Recital 14

(14) The tracing and identification of property at an early stage of a criminal investigation is of essence to ensure the prompt identification of instrumentalities, proceeds or property which might be subsequently confiscated, including property related to criminal activities located in other jurisdictions, thereby facilitating cross-border cooperation. To ensure that financial investigations are sufficiently prioritised in all Member States, so as to address a crime of cross-border nature, it is necessary to require competent authorities to launch asset tracing from the moment there is a suspicion of criminal activity that is liable to generate substantial economic benefit. When determining whether the economic benefit is liable to be substantial, Member States should be able to set minimum thresholds for the value of the expected proceeds or allow for a case-by-case assessment by competent authorities. In order to allow for sufficient flexibility in the launching of financial investigations, Member States should be able to limit the scope to investigations into criminal offences liable to have been committed within the framework of a criminal organisation. For the purpose of ensuring effective financial investigations, Member States should provide the necessary financial, technical and human resources.

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Source: EUR-Lex CELLAR · retrieved 2026-09-04 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.