APGML’s Mutual Evaluation follow-up report notes that despite stronger AML/CFT laws, Lao PDR still struggles with weak supervision, limited use of financial intelligence, and inadequate asset recovery

The country improves technical compliance significantly by re-rating eight recommendations—such as R.3 (criminalisation of money-laundering), R.5 (terrorist financing offence) and R.11/20 (financial intelligence and secrecy laws)—reflecting reforms to its AML/CFT law and expanded predicate-offence list. However, substantive deficiencies remain in effectiveness: the FATF identifies that Lao PDR must bolster its risk-based supervision of high-risk sectors (e.g., casinos, banks, special economic zones), enhance spontaneous…