Log in/out

Our extensive knowledge at your fingertips

Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing

Over 20 years of articles and reference material

A page dedicated to global, regional, UK and US anti-money laundering developments and initiatives.

Browse the resource database or make a sub-selection:

Menu

Latest editions

Search

U

Europol’s ‘Blueprint of Criminal Opportunism’ report identifies 821 criminal networks, warning that organised crime is rapidly adapting and outpacing law enforcement despite major disruptions

June 26, 2026

The blueprint of criminal opportunism analyses 731 most threatening criminal networks affecting the EU, including 533 newly identified networks, and finds that while 76% of the networks identified in 2024 are no longer considered among the most threatening, organised crime continues to adapt, replace disrupted actors and exploit systemic vulnerabilities. The report highlights the continued use of legal business structures, cross-border operations…

EBA publishes a consultation paper proposing a harmonised, risk-based approach to setting MiCA fines, aimed at ensuring consistent, proportionate and effective enforcement of crypto-asset breaches 

June 26, 2026

The consultation paper sets out a draft methodology for calculating fines under MiCA, aiming to ensure that penalties for issuers of significant asset-referenced tokens and e-money tokens are consistent, proportionate and transparent. While not an AML/CFT measure in itself, the proposal is relevant to financial crime oversight because robust enforcement against major crypto-asset issuers can reinforce governance, compliance discipline and supervisory credibility in a sector exposed to illicit finance risks…

UNODC’s World Drug Report 2026 warns that global drug use has reached 331M people, with cocaine production at a record 4,100 tonnes and the spread of nitazenes to 37 countries

June 26, 2026

The report estimates that 331 million people used drugs in 2024, while drug markets continued to diversify through new psychoactive substances, synthetic opioids, globalised methamphetamine production, expanding cocaine supply and shifting cannabis patterns. It highlights organised crime innovation across trafficking routes and methods, warning that faster intelligence sharing, joint operations, prevention and treatment are needed…

FATF’s latest report exposes how terrorists exploit social media, messaging apps and streaming platforms to raise and move funds, calling for stronger global action to counter digital TF threats

June 26, 2026

The report examines how terrorists misuse social media and messaging platforms for fraudulent humanitarian appeals, charitable crowdfunding, live-stream tipping, rotating wallet and QR-code virtual asset fundraising, coded language, ephemeral content and commercial fronts. It urges countries to strengthen risk assessments, public-private information sharing, inter-agency co-ordination, financial and digital intelligence links, targeted indicators…

Sri Lanka’s FIU sharpens mutual evaluation preparations, using its latest AML/CFT National Coordinating Committee meeting to push collaboration and implementation discipline

June 25, 2026

The fifth AML/CFT National Coordinating Committee meeting of 2026 was convened on 25 June at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, with the Governor stressing determination and collaboration ahead of Sri Lanka’s upcoming mutual evaluation onsite visit. The FIU presented progress on mutual evaluation submissions and next steps, with participation from key stakeholder institutions, AML/CFT Task Force members and senior CBSL officials.

MONEYVAL’s President opens the ‘BO Forum’, highlighting transparency as key to tackling ML and corruption and urging stronger public-private cooperation and effective AML/CFT implementation

June 25, 2026

The opening remarks were delivered at MONEYVAL’s Public-Private Learning and Development Forum on Beneficial Ownership, held in Jersey on 25–26 June 2026 in partnership with the Government of Jersey and as part of FATF-sponsored learning initiatives. MONEYVAL says the forum brought together supervisors, registrars, FIUs, policymakers and private-sector representatives to share practical lessons on Recommendations 24 and 25, with the outcomes intended to inform a future insights document on beneficial ownership transparency and effectiveness…

U.S. authorities secured a guilty plea from a Brazilian national in a $30M drug money laundering scheme that used cash couriers and structured transfers to evade detection

June 24, 2026

The defendants admitted conspiring to launder drug trafficking proceeds through a U.S.-based courier network that collected bulk cash in cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Rochester and Tampa before depositing funds across the banking system. DOJ says the organisation used WhatsApp chains to coordinate couriers and facilitators and return profits to drug supply sources outside the United States, with each defendant…

FATF consults on updated Rec.16 (Travel rule) guidance to enhance cross-border payment transparency, clarify payment chain responsibilities, and set a 2030 implementation deadline – comments by 21 Aug 26

June 24, 2026

The consultation seeks views on draft guidance to support implementation of the revised Recommendation 16, agreed in June 2025 and due to be implemented globally by the end of 2030. FATF asks stakeholders to comment on issues including misdirected payment controls, financial inclusion in lower-capacity jurisdictions, application to digital wallets and mobile money, and the interaction between payment transparency, data protection…

EC unveils a comprehensive EU Criminal Justice Package to boost Europol and Eurojust’s powers, strengthening cross-border action against organised crime, terrorism, cybercrime and sanctions evasion

June 24, 2026

The package introduces a secure police data-sharing platform, enhances operational support for national law enforcement, updates the European Investigation Order to simplify cross-border evidence gathering and allow remote participation in criminal proceedings, strengthens cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and international partners, and expands Eurojust’s role in tackling cybercrime, sanctions evasion…

Wolfsberg Group updates its RBA guidance, urging FIs to replace tick-box compliance with a more proportionate, prioritised, and outcome-focused approach to FC risk management

June 23, 2026

The updated guidance builds on Wolfsberg’s 2025 Statement on the Risk-Based Approach and aligns with FATF’s revisions to Recommendation 1, framing the RBA around proportionality, prioritisation and effectiveness. It encourages financial institutions to use risk assessments to calibrate controls, move resources away from low-value activity, support financial inclusion and develop a common understanding of risk with supervisors, law enforcement…

FATF strengthens Rec.6 on terrorist financing sanctions, introducing UN-aligned humanitarian exemptions to help ensure legitimate aid and essential financial services reach those in need

June 23, 2026

The standards update requires countries to reflect humanitarian exemptions in relevant UN Security Council resolutions, helping ensure targeted financial sanctions do not block funds, assets, goods or services needed for humanitarian assistance. FATF frames the change as part of its wider work on mitigating unintended consequences from AML/CFT measures, while maintaining a risk-based approach to countering terrorism and terrorist financing…

FINTRAC updates guidance on the Ministerial Directive on Financial Transactions Associated with Iran, reinforcing EDD, reporting, and sanctions evasion controls for all Iran-linked transactions

June 23, 2026

The guidance, updated on 23 June 2026, explains obligations under Canada’s Ministerial Directive on financial transactions associated with Iran, including sanctions evasion risk assessment, identity verification, customer due diligence, source-of-funds checks, beneficial ownership information and recordkeeping. It also sets out reporting instructions for electronic funds transfers, cash, virtual currency, casino disbursements and negotiable…

No results found.