Background & Purpose

Financial crime and money laundering pose serious threats to the economy and society. To tackle these issues, stricter rules are needed against actors operating financial services without legal permission.

The Decision

The Swedish parliament voted in favor of the government's proposal to establish criminal liability for illegal financial activities, aiming to crack down on unauthorized financial operations and money laundering.

Does this affect you?

  • Financial service providers: Must ensure strict compliance with authorization requirements to avoid severe legal and criminal consequences.
  • Law enforcement agencies: Receive enhanced legal mechanisms to prosecute individuals and entities running unauthorized financial schemes.

In Practice

  • Conducting financial business without the necessary permits becomes explicitly criminalized.
  • Offenders can face penalties ranging from monetary fines to a prison sentence of up to six years.
  • Authorities gain stronger legal tools to detect, investigate, and prevent money laundering and related crimes.