FIU‑Nepal reports 9,565 suspicious transactions and activities in FY 2024/25

KATHMANDU: The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU‑Nepal) of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) released its annual report for fiscal year 2024/25 on Tuesday.

According to the annual report, Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) and Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) reached 9,565, a 30% increase on the previous year, driven by a 113% expansion in the number of institutions integrated into the goAML digital system.

The reporting year was also defined by Nepal’s placement on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in February 2025. In response, the FIU is spearheading the implementation of the Third National AML/CFT Strategy (2024/25–2028/29) and reported securing rating upgrades for nine key international compliance recommendations.

Reporting from the securities sector rose sharply, with suspicious reports surging from 52 to 491, reflecting heightened vigilance within the capital markets. To manage the increased volume, the FIU‑Nepal has upgraded its infrastructure to goAML version 5.5 and has begun researching artificial intelligence tools to automate and enhance its analytical processes.

The unit’s analytical work has directly supported law enforcement: 845 of its 945 disseminated intelligence reports were handed over to the Nepal Police for further investigation. These reports focused heavily on fraud‑related cases, which saw a nearly fivefold increase in disseminations this year. Beyond domestic fraud, the FIU also took part in 64 international information exchanges, primarily concerning cyber‑enabled fraud and cross‑border payment scams.

Despite these successes, the report notes that the unit’s analysis rate currently stands at 24% of total incoming reports, suggesting further investment in technology and human capital is required to keep pace with the growing digital economy. The FIU emphasised that its future priorities will remain anchored in a risk‑based approach, technological transformation and enhanced inter‑agency coordination to safeguard the integrity of Nepal’s financial system.