Money Laundering
The revised Anti-Money Laundering Act enters into force on 1 October 2026
On 1 October 2026, the amendments to the Federal Act on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Anti-Money Laundering Act; AMLA) enter into force. Advisers who participate on a professional basis in certain legal transactions will now become subject to the AMLA. They are therefore subject to the relevant duty of due diligence under the Act and are required to file a report with MROS in cases of suspected money laundering.
The new Art. 23 para. 7 AMLA enshrines in law the electronic submission of reports to MROS. Through this provision, the legislature also expressly authorises fedpol to define the technical data standard for electronic information exchange with MROS.
fedpol has exercised this authority by issuing the fedpol Ordinance on the Data Standard for the Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland Information System (MLDSO) (English version not yet available). The MLDSO also enters into force on 1 October 2026.
Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS)
The Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS) is the central office for reporting suspected cases of money laundering and terrorist financing. It performs the tasks of a Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). This is the internationally accepted term for government agencies that are responsible for investigating financial transactions for the purpose of countering money laundering and terrorist financing. The institution was established in response to the Recommendations formulated by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Main activities
Intelligence
MROS receives suspicious activity reports (SARs) from financial intermediaries, advisors and merchants pursuant to either the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) or the Swiss Civil Code (SCC). It conducts its own analyses and adds information to the SARs that it receives. MROS decides on a case-by-case basis whether or not a given SAR should be forwarded to a law enforcement agency, either the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) or a cantonal prosecutor's office.
Cooperation
At national level, MROS shares information with the relevant authorities. It also works with foreign FIUs at operational and strategic level, as required by international standards. MROS is a member of the Egmont Group, an international network of around 177 operationally independent FIUs. The sharing of financial information is of the utmost importance and serves as a cornerstone in international efforts to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and associated predicate offences.
Prevention
MROS also works with national partners to assess the national risks of money laundering and terrorist financing. It produces strategic analyses (identifying patterns and trends) and shares the knowledge gained with the authorities, the financial services industry and the general public. MROS is part of the interdepartmental coordinating group on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism (CGMF). There it heads the ‘Risk Analysis’ subgroup and is jointly responsible for producing both general and thematic risk analyses (NRA).
Hierarchy
MROS is comprised of six divisions and is part of fedpol's Crime Prevention and Legal Affairs Directorate.
Federal Office of Police
Guisanplatz 1A
CH-3003 Bern