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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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CoLP’s ‘Operation Seraphim’ led to 31 arrests in a global crackdown on online fraud and ML networks using encrypted platforms, compromised data, spoofing tools, and fraud-as-a-service schemes

May 20, 2026

The operation targeted sophisticated online fraud ecosystems operating through encrypted messaging groups and anonymous digital identities, where criminals were collaborating to facilitate impersonation scams, account takeovers, money laundering, spoofing services, compromised data sales, and “fraud-as-a-service” offerings at scale. Leveraging advanced automation, data analytics, and cross-border intelligence-sharing, investigators identified hundreds of online accounts linked to organised financial crime networks targeting victims across the UK and Europe…

EC consults on the review of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) to assess its effectiveness and emerging developments in crypto and tokenised asset markets, open until 31 Aug 2026

May 20, 2026

A key focus is whether the current rules remain appropriate given the rapid evolution of crypto markets, including new business models, technological innovation, and emerging risks such as market abuse, financial stability concerns, and cross-border regulatory challenges. The Commission will also consult with the European Banking Authority and ESMA to determine whether further policy or regulatory changes are needed to ensure MiCA remains fit for a rapidly changing, globally competitive digital asset landscape…

Companies House’s Business Plan 2026–27 sets out major reforms to boost transparency and tackle economic crime via mandatory identity verification, improved data accuracy, and digital modernisation 

May 19, 2026

The plan sets targets including at least 225,000 actions using the Registrar’s new powers to address abuse and improve data integrity, alongside full rollout of identity verification requirements for company directors and people with significant control. Companies House also plans further digital transformation, enhanced data interoperability, and modernised compliance and customer service capabilities to support economic growth, corporate transparency, and fraud prevention…

UK Govt announces a £30M crackdown on “dodgy” high street businesses linked to organised crime, establishing a new Unit to step up enforcement against ML, tax evasion, and illicit trade

May 19, 2026

The initiative will establish a new High Street Organised Crime Unit, backed by £20 million in enforcement funding and additional officers across key policing regions, alongside £6 million for Trading Standards to strengthen local inspections, compliance, and enforcement. The programme will drive coordinated raids, closures, cash seizures, and arrests across rogue barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts, and sweet shops suspected of being fronts for criminal networks, building on Operation Machinize, which has already resulted in hundreds of arrests and millions in seized criminal assets…

US Executive Order “Restoring Integrity” tightens banking oversight by strengthening due diligence, identity checks, and credit risk controls to crack down on ML, fraud, and illicit cross-border finance

May 19, 2026

It requires the Treasury Department and regulators to issue guidance and strengthen Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) rules on customer due diligence, beneficial ownership verification, and transaction monitoring, with a focus on detecting fraud, money laundering, and abuse of financial services through shell structures, identity misuse, and informal payment channels. It also highlights risks linked to cross-border illicit finance, including cartel activity, human trafficking, and large-scale money laundering networks, and instructs regulators to enhance red-flag frameworks and reporting standards…

INTERPOL’s ‘Operation Ramz’ across 13 MENA countries led to 201 arrests, 382 suspects identified and 53 servers seized, disrupting major cybercrime networks linked to fraud, phishing and malware

May 18, 2026

The operation involved law enforcement agencies from multiple MENA countries working with INTERPOL and private sector partners to identify suspects, dismantle infrastructure, and seize digital evidence linked to cyber-enabled criminal activity. Authorities also targeted schemes facilitating illicit financial flows through online scams, credential theft, and business email compromise attacks, highlighting the increasing convergence of cybercrime and money laundering threats…

NCA launches a first-of-its-kind initiative with banks to detect and disrupt payments linked to overseas livestreamed child sexual abuse, using financial intelligence to identify offenders and prevent harm

May 18, 2026
Through its Public–Private Partnerships unit, the NCA is sharing intelligence, real case studies, and transaction patterns with banks to help them spot suspicious payment behaviour linked to CSA livestreaming networks, often involving facilitators abroad who are paid small, repeated amounts for live abuse directed by offenders in the UK. The initiative also encourages banks to detect breaches of Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and intervene earlier through financial monitoring, recognising that every payment leaves a traceable financial footprint that can help prevent ongoing abuse…

IPSFF Fraud Prevention Savings Framework sets out a standardised method for measuring fraud prevention savings and strengthens evidence-based, prevention-led public sector fraud control

May 18, 2026

It explains how organisations can estimate avoided losses using robust counterfactual approaches, fraud risk assessments, and control effectiveness data, while ensuring transparency, consistency, and credibility in reporting. The framework aims to strengthen prevention-led fraud control by helping public bodies demonstrate the value and impact of proactive anti-fraud measures…

House of Commons Library briefing on Cryptoassets notes the UK is tightening regulation to reduce consumer harm, ML and financial stability risks while supporting digital asset innovation

May 15, 2026

The briefing explains how cryptoassets such as cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and security tokens operate through distributed ledger technology and remain used primarily for speculative investment rather than mainstream payments. It also highlights concerns around criminal misuse, fraud, and market volatility, alongside forthcoming FCA rules that will bring crypto exchanges, stablecoin issuance, and related activities into the UK regulatory perimeter from 2027…

GI-TOC’s Policy paper ‘Turning the Tide Together’ warns that the Pacific’s growing methamphetamine trade is empowering transnational crime networks, fuelling illicit finance, corruption and instability

May 15, 2026

The paper highlights how Pacific Island countries are facing growing domestic methamphetamine consumption alongside increased trafficking activity linked to transnational organised crime networks operating across Asia and Oceania. GI-TOC and the Pacific Security College call for a Pacific Islands Forum-led regional summit in 2027 and development of a Pacific-led Regional Synthetic Drugs Strategy focused on prevention, treatment, harm reduction, law enforcement cooperation, and community resilience…

FCA, BoE and HMT issue joint statement warning that Frontier AI models are intensifying cyber threats, fraud, and operational resilience risks, urging stronger governance and cyber defences

May 15, 2026

The authorities warn that while AI can improve efficiency, detection capabilities, and financial innovation, it also introduces new systemic risks, particularly where firms rely heavily on third-party AI providers, interconnected digital infrastructure, and automated decision-making systems. The statement emphasises the need for FIs to strengthen governance, AI risk oversight, cyber resilience testing, supply chain security, and operational safeguards to ensure that the adoption of advanced AI technologies does not undermine financial stability…

IMF Article IV Statement commends Hong Kong’s resilient and well-supervised financial system but flags rising AML/CFT and risk oversight needs driven by fintech, AI, and tokenisation

May 15, 2026

It notes meaningful progress in strengthening risk monitoring of non-bank financial institutions through expanded assessments and targeted stress testing, alongside improved system-wide surveillance and early-warning capabilities that enhance detection of emerging vulnerabilities. At the same time, it flags that Hong Kong’s accelerating shift toward fintech, AI-driven financial services, and asset tokenisation under the “Fintech 2030” strategy is expanding the risk landscape, introducing new and more complex money laundering and fraud typologies…

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