  the financial crimes enforcement network (fincen) is a bureau of the united states department of the treasury that collects and analyzes information about financial transactions in order to combat domestic and international money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes. ==mission== fincenâs director candidly expressed its mission in november 2013 as "to safeguard the financial system from illicit use, combat money laundering and promote national security.". fincen serves as the u.s. financial intelligence unit and is one of 132 fius making up the egmont group of financial intelligence units. fincen's self-described motto is "follow the money." the website states: the primary motive of criminals is financial gain, and they leave financial trails as they try to launder the proceeds of crimes or attempt to spend their ill-gotten profits. it is a network bringing people and information together, by coordinating information sharing with law enforcement agencies, regulators and other partners in the financial industry. ==history== fincen was established by order of the secretary of the treasury (treasury order numbered 105-08) on april 25, 1990. in may 1994, its mission was broadened to include regulatory responsibilities, and in october 1994 the treasury department's precursor of fincen, the office of financial enforcement was merged with fincen. on september 26, 2002, after title iii of the patriot act was passed, treasury order 180-01 made it an official bureau
1990_establishments_in_the_United_States Federal_law_enforcement_agencies_of_the_United_States Financial_crimes Financial_regulatory_authorities_of_the_United_States Tax_evasion United_States_Department_of_the_Treasury Vienna,_Virginia