London, Aug 20 (V7N) – Switzerland is considering full membership in the British-led International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC), aiming to strengthen global efforts against kleptocracy and illicit finance. Currently holding observer status, Swiss authorities are exploring options to deepen cooperation with the IACCC, which facilitates intelligence sharing and joint investigations among countries including the US, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
 
British Foreign Minister David Lammy recently met with Swiss officials to discuss the partnership, highlighting Switzerland’s critical role in combating corruption. Switzerland, known as the world’s largest offshore wealth manager, has recently taken steps to improve financial transparency by proposing stricter beneficial ownership rules to shake off its image as a haven for dirty money.
 
The IACCC, hosted by Britain’s National Crime Agency since 2017, has identified nearly £1.8 billion in suspected stolen funds and frozen £641 million in assets. Britain has intensified its crackdown on illicit finance since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine but continues to face challenges, with estimates that over £100 billion is laundered annually through UK-registered corporate structures.
 
Joining the task force would enable Swiss authorities to work more closely with international partners to track and recover stolen assets, reinforcing global anti-corruption efforts.
 
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