FIU: Criminals increasingly use legitimate businesses to hide illegal activities

ORANJESTAD – Financial crime is becoming increasingly sophisticated. According to the FIU Aruba Annual Report 2025, criminal organizations are making greater use of seemingly legitimate businesses to conceal money laundering, fraud and other illicit activities.

The report explains that companies can be created or used to move funds, disguise the true ownership of assets or generate transactions that appear legitimate while facilitating criminal activity.

FIU stresses that financial institutions and other reporting entities must strengthen customer due diligence and identify the true beneficial owners behind corporate structures.

The agency says close cooperation between the public and private sectors remains essential to uncover these increasingly complex schemes.