Fedpol Chief Calls for Reversal of Burden of Proof in Money Laundering Cases

Eva Wildi-Cortés, the head of the Federal Office of Police (Fedpol), emphasized the need for Switzerland to take “decisive and targeted” action against organized crime in a recent interview.

While speaking to a renowned newspaper, she proposed considering a reversal of the burden of proof in money laundering cases.

Wildi-Cortés pointed to Italy as an example where the accused under suspicion must prove that the money originates from legal sources, or the funds will be confiscated by the state otherwise.

She mentioned that Fedpol is continuously assessing legal changes and working to improve the overall operational efficiency regarding the possibility of Switzerland implementing a similar approach.

Fedpol chief has also noted a “massive” hike in suspicious activity reports to the Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland by more than a quarter to 15,141 last year, compared to 2023.

She then explained that 92% of these reports come from the financial intermediaries in the banking sector, which is a major chunk.

Moreover, Wildi-Cortés highlighted the growing share of potentially illegal cash that flows through the cryptocurrency sector, which is one of the easiest ways to conceal and is less regulated than traditional sectors.

Fedpol has further increased its resources to address this challenge, which also includes efforts to automate processes at the same time.

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She warned in her interview that addressing this issue is so important for Switzerland, and without action, the country could face violent conflicts similar to those seen in other countries.

Fedpol is currently working intensively to develop a comprehensive strategy to combat organized crime.

It is being done in collaboration with cantons, the Office of the Attorney General, and other authorities by the end of this year, following a mandate received in November 2024. Hence, the issue of terrorism remains a critical priority.

Finally, she also put stress on the importance of improving information exchange between the cantons through the Polap police enquiry platform.

Cantonal authorities and Fedpol are currently preparing the necessary legal and constitutional groundwork to enable this, which simply aims to have a draft ready by the end of the year.

As per reports, the head of Fedpol has highlighted the urgent need for stronger measures against organized crime and money laundering in Switzerland.