India and Mauritius Forge Pact to Fight Money Laundering and Corruption
ED and the FCC to conduct joint operations to detect, investigate and prosecute cross-border money laundering offences .
India and Mauritius have struck a new accord to combat money laundering, corruption, and a slate of financial crimes, a move sealed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the island nation this week.
The agreement, announced Thursday by India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED), links the agency with Mauritius’s Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) in a partnership aimed at tightening the net around illicit financial flows.
Signed in the presence of Mr. Modi and Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, the memorandum of understanding promises to deepen cooperation on fraud, asset recovery, and the financing of illegal activities.
The ED, India’s federal agency tasked with tackling economic offenses, framed the deal as a step to “bolster” enforcement capabilities while strengthening the economic and security ties between the two countries.
The pact emerges from discussions that explored joint operations to track and prosecute cross-border money laundering—a persistent challenge in a region long seen as a conduit for hidden wealth.
Beyond enforcement, the agreement prioritizes training, experience sharing, and technological collaboration. The ED pledged to share digital forensic tools and best practices, aiming to enhance data seizure and analysis, according to an agency statement.
Rahul Navin, the ED’s director, underscored the agency’s credentials during the talks, pointing to its high conviction rates in money laundering cases and a robust record of tracing and recovering assets.
He highlighted a provision in India’s Prevention of Money Laundering Act that allows restitution to victims even as trials unfold—a mechanism that has returned ₹226 crores to those defrauded, the statement noted.
For India, the agreement aligns with a broader push to curb financial crime, a priority Mr. Modi has championed as his government navigates domestic scandals and global partnerships.
For Mauritius, a financial hub with a complex reputation, the deal signals a commitment to transparency amid international scrutiny. Together, the two nations aim to turn a shared history into a united front against the shadow economy.
