Mozambican Public Prosecutor investigates travel agencies for money laundering

The Mozambican Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened proceedings to investigate travel agencies suspected of money laundering, illegal capital flight, and tax fraud, admitting it may resort to international cooperation to clarify operations involving 805.5 million euros. “Regarding them, we have already opened the proper proceedings and are conducting the necessary investigations to ascertain the material truth,” said Deputy Attorney General Amélia Machava Munguambe on the sidelines of a regional training session on preventing and combating money laundering and terrorist financing for judicial and Public Prosecutor’s Office magistrates in Maputo. Without specifying how long the investigation might take, the official referred to Mozambican legislation to explain that the process could be lengthy, admitting that a request for an extension of the legally stipulated deadlines may be filed should the complexity of the case be confirmed.

“We will analyze what we discover, as well as the forensic evaluations required to reach a conclusion and move forward with the cases. Therefore, it would be very difficult to specify an exact timeframe,” she stated. Amélia Munguambe admitted resorting to international cooperation to clarify the alleged scheme involving travel agencies used for money laundering, illegal capital flight, and tax fraud.

“The money left the country; therefore, our investigation must extend to where the money went, which will eventually require international cooperation. This is why an exact estimate of the timeline is not possible, but we will adhere strictly to the procedural deadlines established by law,” she added, assuring that actions to combat money laundering are underway in the country. The Deputy Attorney General considered the working relationship between the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Financial Intelligence Office of Mozambique (GIFiM) positive and necessary in preventing and combating money laundering, financing of terrorism, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

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On July 6, Lusa reported that GIFiM identified strong indications of travel agencies being utilized for money laundering, illegal capital flight, and tax fraud after detecting transactions totaling 805.5 million euros over three years. In a Strategic Analysis Report accessed by Lusa, GIFiM notes that travel and tourism agency sector companies received and moved large sums, mostly in cash, which were subsequently transferred to Mozambican bank accounts held by an “international organization,” from which the funds were directed abroad. The analysis, covering the period between January 2022 and September 2025, indicates that these companies transacted “substantial sums of money in structured installments through cash deposits and bank transfers,” reaching at least 24 million meticais daily (331.8 thousand euros) in cash deposits prior to transferring those amounts to accounts belonging to the same unidentified “international organization.”

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