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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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UK Govt partners with Microsoft and other tech experts to implement a world-first Deepfake detection evaluation framework, to assess detection tools and address the surge in AI-generated content

February 5, 2026

The initiative aims to set consistent standards for assessing detection tools and address the surge in AI-generated content, which rose from around 500,000 in 2023 to 8 million in 2025. The government is also strengthening legislation under the Online Safety Act, criminalising the creation or request of non-consensual intimate deepfakes and targeting “nudification” tools, alongside real-world testing to identify gaps in current detection capabilities…

Canadian Police convicts 2 individuals in the Fortress syndicated mortgage investment fraud, defrauding 800 investors, sentencing them to 5 years and ordering to pay $12.2M in restitution each

February 5, 2026

Both men were convicted of one count of fraud over $5,000 and sentenced to five years in prison, ordered to pay $12.2 million each in restitution (with matching prison terms if unpaid), and given 10 years to satisfy the restitution orders. The RCMP’s Toronto Integrated Market Enforcement Team (IMET) led the investigation, highlighting efforts to protect Canadian investors from large‑scale financial crime, while noting the significant financial and psychological harm suffered by victims…

FATF Week takes place in Mexico City (9–13 Feb 2026), culminating in the 5th Plenary (11–13 Feb) to address grey-list challenges, mutual evaluations, and the cutting-edge role of technology in fighting FC

February 4, 2026

The FATF Plenary (11–13 Feb), chaired by President Elisa de Anda Madrazo, will consider mutual evaluation reports for Austria, Italy, and Singapore, review progress of jurisdictions under increased monitoring, and examine how technology can be leveraged to strengthen the fight against financial crime. A public summary of outcomes will be released following the Plenary, along with a virtual press conference on 13 February…

AMLA sets strategic priorities with its 2026–28 Single Programming Document, focusing on the EU’s AML Single Rulebook, supervisory convergence, and stronger FIU cooperation

February 4, 2026

The plan focuses on three strategic priorities: completing the EU AML/CFT Single Rulebook, strengthening supervisory convergence across Member States, and improving cooperation between FIUs. Key activities for 2026 include delivering regulatory mandates, launching direct supervision, operationalising the FIU framework, building indirect supervision and oversight mechanisms, and developing AMLA’s risk-based supervisory frameworks. The Authority is also scaling up significantly — expanding staff and IT infrastructure…

JMLSG publishes final revisions to Part I of its AML/CFT Guidance, updating sections on data protection, MLRO responsibilities, and monitoring ML controls, with revisions submitted to HMT for approval

February 4, 2026

Revisions 6 to the JMLSG guidance refine and expand the UK’s industry-standard anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing framework by clarifying requirements on risk assessment, customer due diligence, ongoing monitoring and enhanced scrutiny of higher-risk relationships. The updates also incorporate recent regulatory developments and typologies, offering tailored guidance for sectors such as legal professionals, trust and company service providers, and non-profit organisations to improve consistency and effectiveness in detecting and mitigating financial crime risks…

MONEYVAL’s 2025 Evaluation Report praises Serbia’s AML/CFT progress but flags gaps in supervision, financial intelligence use, BO transparency and asset recovery, prompting a 3-year follow-up plan

February 4, 2026

MONEYVAL’s report acknowledges progress in Serbia’s understanding of money-laundering and terrorist-financing risks, improved national risk assessment processes, and more proactive investigation and prosecution of predicate offences. However, the body identifies continuing weaknesses in how financial supervisors apply risk-based approaches and in authorities’ ability to turn financial intelligence into effective action, and calls for further targeted reforms to strengthen overall AML/CFT effectiveness…

ASIC urges super trustees to step up and address serious gaps in anti-scam and fraud protections after reviewing 47 funds and finding weak and outdated member guidance

February 4, 2026

The regulator warned that the sector which safeguards about $4.3 trillion in retirement savings risks becoming a soft target for scammers, noting that super-related scams caused around $22 million in losses in 2025. ASIC identified shortcomings in the availability, clarity, and practical guidance provided to members, including limited reporting channels and insufficient support for scam victims, and urged trustees to improve prevention, detection, and response measures as scam risks continue to grow across the financial system…

The Human Rights Watch World Report 2026 warns that as democracy weakens and authoritarianism rises, corruption, illicit financial flows, and abuse of power are gaining ground globally

February 4, 2026

The report highlights widespread abuses across multiple regions including repression of women and girls in Afghanistan, ongoing civilian harm in conflicts such as Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine, and increasing restrictions on civil society, media freedom, and minority rights worldwide. It also warns that the global rules-based order is under strain, but emphasizes that civil society movements, democratic alliances, and public accountability efforts remain essential to protecting human rights and sustaining democratic values…

EPPO seizes a clandestine cigarette factory in Italy with over 21.5 tonnes of tobacco and finished cigarettes, uncovering a multimillion‑euro smuggling and counterfeiting operation

February 3, 2026

EPPO’s investigation uncovered a large-scale illicit tobacco production site in Italy, leading to the seizure of the facility and more than 215 tonnes of unregistered tobacco and finished cigarettes—items linked to tax evasion and organised criminal networks exploiting the EU single market. The action reflects EPPO’s expanding operational role in combating cross-border economic crime that drains public revenues and supports organised crime activities…

FinTech Global’s article: The AML Maturity Curve and the Rise of Agentic Compliance, shows how AI is transforming AML compliance from manual checks into autonomous, proactive systems that combat FC

February 3, 2026

Financial institutions are moving along the “AML maturity curve” by adopting AI-powered systems that can autonomously manage compliance workflows, from risk detection and real-time monitoring to reporting. This shift transforms compliance from reactive, checklist-based processes to dynamic, end-to-end capabilities, allowing organisations to respond more effectively to complex financial crime threats while humans focus on oversight and strategic decision-making…

FCA ruling upheld by the UK Upper Tribunal finds Banque Havilland and two ex-employees schemed to weaken the Qatari riyal for profit, resulting in multi-million-pound fines and bans for market manipulation

February 3, 2026

The bank created a document nicknamed “Setting fire to the neighbour’s house fund”, outlining trades aimed at weakening Qatar’s currency peg to gain business advantage. The Tribunal confirmed misconduct but reduced the bank’s fine from £10 million to £4 million, while fines for the two individuals were also imposed, and both were banned from working in financial services. The FCA called the conduct a case of greed and emphasized holding those responsible accountable…

HKMA launches a Fintech Promotion Blueprint under its Fintech 2030 strategy, advancing AI-driven banking innovation, distributed-ledger technology, stronger data governance, and cyber-resilience

February 3, 2026

The plan includes four flagship initiatives a Quantum Preparedness Index, a new risk-data strategy, a fintech cybersecurity baseline, and industry-wide skills development support designed to strengthen risk management, supervision, and collaboration across Hong Kong’s fintech ecosystem while preparing the financial sector for emerging technologies…

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