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FATF issues call to action with respect to the high-risk jurisdictions of Iran and DPRK

FATF urges all jurisdictions to apply effective countermeasures against Iran, in line with Recommendation 19, noting the country’s failure to enact the Palermo and Terrorist Financing Conventions. Countries are also advised to properly assess and account for increased proliferation financing risk with respect to DPRK.

A UNODC survey reveals that Colombia’s potential cocaine production increased by 53% in 2023

Although no new hotspots of coca cultivation were recorded as of December 2023, coca enclaves remain a major challenge: 39 per cent of the potential coca leaf production comes from productive enclaves that occupy only 14 per cent of the territory where coca is planted. (Link to executive summary in Spanish)

GCFCC releases Consultation Draft on enhancing AML/CTF Supervisory Effectiveness – 10 Key Enablers and 40 takeaways with Explanatory Notes

Effective supervision is not an exact science & cannot be strictly defined, or considered as something that can be taken “off the shelf” and is expected to work and operate effectively, repeatedly and without many years & cycles of operation. It is for most countries a journey, which starts with legacy regulators & regulations, updated to reflect AML/CTF global standards, new rules & regulations…

GCFCC publishes paper on ‘Fighting financial crime & protecting data privacy through responsible data sharing: A path forward’

The paper sets out a multi-disciplinary explanation of the intersection between fighting financial crime (“FFC”) and data protection and privacy (“DPP”) along with 4 important recommendations for the adoption of international regulations, standards and measures to fight financial crime while still providing protection for individual’s data privacy. Achieving a balance between FFC and DPP is not a zero sum game, with only winners and losers. Where differences arise as they will, resolution will only come from a better understanding of why and how activities are undertaken, and why and how these can be carried out consistent with the aims of FFC as well as safeguarding rights for DPP…

UNODC ‘Transnational Organised Crime’ report exposes escalating threat of organised crime in the Pacific

The report reveals that foreign crime syndicates, primarily from Asia and the Americas, are exploiting the Pacific’s strategic location to traffic illicit drugs and other contraband. The region’s isolation, once considered a barrier, now provides these groups with opportunities to operate in less-patrolled waters, facilitating large-scale shipments through ship-to-ship transfers…

 

 

 

 

FATF’s update on Kuwait’s AML/CFT measures shows investigative progress but emphasise the need for better case understanding, prosecution, and asset-freezing enforcement

The FATF mutual evaluation of Kuwait found that while the country has a basic understanding of ML risks, its awareness of terrorist financing risks remains low. Kuwait has increased ML investigations, but challenges remain in securing convictions, and its legal framework lacks enforceable measures to freeze assets linked to terrorism or proliferation. Additionally, Kuwait needs to strengthen its risk-based approach in the non-profit sector…

 

 

UNODC report reveals rising cyber-enable fraud ML in Southeast Asia, driven by advanced tech like AI and deepfakes, causing up to $37B in losses

The report reveals billion-dollar cyberfraud industry expands in Southeast Asia as criminals adopt new technologies. Cryptocurrency is increasingly being used by these syndicates as a method for money laundering, providing a decentralized and relatively anonymous means to move and conceal funds…

FATF President introduces new criteria for determining how countries are placed on the grey list, exempting low-income countries under the $10bn threshold

The new shift means that “poorer countries” will not be put under the title of countries that need to be monitored and supervised with an extra examination based on the risks related to money laundering (ML) or terrorist financing (TF). The recently assigned president of the “Financial Action Task Force (FATF),” Elisa de Anda Madrazo, stated about new regulations that this decision would lead to a “significant decrease in a number of grey listed countries.”…

IOSCO announces Final Report on Investor Education on Crypto-Assets, highlighting risks such as volatility and potential fraud associated with crypto investment

The report follows up on an earlier report published in 2020 and provides updated information on crypto-assets that will be useful to regulators when designing investor education initiatives for retail investors. The report also describes some changes in the regulatory landscape of certain IOSCO members, including investor protection measures and includes examples of educational materials.

 

 

The American Gaming Association, European Casino Association, and Betting & Gaming Council signs an MoU to tackle illegal gambling,  responsible gaming and protect the integrity of the industry

This new partnership is a significant step forward in our collective efforts to advance the legal gaming industry and protect consumers around the globe. By sharing our unique resources, we will expand our fight against illegal gambling to new fronts, work together to strengthen responsible gaming, and innovate around business best practices…

 

The Global Initiative publishes report looking at the roles played by women in international organised crime networks

The report offers a unique gendered perspective, highlighting that organized crime impacts women in distinct ways. It calls for policies that address these specific vulnerabilities, particularly the link between gender-based violence and criminal economies.

Global law enforcement unites with INTERPOL to combat major cyber-enabled crimes in West Africa, through enhanced international intelligence sharing

The scam, which resulted in reported financial losses of over USD 1.4 million, involved perpetrators who posed as buyers on small advertising websites. The fraudsters used QR codes to direct victims to fraudulent websites that mimicked a legitimate payment platform where victims would unwittingly enter personal information such as their log in details or card number. They also impersonated the platform’s customer service agents over the phone to further deceive victims…