Anti-Money Laundering Tasks and the Role of the Bureau of Special Investigation

  1. Communication, Special and Statistic Section was included in the formation structure of the Bureau of Special Investigation, In 1986 that section was renamed into Operation and Foreign Exchange Division and carry out the Financial Intelligence Tasks. The Law for Taking Action Against Owning and Marketing of Properties Obtain by Unlawful Means was enacted on March 13, 1986. The Bureau has investigated the offences related to owning and marketing of properties obtain by unlawful means according to the directives of the Government and Ministry of Home Affairs.
  2. The Control of Money Laundering Law was officially enacted on June 17, 2002, under law number 6/2002 by the State Peace and Development Council. Additionally, the Control of Money Laundering Rules were stipulated by order number 1/2003 of the Ministry of Home Affairs on December 5, 2003.
  3. As per section 6 of the Control of Money Laundering Law, the Union Government established the Central Control Board on Money Laundering on July 4, 2002. This was initiated through order number 6/2002, with the Ministry of Home Affairs appointed as its chairperson and Chief of Myanmar Police Force appointed at its secretary. Additionally, the Director General of the Bureau of Special Investigation was appointed as the joint secretary of the Board.
  4. Similarly, under its order number 3/2004, the Central Control Board on Money Laundering set up the Financial Intelligence Unit on January 16,2004. This unit was overseen by the Director of the International Relations Department of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control. with a member of the Bureau of Special Investigation appointed as well.
  5. On August 4th, 2014, the Anti-Money Laundering Law was enacted through the issuance of Union Government Order number 56/2014 and the previous Control of Money Laundering Law was repealed in to fully comply with international standards including 40 recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force.
  6. In accordance with the newly promulgated Anti-Money Laundering Law, while the Union Government formed the Anti-Money Laundering Central Board-AMLCB by issuing its order number 56/2014 on 4th August 2014 chaired by the Minister for Home Affairs comprising (15) Director General of the Bureau has been serving as a member of the Board.
  7. Similarly, the AMLCB established the Financial Intelligence Unite (FIU) in accordance with section 13 of the Anti-Money Laundering Law on August 29, 2014, through its Order number 1/2014. During this establishment, a director of the Bureau was appointed as a deputy head. Subsequently, on January 5, 2015, the AMLCB issued Order number 1/2015 to reform the FIU. In this reform, the Deputy Director General of the Bureau was appointed as the head of the FIU, a Director was appointed as a deputy head of the FIU, and Directors from various States and Regions of the Bureau were appointed as members of the FIU.
  8. When the Financial Crime Prevention Department of the Myanmar Police Force was completely transformed into the FIU by the AMLCB’s Order No. 3/2016 dated 6-11-2016, the senior officers of the Bureau no longer served at the FIU.
  9. However, in accordance with Section 13 of the Anti-Money Laundering Law, the Directors and Assistant Directors of the Bureau serve as leaders and secretaries in various Scrutiny Bodies tasked with investigating money laundering and predicate offenses related to the Anti-Money Laundering Law. Similarly, within the investigation bodies established under Article 16 of the law, the bureau directors participate as secretaries.  Those officers are effectively performing functions such as identifying, freezing, and seizing proceeds of crimes, as well as prosecuting cases in relevant courts.
  10. Furthermore, officers of the Bureau consistently provide anti-money laundering awareness and training to reporting agencies, including bands and financial institutions, as well as supervisory authorities and law enforcement agencies.
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