Financial Crimes Investigation Board (Turkey)

Financial Crimes Investigation Board (abbreviation: MASAK, in Turkish: Mali Suçlar Araştırma Kurulu), is a Turkish financial intelligence unit attached to the Ministry of Finance and Treasury. MASAK's main duties are to prevent money laundering crime, to conduct research on it, to develop measures, and to process the collected information and submit it to the necessary authorities.

To fulfill the above-mentioned functions, MASAK contributes to policy development, develops implementation strategies, prepares draft laws, by-laws and regulations in accordance with a certain policy, takes other necessary implementation measures, ensures coordination between relevant institutions and organizations, exchanges opinions and information.

History
MASAK was established with the Law No. 4208 on the Prevention of Money Laundering, which entered into force on 19.11.1996, and started its activities on 17 February 1997. Its duties and powers were later rearranged by the Law No. 5549 on Prevention of Laundering Proceeds of Crime, which entered into force on 18.10.2006.