Saudi Arabia successfully prosecutes six people after moves to curb TBML via interagency coordination and consolidation
Prosecutors in Saudi Arabia have successfully convicted six people who participated in a trade-based money laundering (TBML) operation involving expatriates and Saudi citizens. The convictions follow moves last year by the authorities to improve to streamline the Kingdom’s tax and customs operations and coordinate interagency…
Pakistan first country in the region to join Tradelens to strengthen TBML controls
Pakistan Customs has become the first authority in the region to sign an agreement with TradeLens, a blockchain-underpinned logistics platform supported by five out of six of the world’s largest ocean carriers to digitise import-export documentation of containerised cargo. Jointly developed by Maersk and IBM, the…
FinCEN issues proposed rule on beneficial ownership information reporting requirements
The US treasury department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has issued a proposed rule on beneficial ownership information reporting requirements that would implement key provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act, which was enacted earlier this year as part of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020….
FinCEN seeks comments on modernisation of US AML/CFT regulatory regime
The US treasury department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has issued a request for information (RFI) seeking comments on ways to streamline, modernise and update the country’s anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime. As part of a formal review process, FinCEN says…
Financial institutions’ critical role in combatting wildlife trafficking outlined in new FinCEN report
The US treasury department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has released a Financial Threat Analysis on wildlife trafficking threat patterns and trend information identified in Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) data. The report aims to further inform efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and the associated movement…
US$1.6 trillion lost in potential trade misinvoicing in 2018 amongst developing and advanced countries says GFI report
An estimated US$1.6 trillion in potential trade misinvoicing among 134 developing countries has been identified in 2018 according to a new report published by Global Financial Integrity (GFI). Trade-related Illicit Financial Flows in 134 Developing Countries 2009-2018 says that of that US$1.6 million, US$835 billion occurred between the…
NatWest fined £264.8 million for AML failings
National Westminster Bank (NatWest) has been fined £264.8 million (US$349.4 million) following convictions for three offences of failing to comply with money laundering regulations. The bank pleaded guilty to the charges earlier this year in the first ever case in which the UK’s Financial Conduct…
HSBC fined nearly US$64 million for failings in AML systems
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fined HSBC Bank £63.9 million (US$84.4 million) for failings in its anti-money laundering (AML) processes. Despite the bank’s use of automated processes to monitor hundreds of millions of transactions a month to identify possible financial crime, the FCA…
Reintroduce international banks in the oil and gas commodity trade to reduce illicit financial flows says OECD report
Reintroducing large commercial banks into the oil and gas commodity trade could be a way to reduce the volume of illicit financial flows (IFFs) out of resource-rich developing countries according to a new report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The…
More information sharing and collaboration needed to combat TBML says major new US government report
Better information sharing and collaboration is needed to combat trade-based money laundering (TBML) according to a substantial report released on Monday by the US Government Accountability Office (GAOs). Countering Illicit Finance and Trade concluded that TBML is one of the primary mechanisms criminal organisations and…
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Trade Based Financial Crime
Trade Based Financial Crime
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