboration marks a significant step in strengthening the institutional framework of the Indian Ocean region against the rise of transnational financial crime.

Source: Le Mauricien