Tonga

New Documents

FATF/APG Release Mutual Evaluation Report on Tonga

The Financial Action Task and the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering published an assessment of Tonga’s AML and counterterrorist financing regime, concluding that the jurisdiction is compliant with one Technical FATF Recommendation and largely compliant with seven recommendations.

September 7, 2021

Tonga Publishes AML/CTF Guidelines

The National Reserve Bank of Tonga, which is the country’s Transaction Reporting Authority, issued the guidelines pursuant to the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act 2000.

October 16, 2013

National Reserve Bank of Tonga Issues 2011-12 Annual Report

February 12, 2013

APG Member Hosts Two Regional AML Workshops

May 23, 2012

National Reserve Bank of Tonga Publishes 2010-2011 Annual Report

March 9, 2012

News

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Enforcement Actions

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Key Documents

Tonga Implements AML Regime

October 2, 2000

Tonga Amends AML/CTF Law

September 2, 2010

Tonga Issues Money Laundering Regulations

July 12, 2010

Tonga Publishes AML/CTF Guidelines

October 16, 2013

Important Facts

  • The U.S. State Department labels Tonga as a monitored jurisdiction. The country, an archipelago in the South Pacific, is neither a financial center nor an offshore jurisdiction. There are only five commercial banks. Tonga is deemed by local officials to be vulnerable to smuggling and money laundering due to its inadequate border controls. It is not a major narcotics transit point but there are allegations that Tongan citizens have links to transnational drug cartels. However, the scale of their involvement is unknown. The largest source of hard currency earnings are remittances from Tongans living and working abroad, followed by tourism.
  • KYC Covered Entities: Banks, Tonga Development Bank, foreign exchange dealers, money lenders, money transmission services, credit unions, insurance companies and intermediaries, dealers in precious metals, accountants, lawyers, real estate agents, securities dealers, casinos, sellers of payment instruments, Retirement Fund Board, and trustees
  • STR Covered Entities: Banks, Tonga Development Bank, foreign exchange dealers, money lenders, money transmission services, credit unions, insurance companies and intermediaries, dealers in precious metals, accountants, lawyers, real estate agents, securities dealers, casinos, sellers of payment instruments, Retirement Fund Board, and trustees
  • Enhanced Due Diligence Procedures for PEPs: Foreign: Yes; Domestic: Yes
  • Money Laundering Criminal Prosecutions/Convictions: Prosecutions: N/A; Convictions: 0 (2015)
Source: 2016 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR)

Rankings

FATF i | 2004 Methodology

Technical Effectiveness
Compliant : 0 High :
Largely Compliant : 4 Substantial :
Partially Compliant : 26 Moderate :
Non-Compliant : 18 Low :
Not-Applicable : 1

BASEL i

Rank : N/A
Score : N/A

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL i

Rank : N/A
Score : N/A

Tax Justice Network i

Rank : N/A
Score : N/A