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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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ESAAMLG’s 16th Enhanced Follow-Up Report on Uganda finds stronger sanctions and preventive measures but critical gaps in BO transparency, supervision, and ML enforcement

May 14, 2026

The report assesses Uganda’s progress against FATF Recommendations and notes improvements in areas including targeted financial sanctions, preventive measures, and international cooperation frameworks, resulting in several technical compliance upgrades. ESAAMLG also identifies continuing concerns relating to supervision of higher-risk sectors, beneficial ownership transparency, operational capacity, and the effectiveness of money laundering investigations, prosecutions, and asset recovery measures…

US Senate Banking Committee advances the bipartisan Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 in a 15–9 vote to establish clearer crypto market rules, strengthen safeguards, and curb illicit activity

May 14, 2026

After nearly a year of good-faith bipartisan negotiations, Senate Banking Committee Republicans and Democrats came together today to advance a comprehensive market structure bill that will establish America as the crypto capital of the world. The bill advanced out of committee today by a vote of 15-9 and now moves to the Senate floor…

FCA’s Chief Executive warns that AI-driven criminal activity is turning FC into a national security threat, accelerating the push for technology-driven enforcement and greater intelligence sharing

May 14, 2026

At the FCA Financial Crime Conference, Nikhil Rathi signalled a major shift in the FCA’s approach to FC, warning that AI-enabled, globally connected criminal networks are increasingly blending fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, sanctions evasion, and hostile-state activity at industrial scale, turning financial crime into a national security issue. The speech highlighted the FCA’s growing focus on intelligence-led supervision, AI-driven analytics, advanced surveillance tools, expanded public-private information sharing, and deeper international coordination…

AMLA launches public hearings to consult on 3 draft ITS to strengthen cooperation between FIUs, AMLA, and the EPPO through standardised SAR reporting and enhanced cross-border information-sharing

May 13, 2026

The proposals introduce standardised, machine-readable reporting templates for suspected crimes affecting the EU’s financial interests and new structured templates for FIU-to-FIU exchanges via FIU.net, with the aim of improving the speed, consistency, and effectiveness of cross-border AML/CFT investigations and enforcement across the EU…

AUSTRAC’s Updated Risk Snapshot 2026 flags a complex, tech-driven financial crime landscape where AI, crypto, and trade flows embed ML/TF and PF within legitimate systems

May 12, 2026

The update highlights that while traditional methods such as use of shell companies, trade-based money laundering, and structured cash flows remain prevalent, criminals are increasingly exploiting digital payment systems, virtual assets, online platforms, and faster cross-border value transfer mechanisms to move and disguise funds more efficiently. It also emphasises the growing role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, which can be used to generate synthetic identities, fraudulent documentation, and scalable deception techniques…

AMLA takes major step towards becoming the EU’s Central AML supervisor by publishing a new reporting package to support the selection of FIs that will come under its direct supervision from 2028

May 12, 2026

The new package introduces standardised reporting templates, guidance on key risk indicators, and a harmonised assessment methodology for national supervisors to identify financial institutions eligible for direct AMLA supervision. From 2027, EU national authorities will submit data on eligible firms, which AMLA will assess based on factors including cross-border…

AUSTRAC’s Money Laundering Update 2026 outlines a more complex, tech-enabled laundering threat, where crypto, digital payments, and cross-border networks are fueling and masking illicit financial flows

May 12, 2026

The update identifies enduring laundering methods including cash structuring, professional facilitators, trade-based money laundering, and misuse of property and corporate vehicles, while highlighting how technology is accelerating identity fraud, document forgery, and transaction concealment. AUSTRAC also stresses that increasing convergence between money laundering, cybercrime, scams, and transnational organised crime is complicating risk detection and reinforcing the need for stronger intelligence sharing, risk-based controls, and cross-sector AML/CFT coordination…

AUSTRAC’s Proliferation Financing Update 2026 identifies PF as increasingly covert and technology-driven, with AI, crypto, and trade routes amplifying DPRK- and Iran-linked risks across supply chains

May 12, 2026

The update identifies typologies linked to high-risk jurisdictions, including the use of front companies, dual-use goods procurement, opaque ownership structures, trade-based financial activity, and complex cross-border payment arrangements to circumvent international sanctions controls. AUSTRAC also urges reporting entities to strengthen customer due diligence, trade finance monitoring, and sanctions screening capabilities to detect proliferation financing risks associated with state-linked procurement networks and intermediary facilitators…

AUSTRAC’s Terrorism Financing Update 2026 warns of a fast-evolving, low-volume threat where crypto, micro-transactions, and instant payments mask illicit activity within legitimate financial flows

May 12, 2026

The update identifies continued reliance on small-value transactions, crowdfunding, remittance services, cash movement, and digital communication platforms to facilitate terrorism financing activity, often linked to transnational extremist networks and online radicalisation pathways. AUSTRAC also highlights growing concerns around emerging technologies, operational anonymity, and the convergence of terrorism financing with broader financial crime risks, urging reporting entities to strengthen monitoring, intelligence sharing, and risk-based detection capabilities…

Swiss FINMA launches consultation on partial revised AMLO-FINMA rules to strengthen BO transparency, sanctions compliance, and correspondent banking controls – feedback until 9 June 2026

May 12, 2026

The proposed revisions place stronger emphasis on transparency and risk mitigation by requiring financial intermediaries to gain a clearer understanding of customers’ ownership and control structures, particularly where complex legal entities or layered arrangements are involved. The draft amendments also introduce more explicit obligations to prevent breaches of sanctions and coercive measures under Switzerland’s Embargo Act, reflecting growing global scrutiny around sanctions evasion and geopolitical risk exposure. In correspondent banking, the proposals tighten due diligence expectation…

FinCEN issues a Notice urging FIs to increase vigilance for human trafficking risks linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup through enhanced monitoring, SAR, and cross-border information sharing

May 11, 2026

The notice outlines typologies and red flags associated with sex and labour trafficking during major sporting events, including suspicious hotel, travel, cash movement, and payment activity connected to exploitation networks. FinCEN also encourages rapid suspicious activity reporting, coordination with law enforcement, and voluntary information sharing between financial institutions across the United States, Canada, and Mexico to support detection and disruption of trafficking-related financial flows.

FinCEN alerts FIs that the IRGC exploits illicit oil trade, shell companies, shadow fleets, and crypto channels to launder funds and evade sanctions, urging heightened vigilance in detection and reporting

May 11, 2026

The alert outlines typologies linked to illicit Iranian oil sales, including ship-to-ship transfers, falsified shipping documentation, exchange house networks, shell companies, and the use of digital assets and stablecoins to move funds across jurisdictions. FinCEN also provides detailed red flag indicators and urges enhanced due diligence on high-risk sectors such as maritime shipping, petroleum trading, money services, and virtual asset activity to strengthen AML/CFT and sanctions compliance controls…

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