06 January 2026: FIU Environmental Crime Typology Document Released

The Isle of Man Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has released a new typology document, “Environmental Crime Typologies and Red Flags”, focusing on environmental crime and its links to financial crime.

As an international finance centre (IFC), the Isle of Man faces distinct risks. While predicate offences often occur overseas, the illicit funds they generate can flow through IFCs. The 2020 Isle of Man National Risk Assessment (NRA) confirms that foreign predicate offences drive the primary money laundering (ML) threats, meaning proceeds from crimes such as illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, and pollution-related offences may enter the Isle of Man’s financial system. TCSPs, banks, and other intermediaries are highly vulnerable to exploitation.

Complex ownership structures, cross-border transactions, and opaque arrangements enable EWC-related funds to move and be disguised. Firms must stay vigilant and enforce strong controls to prevent the Island from being used as a conduit for environmental crime proceeds.

The publication is designed to help professionals across diverse reporting sectors recognise funds and activity linked to environmental crimes. Typologies play a vital role in strengthening detection and prevention efforts by highlighting how criminals exploit systems to launder illicit proceeds, finance terrorism, and support proliferation activities. The GSC recommends Operators familiarise themselves with relevant typologies and, where appropriate, use them to inform their own business risk frameworks.

You can view this and other typology reports on the FIU’s Documents & Reports page.

The GSC has also uploaded some relevant typologies and flags to its AML publications page.