Monaco’s overall crime rate fell sharply in 2017 from 2016, but within the overall figures are some notable exceptions.
According to the annual crime figures released on Tuesday, January 16, the number of enquiries into money laundering increased over the 12 months to a total of 188, compared to 127 in 2016, an increase of almost 50 percent.
The number of enquiries launched by SICCFIN, the body that investigates money laundering and other major financial crimes increased from 220 in 2016 to 293 in 2017. Meanwhile, the number of thefts through the criminal use of bank cards fell from 25 in the previous year to just eight in 2017.
The only other area in which there was a major jump in delinquency was possession of drugs, which went from 64 cases in 2016 to 121 in 2017. Drug dealing cases remained more or less stable, with five enquiries in 2017 compared to six in 2016.