Tolerance towards financial crimes is growing in Latvia, according to the FID survey

The results of the survey show that 74% of all respondents believe that it is necessary to fight financial crimes, but at the same time, tolerance towards financial crimes and the legalization of criminal proceeds has grown.

If in 2022, approximately 32% of Latvian residents would consider buying illegal excise goods if necessary, knowing their illegal origin, then in 2023, 40% of respondents admitted that they could do so. Tolerance for tax evasion and bribery has also grown.

On average, tolerance for financial crimes is higher among persons aged 25-34, as well as 45-64.

FID representatives inform that from 2018 to 2023, more than 900 criminal proceedings have been initiated in Latvia for the legalization of criminally obtained funds.

According to the survey data, FID chief Toms Platacis concludes that the Latvian population’s understanding of financial crimes, their impact on the national economy, as well as individual responsibility for engaging in such crimes could be higher. Platacis points out that in recent years, a lot has been done in Latvia in preventing and combating the legalization of criminally obtained funds, as well as in creating public awareness, however, the fact that a significant part of society is ready to engage in such crimes shows that what has been started should be continued.