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GFI’s Enablers Gap report exposes gaps in regulating professional enablers of illicit financial flows in Kenya, Uganda and Ghana, with illicit flows costing Africa at least US$50B annually

October 18, 2026

Despite legislative reforms, GFI finds that non-financial professions remain under-supervised, suspicious transaction reporting is minimal and regulation of trust and company service providers is incomplete. The report calls for stronger licensing, beneficial ownership transparency and enforcement, alongside greater use of integrated data and supervisory technology to address emerging AI- and virtual asset-enabled laundering risks…

New Zealand DIA identifies 64 previously unregistered real estate entities within its AML/CFT supervisory population, exposing gaps in regulatory coverage and compliance readiness

October 15, 2026

Its Know Your Population project examined licensed real estate businesses that were not registered with DIA or the Police Financial Intelligence Unit’s goAML platform. Although 86% of assessed entities had appointed a compliance officer, the findings reinforced the importance of conducting risk assessments before developing effective AML/CFT programmes.

AUSTRAC updates its threshold transaction reporting guidance to clarify when physical currency and mixed transactions trigger AML/CTF reporting obligations

October 14, 2026

The revised guidance, dated 14 October, includes additional examples to help reporting entities distinguish transactions involving physical cash from other payment arrangements. The clarification is relevant to businesses adapting their transaction monitoring and reporting procedures under Australia’s reformed AML/CTF framework…

AUSTRAC convenes Pacific FIUs and AML/CTF supervisors to strengthen cross-border cooperation against money laundering, fraud and organised crime

October 12, 2026

The 2026 Pacific Financial Intelligence Community Plenary and Pacific Supervisors Forum brought together regional authorities in Sydney to address shared financial crime threats. Discussions focused on intelligence sharing, supervisory capability and practical cooperation between jurisdictions facing increasingly interconnected criminal networks.

FINTRAC announces C$25M increase in supervisory funding to strengthen oversight of financial institutions, virtual currencies, online gaming and newly regulated sectors

October 9, 2026

Speaking at the ACAMS Assembly Canada conference, Deputy Director Tina Matos said the agency’s supervisory funding envelope would rise from approximately C$60 million to C$85 million. The additional resources will support expanded examinations, implementation of a revised administrative penalties framework and a universal enrolment programme, following Canada’s recent FATF evaluation…

MENAFATF highlights financial fraud, asset recovery and technology-enabled terrorist financing as key regional priorities at its Oct 2026 workshop in Kuwait

October 7, 2026

The discussions examined early fraud detection, parallel financial investigations and more effective tracing and management of confiscated criminal assets. Participants also addressed international asset recovery cooperation involving digital assets and virtual currencies, alongside emerging methods of terrorist financing…

UNODC report reveals 251 tonnes of illicit medical products seized in Central Africa between 2020-2025, with links to organised crime, corruption and conflict financing

October 6, 2026

Produced with WHO and CEMAC, the report identifies cross-border trafficking networks distributing falsified, unauthorised and diverted medicines through maritime, air and land routes, with armed groups potentially profiting from the trade. It calls for harmonised legislation, stronger criminal justice responses and greater international cooperation to disrupt trafficking networks and protect public health…

AUSTRAC issues infringement notices to real estate, accounting and jewellery businesses for failing to enrol and comply with AML/CFT obligations

September 30, 2026

The notices target businesses in the real estate, accounting and jewellery sectors, with penalties of A$21,840 for companies and A$4,368 for individuals, which can accrue daily. The enforcement follows the regime’s 1 July 2026 expansion to sectors including legal, accounting, real estate, conveyancing, trust and company services, and precious-stone and metal dealers. AUSTRAC said around 90% of the businesses initially identified have now enrolled or…

AUSTRAC calls for proportionate risk-based controls for higher-risk customers, warning that indiscriminate debanking can push financial crime risks into less regulated channels

September 30, 2026

Higher-risk customers should trigger appropriate controls such as enhanced customer due diligence, closer transaction monitoring and more frequent reviews, where warranted. Firms should consider the customer’s individual circumstances, business activities, products and services, geographic exposure and transaction patterns when determining risk. The guidance reinforces that higher risk does not automatically mean unacceptable risk…

UAE Central Bank prohibits Bank Melli Iran’s UAE branches from conducting financial transactions to and from Iran, including trade finance and fund transfers, over AML/CFT/CPF violations

September 23, 2026

The action follows regulatory examinations that identified breaches of UAE requirements on AML, counter-terrorist financing and counter-proliferation financing. The restrictions were imposed under the UAE’s banking law following the identified regulatory non-compliance. The action highlights heightened supervisory scrutiny of Iran-related banking activity and the need for robust financial crime controls…

FT investigation: A7 moved $6.9bn through the international banking system using forged trade documentation and a large network of front companies

September 18, 2026

FT obtained internal A7 records showing how the Kremlin-backed payments operation allegedly used forged invoices and more than 200 front companies, including entities in the UAE, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan and Indonesia, to make Russian-linked payments appear to be ordinary trade. Payments ultimately passed through major international banks.

Singapore Parliament issues the Scams (Countermeasures) and Other Matters Bill 2026, giving authorities stronger powers to disable scam-linked accounts across financial and digital services

September 16, 2026

The Bill would allow specified police officers to order banks, payment providers, digital payment-token providers, telecom companies and online platforms to restrict services, disable accounts and disclose information where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they are being used for scam-related offences. Account-disabling orders could cover bank, payment, crypto/digital payment-token, telephone and online accounts, generally for up…

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