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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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EC’s 2025 State of the Digital Decade report flags key vulnerabilities in Europe’s digital ecosystem, citing reliance on foreign tech and weak cyber defences as entry points for cross-border FC and exploitation

June 16, 2025

The report also warns of increased risks from disinformation, online manipulation, and digital infrastructure dependencies that could be exploited by threat actors. To counter these gaps, the EC urges swift regulatory simplification and nearly €290 billion in strategic investment, including in secure technologies and cyber resilience, to reinforce the EU’s defences by 2030…

GFI flags illegal cattle ranching along Belize’s border as a key driver of deforestation and land laundering, calling for stronger cross-border enforcement and improved financial oversight

June 16, 2025

New report aims to highlight the link between illegal cattle ranching, deforestation, and financial crimes such as land laundering and illicit trade in the Belize-Guatemala border region…

OECD’s new manual guides jurisdictions in building strong tax crime investigations to fight global evasion, through clear laws, defined roles, enhanced cooperation, and advanced technology

June 16, 2025

It outlines essential components such as defining roles and responsibilities, establishing legal frameworks, and implementing robust case management systems. The manual also highlights the importance of inter-agency cooperation, the use of technology in investigations, and the protection of suspects’ rights. By providing practical tools and country-specific examples, the OECD aims to enhance the capacity of tax authorities worldwide to combat tax crimes effectively…

OFAC fines Unicat Catalyst Technologies $3.9M for serious Iran and Venezuela sanctions violations, underscoring self-disclosure and dual-jurisdiction compliance challenges

June 16, 2025

The case stands out due to Unicat’s voluntary self-disclosure of the breaches, which involved providing catalyst products and consulting services to Iran and selling to a blocked Venezuelan entity. This enforcement action underscores the ongoing complexities and heightened risks companies face in navigating dual-jurisdiction sanctions regimes, emphasizing the importance of robust compliance programs and proactive risk management…

FATF adds Bolivia and UK Virgin Islands to its grey list, urging risk-based vigilance over blanket de-risking as they address AML/CFT gaps under close watch

June 13, 2025

FATF calls on jurisdictions under increased monitoring to swiftly implement agreed action plans addressing strategic AML/CFT deficiencies. Countries and institutions are advised to apply a risk-based approach, avoid blanket de-risking, and ensure legitimate financial flows—especially for humanitarian and NPO activities—remain unaffected…

AMLA appoints former FATF President Juan-Manuel Vega Serrano as its new Vice-Chair, marking a decisive step towards reinforcing and unifying the EU’s fight against financial crime

June 13, 2025

With over 30 years of experience in public service and financial crime supervision, Vega Serrano has held key roles including head of Spain’s Financial Intelligence Unit and AML/CFT Supervisory Authority, and previously served as President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). His appointment signals AMLA’s ambition to enhance strategic oversight and harmonised enforcement across EU member states from its Frankfurt headquarters…

Europol’s 2025 IOCTA report exposes how cybercriminals exploit stolen data, AI scams, deepfakes, and identity-masking tools to drive FC and evade detection across borders

June 12, 2025

The report details how cybercriminals operate within a thriving underground economy, leveraging Initial Access Brokers, malware-as-a-service platforms, and encrypted apps to trade credentials and exploit system vulnerabilities. Despite major takedowns like Operation Endgame, threats persist through digital skimming, CVE exploitation, and hybrid actors targeting critical infrastructure. Europol calls for stronger EU-wide frameworks on encrypted access, metadata retention, and public awareness to counter increasingly sophisticated digital threats…

EC removes the UAE from its high-risk money ML list, while simultaneously adding 10 jurisdictions including Monaco, Lebanon, Kenya, and Venezuela – raising the total to 27 high-risk countries

June 10, 2025

The European Commission has added Algeria, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal, and Venezuela to its list of high-risk third-country jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in their AML/CFT regimes. Conversely, Barbados, Gibraltar, Jamaica, Panama, the Philippines, Senegal, Uganda, and the United Arab Emirates have been removed from the list following progress in addressing their identified shortcomings…

FCA issues updated Enforcement Guide (ENFG), effective 3 June 2025 for all new investigations, aiming to improve access to key information, boost transparency, efficiency, and regulatory clarity

June 9, 2025

Notable updates include a U-turn on publicity policy, dropping plans to name firms under investigation unless in exceptional or specified cases (e.g., unauthorised activity). It clarifies when lawyers may attend compelled interviews, limiting joint representation to avoid conflicts. The FCA also formalises its stance on accepting firm-commissioned reports under limited privilege waivers…

EU adopts an enhanced cyber crisis management blueprint to boost preparedness, detection capabilities, and drive cross-border action against large-scale complex cyber threats

June 6, 2025

Aligned with the NIS2 Directive and the Cyber Solidarity Act, the blueprint introduces a clear five-phase crisis lifecycle—detection, analysis, escalation, response, and recovery—while defining roles for key entities like ENISA, the CSIRTs Network, and EU-CyCLONe. It reinforces EU-wide cooperation, enhances threat detection, and ensures swift operational and political coordination across borders. With a focus on civil-military collaboration, public communication, and continuous improvement through a rolling annex, the blueprint marks a significant step…

Europol busts major cocaine ring in Spain’s Canary Islands – seizing 4 tons, arresting 50, and exposing cross-border ML schemes in a wake-up call for stronger FC enforcement

June 6, 2025

The investigation uncovered the use of hidden maritime routes and covert storage hubs to traffic large volumes of cocaine, with criminal proceeds likely funneled through a network of illicit financial channels across multiple EU countries. Europol’s coordination played a key role by facilitating cross-border intelligence sharing, improving both the efficiency and timing of enforcement actions…

INTERPOL-led global crackdown on child sexual abuse material uncovers transnational financial crime links, resulting in 20 arrests and 68 suspects identified across 12 countries

June 6, 2025

The coordinated effort, spanning 12 countries across Europe and the Americas, has resulted in the arrest of 20 suspects, including professionals such as a healthcare worker and a teacher involved in exploitation activities. Beyond these arrests, authorities have identified 68 additional suspects, with investigations ongoing to further dismantle the complex criminal networks involved. The operation highlights the critical role of cross-border…

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