Crimes related to property legalization caused over $16 million in damage to state in 2024

The rapid development of information technology has changed the nature of crime and led to the emergence of new methods and instruments, Tural Valibayov, Deputy Chief of the Main Anti-Corruption Department under the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan, said at the international scientific and practical conference themed "The role, duties and responsibilities of supervisory bodies in the dight against the legalization of criminally acquired property and the financing of terrorism."

Report quotes Valibayov as saying the growing use of online betting platforms and cryptocurrencies in recent years has required new approaches and methods for investigating crimes.

Valibayov added that in 2024, the department he heads conducted an audit of 80 cases, 7 of which were related to the legalization of property. The investigations covered 46 public and 13 non-governmental organizations.

"The investigations revealed that in 2024, the state suffered damage in the amount of 28 million manats ($16.47 million) in completed criminal cases. A significant part of this amount was collected, and property was seized in order to return more than 13 million manats ($7.6 million)," he said.