21St Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – Illicit Finance
Ms. Silvia Matus de la Cruz expressed gratitude for the invitation and emphasized the global challenges of combating financial crime, despite substantial investments in anti-money laundering and illicit finance initiatives. She underscored the necessity of intelligence-driven approaches, public-private partnerships, regulatory reforms, and technological advancements to enhance effectiveness.
Ms. Matus de la Cruz observed that global frameworks often fall short due to inadequate cryptocurrency regulations, corporate opacity, insufficient enforcement of beneficial ownership, and gaps in oversight of non-financial “gatekeepers” such as lawyers and accountants. While many countries demonstrate high technical compliance, they often fail to achieve tangible results in real-world scenarios.
Regarding Mexico, she highlighted the severity of organized crime, drug trafficking, cybercrime, femicides, and journalist killings, emphasizing the urgent need for robust measures. She proposed the establishment of an international tribunal dedicated to financial crimes and advocated for education that prioritizes ethics, values, and morality over financial gain. Effectively combating organized crime necessitates targeting its financial resources and fostering a culture of greed aversion.
