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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.

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Canada Border Services Agency announces that a major auto theft investigation has led to organised-crime and money-laundering charges against individuals and companies allegedly exporting stolen vehicles

December 17, 2025

In December 2025, the CBSA and partner agencies unveiled results from a long-running investigation into transnational auto theft rings, alleging that suspects facilitated export of stolen vehicles and laundered proceeds through complex schemes. The operation includes criminal and money-laundering charges against multiple individuals and entities, highlighting cross-border enforcement cooperation to disrupt organized crime and financial crime linked to the auto theft supply chain.

OECD’s Harmful Tax Practices – 2024 Peer Review Reports on the Exchange of Information on Tax Rulings shows that most jurisdictions are effectively implementing the BEPS Action 5 transparency standard by exchanging tax-ruling information, though some still need to improve legal frameworks and timeliness

December 17, 2025

The report, approved by the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on 2 December 2025, assesses how participating jurisdictions comply with the minimum standard under BEPS Action 5 for spontaneous exchange of information on tax rulings, a key tool in tackling base erosion and profit shifting. It finds broad legal and operational capacity for exchanging such information, with peer reviews highlighting progress and identifying a small number of recommendations to strengthen legal bases, data completeness and timely transmission of information…

Europol coordinates high-impact operations against transatlantic cocaine supply networks, seizing 1.6 tonnes of cocaine, €1.5M+ in assets, and dismantling supply chains from South America to Europe

December 17, 2025

Actions included the arrest of a Dutch-led network linked to Colombian traffickers, the disruption of a Brazilian maritime operation using modified fishing vessels via West Africa, and the interception of a Greek at-sea transfer network, resulting in dozens of arrests, seizure of 1.6 tonnes of cocaine, and over €1.5 million in assets. By providing intelligence, analytical support, and operational coordination, Europol helped disrupt the full criminal chain from organisers and logistics managers to European receivers, demonstrating the power of sustained international cooperation against organised cocaine trafficking…

FCA launches a consultation on its proposed regulatory framework for cryptoassets, aiming to ensure consumer protection and market integrity while supporting innovation – feedback by 12 Feb 2026

December 16, 2025

The proposals aim to create an open, sustainable, and competitive crypto market that protects consumers while supporting innovation. Key areas under consultation include listing and disclosure standards for cryptoassets, market‑abuse safeguards, operational standards for crypto trading platforms, requirements for intermediaries, rules for staking and DeFi activities, lending and borrowing frameworks, and prudential safeguards for firms. The FCA says the approach will apply similar regulatory principles to crypto as to traditional finance…

FATF’s Mutual Evaluation of Belgium Report finds that despite a strong legal AML/CFT framework, gaps in virtual asset oversight, BO checks, sanctions, and enforcement have led to enhanced follow-up

December 16, 2025

FATF’s Mutual Evaluation assesses Belgium’s measures against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing as largely aligned with international standards but notes persistent weaknesses in effectively addressing key risks such as virtual assets, organised crime-linked laundering, and resource constraints that limit investigations and prosecutions. It highlights uneven supervision, limited use of sanctions, insufficient technological tools for the FIU, and gaps in beneficial ownership accuracy, and provides a roadmap of key actions Belgium must complete within three years to strengthen its AML/CFT/CPF effectiveness…

Egmont shares key updates at the 70th MONEYVAL Plenary in Strasbourg, highlighting stronger FIU independence, expanded training, and closer international cooperation to combat ML/TF

December 16, 2025

At the 70th MONEYVAL Plenary in Strasbourg, the Egmont Group was represented by its leadership (including Vice Chair Daniel Thelesklaf and Chair Elżbieta Franków-Jaśkiewicz), where it shared updates on strengthening the independence and autonomy of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), expanded training initiatives for 2026, and highlighted collaborative projects analyzing mutual evaluation findings to identify regional training needs—especially around cooperation with law enforcement and the use of financial intelligence…

HMT releases 2024–25 UK AML/CTF Supervision Report, outlining significant reforms to the UK’s supervisory regime, confirming plans to shift AML oversight of legal, accountancy and TCSP sectors to the FCA

December 15, 2025

It introduces new transparency through detailed data on inspections, risk ratings. Only 1% of businesses are now deemed “low risk” for AML purposes. The “medium risk” category has grown proportionately, from 53% to 85%. The report details how supervisors including the FCA, HMRC, the Gambling Commission and professional-body supervisors strengthened risk-based supervision through targeted interventions, registration assessments…

FinCEN convenes banks and law enforcement in a FinCEN Exchange to tackle transnational ML, exposing $7.1B in Chinese-linked suspicious activity and blocking access to global financial systems

December 15, 2025

The FinCEN Exchange public-private partnership event brought together financial institutions, federal law enforcement and Treasury officials to focus on identifying and dismantling sophisticated money-laundering networks, specifically those linked to Chinese actors and organised crime. FinCEN shared intelligence, stressed the importance of Bank Secrecy Act reporting, and reiterated its commitment to ongoing cooperation to counter these networks and protect the financial system…

ESAs publish 2 Factsheets designed to help consumers protect themselves from crypto and other online frauds and scams and explain how fraudsters increasingly use AI to deceive consumers

December 15, 2025

The three ESAs released two consumer-focused factsheets offering clear guidance on recognising common online fraud and scam tactics—such as phishing, impersonation, investment and Ponzi schemes—and how fraudsters increasingly use technologies like artificial intelligence to deceive. The materials explain warning signs, offer prevention tips (e.g., be cautious with personal/banking information and verify message sources) and will be translated into all official EU languages for wider accessibility…

EBA-ECB’s Payment Fraud Report 2025 reveals that while SCA has reduced card fraud, overall fraud losses rose from €3.5B in 2023 to €4.2B in 2024 as criminals adapt to exploit new payment channels

December 15, 2025

The report highlights that fraudsters are adapting, notably through payer manipulation (social engineering) and by targeting payment types or scenarios where Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) is exempt or less effective. Breakdown by instrument shows credit transfer losses at about €2.20 billion and card payment losses at €1.33 billion in 2024, with users bearing a significant share of credit transfer fraud losses. It also notes that card fraud is markedly higher outside the EEA where SCA is not mandated…

Basel AML Index 2025 ranking 177 countries, reveals that 54% improved AML/CFT frameworks, yet high-risk nations like Myanmar, Haiti, and DRC face rising ML threats, urging stronger legal and accountability systems

December 15, 2025

The 14th Basel AML Index finds that global money-laundering risk remains largely unchanged, with only marginal improvement, as progress in some high-risk regions, particularly parts of Sub-Saharan Africa is offset by rising risks in traditionally strong jurisdictions such as Europe and North America, highlighting uneven advances amid growing threats from virtual assets and emerging technologies…

UN Anti‑Corruption Conference Dec 2025 in Doha opens with a strong call to harness AI and emerging technologies to strengthen the global fight against corruption and economic crime

December 15, 2025

The Conference highlights how innovation can help detect, prevent, and disrupt complex corrupt practices under the UNCAC. There is a need for an integrated and coordinated approach, one where agencies work across sectors and borders, with all relevant partners, to bring down networks of crime and collusion in tandem…

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