Head of Latvia's Financial Intelligence Unit Toms Platacis to leave post in December

Toms Platacis, head of Latvia's Financial Intelligence Unit (FID), will leave his post on 11 December 2026. The FID is the state agency that works to prevent Latvia's financial system from being used for money laundering and for financing terrorism and proliferation, and it is also the national authority responsible for enforcing sanctions. The departure was announced by Iveta Locāne, head of the agency's communications department.

Reasons for the decision

Platacis says he is leaving because of his future professional development goals. He informed colleagues and responsible officials in the middle of this summer so that the redistribution of duties and a well-considered transition could be planned in good time. He joined the civil service from the private sector and intends to return to it, aiming to use his accumulated experience to strengthen the anti-money-laundering system more broadly.

What was achieved

According to Platacis, his goal when he started was to make Latvia's anti-money-laundering system effective and internationally recognised. His main priorities were to lead Latvia successfully through the sixth round of mutual evaluation by MONEYVAL and to establish a centralised sanctions implementation function. He considers these goals achieved and says the FID has become an institution with strong professional capacity. Over almost eight years, he says, the targets he set have been met.

He stresses that Russia's aggression against Ukraine continues, so effective implementation and enforcement of sanctions will remain an important security priority for Latvia and Europe. A recently published national assessment of money laundering, terrorism and proliferation financing risks, together with the FID's strategy for the next four years, sets priorities in financial intelligence and sanctions enforcement.

Continuity

The agency says it will keep its existing management and work organisation processes. Strategic and administrative management, the performance of duties set out in legislation and cooperation with domestic and international institutions will continue. Particular attention will go to carrying on work already begun. Platacis says he is confident the agency's team will ensure its further development.