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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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FSB unveils its 2026 Work Programme, focusing on AI, digital innovation, cross-border payments, and operational resilience to tackle emerging FC risks and bolster global financial stability

February 3, 2026

Key priorities with relevance to financial crime include assessing vulnerabilities in markets and nonbank financial intermediation, monitoring cross‑border payments, and examining digital innovation and AI, all of which intersect with AML/CFT and fraud risks. The programme also emphasises operational resilience, crisis preparedness, and implementation of reforms, alongside public-private collaboration and regulatory modernisation, supporting more effective detection, prevention, and oversight of illicit financial activity globally…

Europol backs French authorities in a major probe into Platform X over deepfakes, child sexual abuse material, and other illegal content, exposing cross-border challenges of tackling cybercrime

February 3, 2026

The probe, which began in January 2025, involves searches of X’s French offices and examines suspected offences such as algorithm manipulation, dissemination and storage of illegal content—including child sexual abuse material and AI-generated deepfakes—and misuse of automated data systems. Europol’s involvement underscores the cross-border nature of the case and strengthens French efforts to address potential cybercrime and content-related violations by the platform…

OECD’s releases Manual on Effective Mutual Agreement Procedures,  providing practical guidance to help tax authorities resolve cross-border transfer-pricing disputes efficiently, reduce double taxation and improve certainty for taxpayers

February 2, 2026

The manual updates OECD guidance on the mutual agreement procedure (MAP) under tax treaties, outlining best practices, procedural steps and tools that competent authorities can use to address transfer-pricing and other treaty-related disputes. It aims to support consistent, timely and transparent resolution of cross-border tax issues, fostering more predictable outcomes and strengthening taxpayer confidence in dispute-resolution mechanisms.

TRACFIN’s Focus report on ‘ML/TF in the Art Sector’ warns the market’s opaque, high-value transactions make it vulnerable to illicit funds, urging to strenghten vigilance and report suspicious activity

February 2, 2026

The report emphasizes that galleries, auctioneers, dealers, brokers, and other art professionals must comply with anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist financing obligations, including client verification, transaction monitoring, staff training, and filing suspicious activity reports. Despite a 35% increase in reports in 2024, most are submitted by banks, while reporting by art professionals remains relatively low….

AUSTRAC launches AML starter kits to help small businesses in legal, accounting, real estate, conveyancing, and jewellery sectors prepare for AML/CTF rules effective 1 July 2026

January 30, 2026

The kits provide step-by-step guidance and practical tools to help businesses build scalable, risk-based AML programs, reduce compliance costs, and better identify and manage money-laundering and terrorism-financing risks, as part of broader AML reforms aimed at preventing organised crime from exploiting professional services…

Europol’s Internet Referral Unit 2024 Transparency Report shows how the unit is tackling terrorist and extremist content online, leveraging platform partnerships to safeguard digital spaces

January 30, 2026

The report details the IRU’s activities in 2024, including trends in online Islamic State, Al-Shabaab and other extremist content, proactive referrals to tech platforms, and expanded cooperation with Member States and civil society to enhance content moderation effectiveness. It also highlights progress in transparency and safeguards — such as appeals mechanisms, data protection measures and publishing regular metrics — aimed at balancing security, fundamental rights and the fight against illicit online material…

BaFin publishes ‘Guidance on ICT Risks in the Use of AI in FIs’, urging firms to strengthen operational resilience by managing AI ICT risks across governance, monitoring, and third-party dependencies

January 30, 2026

The guidance provides practical, non‑binding recommendations for embedding AI risk management across the entire AI lifecycle—from collecting and preparing data, developing and deploying systems, to monitoring performance and safely retiring them. It stresses the importance of strong governance, clear responsibilities, and effective oversight to ensure AI systems are reliable and secure. BaFin also highlights managing third-party and outsourcing risks, as many AI systems depend on external vendors or cloud services that…

AUSTRAC’s Operation Taipan uncovers a $62M cash-laundering network using ATMs during COVID-19 lockdowns, showcasing the impact of real-time intelligence in disrupting organised crime

January 29, 2026

The report on Operation Taipan outlines how a long-running investigation uncovered complex money-laundering activities linked to organised crime, leading to a series of criminal and civil actions against individuals and entities involved in high-volume cash movements and illicit financial flows. It also highlights how lessons from the operation including enhanced data analytics, stronger information sharing between AUSTRAC and law enforcement, and increased industry engagement have informed broader AML/CTF strategy…

NCA and NatWest launch joint campaign to help businesses combat invoice fraud, urging firms to verify payments, spot fake invoices, and strengthen defences against increasingly sophisticated scams

January 29, 2026

The campaign targets accounts payable and finance teams, offering practical guidance: Check for changes to invoice or bank details, Verify by contacting suppliers directly, and Never transfer money until confident the payment is correct. The initiative is supported by an info sheet, a social media campaign, and the Home Office’s Stop! Think Fraud campaign, aiming to raise awareness, strengthen defences, and disrupt…

US DOJ obtains legal title to over $400M in seized cryptocurrency, real estate, and other assets linked to Helix, a darknet cryptocurrency-mixing service used to launder illicit proceeds

January 29, 2026

The assets were tied to Helix operator Larry Dean Harmon, who pleaded guilty to money-laundering conspiracy, and the forfeiture follows a final court order transferring the seized assets to the U.S. government. Authorities said the Helix mixer processed hundreds of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency transactions connected largely to darknet drug markets, underscoring continued enforcement against…

Europol dismantles a transnational migrant smuggling network, arresting 16, raiding six sites, and uncovering a pyramid-style operation funneling people from Türkiye to Western Europe

January 29, 2026

The coordinated action resulted in 16 arrests, searches at six locations, and seizures of mobile phones, documents, and records linked to the criminal organisation. Europol reports the network operated with a pyramid‑style structure, with a core group in Sofia, mainly Bulgarian and Syrian nationals, coordinating transit arrangements and working closely with allied smugglers in neighbouring countries…

OFSI intensifies its crackdown on cryptoasset abuse, through the multi-agency Crypto Cash Fusion Cell and real-time intelligence to trace, disrupt, and stop illicit funds linked to sanctions evasion

January 29, 2026

OFSI is stepping up action against the misuse of cryptoassets, working closely with UK law enforcement and regulators through the multi-agency Crypto Cash Fusion Cell (CCFC)—which brings together the NCA, Metropolitan Police, HMRC, FCA, City of London Police, and OFSI itself—to trace, investigate, and disrupt illicit funds linked to sanctions evasion. By sharing intelligence and partnering with private sector experts like Elliptic, the CCFC rapidly converts real-time data into operational outcomes, sending a clear message that exploiting cryptoassets…

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