– NLA Launches AML/CFT Compliance Unit
The National Lottery Authority (LNLA) has officially launched a dedicated Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Compliance Unit, marking a significant step in the fight against illicit financial activities within the country’s lottery sector.
The unit is being chaired by the Deputy Director General for Lotto Games, serving as the NLA’s Focal Person to the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), Richlue O. Burphy, while other members are Raymond Karbo, Lead; Boima Jerome Kannakai, Karim Kromah, Jeremiah Nyudeh, Victorly Wilson, Kelvin N. Allison, Sam McClain Buoay, and Quiah Doebah.
The new unit, staffed by these experienced compliance officers and supported by cutting-edge technology, aims to bolster the LNLA’s ability to detect, prevent, and report suspicious transactions linked to money laundering and terrorist financing.
However, the NLA launching ceremony comes amidst growing global concerns about the vulnerability of lottery systems to exploitation by criminal networks, thus recognizing the need to proactively address these risks and enhance its regulatory framework to align with international best practices.
Establishing the AML/CFT Compliance Unit further represents a substantial investment in strengthening the integrity and transparency of the country’s lottery sector.
Officially launching the initiative, the Director General of the NLA, Peter L. Solo reaffirmed the Authority’s unwavering commitment to protecting Liberia’s gaming and lottery sector from illicit financial activities.
DG Solo also described the move as a proactive step to align the NLA with both national and international regulatory priorities, and said, “The gaming industry, like any other financial sector, faces inherent risks of exploitation by criminal networks.”
According to him, the Authority under his leadership must ensure that the NLA is not only compliant with the AML/CFT Act of 2021 but is also leading the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing in the gaming sector.
He further revealed that the AML/CFT Compliance Unit will serve as the Authority’s internal enforcement mechanism, ensuring full adherence to the AML/CFT Act, strengthening oversight of licensed gaming operators, and coordinating strategic engagement with the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) and other relevant institutions.
The NLA DG asserted that the creation of the AML/CFT Compliance Unit is not a symbolic move but a robust operational measure to ensure vigilance, transparency, and accountability in Liberia’s gaming sector.
Solo added, “Our mandate is clear; we will not allow the NLA to be a conduit for illicit funds, and this unit will have the authority, resources, and expertise to ensure that all operators comply fully with the law.”
In response, the Deputy DG of the NLA, Richlue O. Burphy, expressed his determination to ensure the unit delivers on its mandate and assured, “This unit is more than just a regulatory formality; it is a frontline defence for the integrity of Liberia’s gaming industry.”
“And I can assure everyone that we will work tirelessly to identify, monitor, and prevent any attempts to use our sector for money laundering or terror financing. Compliance will not be optional; it will be the standard,” he noted.
According to him, the launch of the unit underscores the government’s unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct and financial transparency.
He further emphasized that the LNLA is not merely a revenue-generating agency but a crucial component of Liberia’s economic landscape and its integrity is paramount, and added that the AML/CFT unit will play a critical role in protecting the national lottery from misuse and ensuring that its operations remain free from criminal influence.
Meanwhile, Burphy further revealed that the establishment of the AML/CFT Compliance Unit is expected to have a positive impact on Liberia’s overall efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
He added that it will not only strengthen the integrity of the national lottery but also contribute to broader national security and economic stability, enhance compliance measures that will deter criminal activity, build public trust in the lottery system, and ensure that lottery proceeds contribute positively to the nation’s development goals.
