The Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS) is the central Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Switzerland. It operates under the Swiss Federal Office of Police (Fedpol) as the national hub for receiving, analysing, and distributing financial intelligence relating to money laundering, terrorist financing and predicate offences.

MROS serves as the filter between reporting entities and law enforcement: it processes Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) submitted by financial intermediaries, evaluates whether they merit further action, and forwards intelligence to prosecution authorities when appropriate.

Legal Mandate & Framework

MROS derives its authority primarily from the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) and the Ordinance on the Money Laundering Reporting Office (MROSO), plus related criminal law provisions under the Swiss Penal Code. Under Article 9 of the AMLA, financial intermediaries and other obliged entities must report suspicious activities to MROS. Faltering that, MROS must evaluate and analyse each report, decide whether to disseminate it to prosecutorial authorities, and engage in international cooperation with other FIUs.

In its 2024–2027 strategy, MROS emphasises that it functions not only as a receiver of STRs but also as an “intelligence centre” that issues strategic analyses, identifies typologies, and supports preventive policies.

Core Functions & Processes

MROS’s responsibilities span collection, analysis, dissemination, and cooperation.

STR Collection & Intake

MROS is Switzerland’s designated recipient for Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) submitted by banks, financial intermediaries, professional dealers, and other obligated parties. Under Article 9 AMLA (and related provisions in the Swiss Criminal Code, e.g. Art. 305ter), entities must report when they know or reasonably suspect funds are linked to criminal activity, terrorist financing, or predicate offences.

MROS may also receive reports under criminal law when transactions raise suspicion of other offences. Upon receipt, MROS screens and sorts the reports for further processing.

Analysis & Intelligence Evaluation

Once STRs are collected, MROS analyses them, sometimes gathering additional information, and applies risk scoring, pattern detection, link analysis, and network mapping. It determines whether a case merits dissemination to judicial or prosecutorial authorities or whether further monitoring or information requests are sufficient.

To strengthen its capabilities, MROS publishes strategic analyses and typology reports — extracting trends from the mass of STRs to inform policy, regulatory, and preventive measures.

Dissemination & Referral

If MROS determines that a reported case contains actionable intelligence, it forwards the relevant information to prosecutorial or law enforcement bodies within Switzerland. In some cases, MROS can also send “spontaneous information reports” to authorities even where there has been no formal request.

MROS may refuse or withhold dissemination if the case does not meet thresholds, lacks sufficient detail, or is duplicative. The goal is to maintain quality, avoid overload, and preserve relevance for prosecutorial use.

International & Domestic Cooperation

MROS collaborates with foreign FIUs under mutual assistance agreements, and is a member of the Egmont Group, enabling secure cross-border exchange of financial intelligence.

Domestically, MROS works closely with federal authorities, FINMA (for regulatory coordination), and law enforcement agencies to harmonize actions, share information, and support investigations. Its strategy includes strengthening public-private partnerships and integrating with national risk assessments.

Why MROS Matters In AML/CTF

Switzerland’s reputation as a global financial centre depends heavily on its ability to prevent misuse of its systems. MROS is central to that mission: by funnelling reporting data into strategic intelligence and supporting prosecution action, it ensures the Swiss AML/CTF regime has teeth.

As a central FIU, MROS filters noise from signal, deciding which STRs are actionable and delivering intelligence that can lead to criminal investigations. Its role in producing typologies and strategic reporting also helps financial institutions, regulators, and policymakers anticipate emerging threats.

Moreover, MROS’s participation in the Egmont Group and bilateral FIU cooperation enhances Switzerland’s alignment with international standards and enables cross-border investigations in an age when illicit finance is often transnational.

Challenges & Evolving Trends

Despite its critical role, MROS faces structural and operational challenges common to many FIUs.

• Volume and quality of reports: A high influx of STRs can strain resources, especially when many reports lack sufficient detail or analytical value.

• Data integration: Linking data from different systems (banks, SROs, criminal justice) is complex and often requires standardisation and IT upgrades.

• Resource constraints: Analytical, technological, and human capital limitations can slow case processing.

• Legal limits and confidentiality: Swiss privacy, secrecy, and criminal procedures impose constraints on how MROS shares or disseminates data.

• Evolving typologies: As money laundering schemes adopt crypto, trade-based laundering, or digital asset layering, MROS must adapt its detection tools and intelligence models.

In recent years, MROS has committed to enhancing its goAML IT platform, improving electronic filing, automated filtering, and data interchange to mitigate backlog and accelerate processing.

Strengthen Your Reporting & Compliance Posture For MROS

To meet Switzerland’s expectations, reporting entities must prioritise high-quality, detailed STRs, avoid generic filings, and maintain strong internal escalation and documentation. Institutions should align systems for structured output and interoperability with MROS’s data formats.

Deploying effective Watchlist Management, Customer Screening, and Transaction Monitoring solutions will help institutions generate clearer, higher-value STRs, thereby supporting MROS’s intelligence mission and reducing waste.

Contact Us Today To Strengthen Your Swiss Reporting And AML Compliance Framework