Log in/out

Our extensive knowledge at your fingertips

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.

Browse the resource database or make a sub-selection:

Menu

Latest editions

Search

U

EBA’s Final Draft RTS on Cooperation and Colleges of Supervisors for Third-Country Branches sets a unified EU framework to boost oversight and detect risks in non‑EU bank branches ahead of CRD VI in 2027

January 8, 2026

The RTS set out when and how colleges of supervisors should be formed, how authorities should share information, and guidance for mapping and proportional cooperation for smaller branches. By standardising these processes, the RTS aim to strengthen oversight, reduce supervisory gaps and regulatory arbitrage, and improve detection of emerging risks across jurisdictions. These standards support the broader third‑country branch regime under CRD VI and are expected to be fully applicable by early 2027…

APG’s Annual Report 2024-25 highlights efforts to strengthen AML/CFT regimes, tackle emerging risks like virtual assets and cyber fraud, build regional expertise, and enhance cross-border action 

January 8, 2026

The report details APG’s governance, capacity-building initiatives, mutual evaluation preparations, technical assistance, and workshops aimed at supporting national implementation of FATF standards. It underscores the importance of regional cooperation, cross-border information sharing, and targeted risk-based strategies in tackling financial crime, reinforcing APG’s role as a central hub for coordinating effective AML/CFT measures and improving compliance across Asia-Pacific jurisdictions…

U.S. DoJ charges a key member in a Chinese money‑laundering network for moving tens of millions in drug proceeds across the US, China, and Mexico

January 8, 2026

A federal indictment was unsealed in Cincinnati charging Yan Lin with conspiracy to commit money laundering and concealment of drug trafficking proceeds derived from tens of millions of dollars in illicit funds, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The case—investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigation, DEA, FBI and local partners – forms part of a broader initiative (Operation Take Back America) targeting networks that help cartels exploit the U.S. financial system…

White House announces new Division for National Fraud Enforcement within the DoJ to crack down on widespread fraud against Govt programs, businesses, non-profits, and citizens nationwide

January 8, 2026

The division will enforce federal criminal and civil laws targeting fraud involving federal government programs, federally funded benefits, businesses, nonprofits, and private citizens, with a dedicated Assistant Attorney General leading nationwide investigations, prosecutions, and policy development. It will also coordinate multi‑agency efforts to identify, disrupt and dismantle organised and sophisticated fraud schemes across jurisdictions and set national enforcement priorities…

U.S DoJ indicts former TD Bank employee for helping a criminal network launder nearly $474M, exploiting reporting controls for $11K in kickbacks, exposing serious insider-enabled AML failures

January 6, 2026

Wilfredo Aquino, a former New York-based TD Bank employee, admitted in federal court that between 2019 and 2021 he used his role to facilitate the laundering of approximately $474 million through TD Bank accounts for a network led by Da Ying Sze, failing to properly report suspicious activity and conceal the network’s leadership. His guilty plea to conspiracy to launder monetary instruments underscores the risk of insider-enabled financial crime and carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison…

UK Dept for Business and Trade issues draft guidance clarifying how to identify individuals with significant influence or control for Companies House’s PSC register, strengthening corporate transparency

January 5, 2026

The guidance interprets the statutory criteria in Schedule 1A of the Companies Act 2006 to help companies determine whether an individual or entity exercises significant influence or control — beyond just holding shares or voting rights — and therefore qualifies as a Person with Significant Control. It supports transparency by explaining how rights, powers or actual influence over decisions and company governance trigger PSC reporting and registration obligations with Companies House…

UAE assumes the 2026 MENAFATF Presidency, driving regional AML/CFT efforts, strengthening governance and cooperation, and tackling emerging risks from virtual assets and fintech

January 5, 2026

The UAE will oversee preparations for the third round of mutual evaluations under the updated FATF methodology. Focus on emerging financial-crime threats such as virtual assets, fintech innovations, AI, and beneficial ownership transparency. UAE’s presidency is part of a two-year leadership sequence, followed by Bahrain in 2027, ensuring continuity and regional cohesion…

NCA’s UK FIU releases its 2025 SARs Annual Report, highlighting 860,000+ reports filing, stronger asset-denial via DAML, global collaboration, and new digital tools driving AML/CTF effectiveness

December 29, 2025

The report highlights an exceptional year for the UK Financial Intelligence Unit, with over 860,000 SARs received, the highest-ever value of assets denied through Defence Against Money Laundering requests, and continued global leadership in exploiting SARs to disrupt money laundering and criminal finance. It also details strengthened public-private and international cooperation, extensive reporter engagement, and significant advances in SARs IT reform, including the rollout of the new SARs Portal and Digital Service to improve data quality, analytics, and law-enforcement outcomes…

INTERPOL’s six-month Taskforce Operation nets 85 fugitives and tracks 18 more, dismantling high-level networks linked to murder, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and ML across 17 countries

December 29, 2025

Coordinated intelligence sharing and collaboration between law enforcement agencies enabled the identification and disruption of 184 top-priority cases, demonstrating the power of global cooperation in tracking dangerous criminals and dismantling organized crime networks, with further arrests expected as investigations continue…

South Korea’s FIU launches an AML reform taskforce, aiming to tighten crypto rules, prepare for stablecoin oversight, and align with global standards ahead of the 2028 FATF Evaluation review

December 29, 2025

The taskforce will focus on tightening regulation of virtual asset service providers, including expanding the travel rule to cover transfers below KRW 100 million and developing AML measures for upcoming stablecoin rules. It will also seek to align Korea’s AML regime more closely with global standards, including measures such as suspending suspicious accounts during investigations and extending AML obligations…

FATF and the AfDB host a webinar on exiting the FATF Grey List, where South Africa, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania share practical reforms and lessons to achieve and sustain AML/CFT compliance

December 22, 2025

FATF and the African Development Bank jointly organised an online webinar that highlighted success stories and practical pathways for countries that have recently exited the FATF grey list after addressing strategic AML/CFT deficiencies. The session featured panelists from African governments, FIUs and international cooperation groups who discussed reforms undertaken, challenges encountered and best practices to help other jurisdictions strengthen anti-money-laundering and counter-financing frameworks…

FinCEN announces a targeted, data-driven operation on 100+ U.S. MSBs along the southwest border, to tackle potential ML and enforce stricter AML compliance

December 22, 2025

The multi-tiered, data-driven operation using advanced analytics of over one million banking records to identify compliance failures among Southwest border MSBs and address risks of illicit finance. It has already issued investigation notices, IRS examination referrals and numerous compliance outreach letters, signalling that non-compliance with Bank Secrecy Act AML/CFT obligations will trigger civil penalties, enforcement actions and potential criminal referrals…

No results found.