Our extensive knowledge at your fingertips

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:

Latest editions

Search

Home Office publishes 2023/24 on the activities of the Appointed Person for England and Wales

Officers must file a written report to the Appointed Person in two scenarios: where assets are seized but not detained for more than 48 hours and where no assets are seized. This report should explain why the officer believed the powers were exercisable or why prior judicial approval was not practicable.

Home Office publishes Unexplained Wealth Orders Annual report from 2023 – 2024

This report shows how many times law enforcement agencies applied for an unexplained wealth order and how many unexplained wealth orders were issued by the High Court…

 

FinCEN issues alert about fraud schemes abusing its name, insignia, and tools, including scams tied to beneficial ownership reporting

The alert offers guidance to avoid these schemes, red flag indicators for financial institutions, and reporting channels for victims, emphasizing vigilance and fraud prevention as FinCEN’s AML/CFT priority…

 

 

Europol, with 6 nations, dismantle underground banking networks linked to drug trafficking, seizing €27m in cryptocurrency and valuables, highlighting innovative ML methods and global cooperation

Building on the findings from two major investigations, Operation GORGON and Operation WHITEWALL, this follow-up operation involved close collaboration between Europol’s experts in serious and organised crime and in financial investigations. It led to the arrest of nine suspects and the seizure of evidence (documents, mobile phones), valuables (gold, luxury goods), EUR 35 000 in cash and EUR 27 million in cryptocurrencies…

 

Eurojust addresses criminal group disrupting public services by stealing power cables has been arrested

A criminal group, mainly Bulgarian nationals orchestrated large-scale power cable thefts in three German states generating about 1 million euros in profits. After German authorities traced the group’s activities to Bulgaria a joint operation with Eurojust and Europol led to the arrest of eight suspects five in Bulgaria and three in Germany. Authorities seized valuable evidence during extensive raids in both countries including phones and documents…

Europol’s analysis reveals that 86% criminal networks exploit legal business structures for ML and illicit activities

Europol’s latest report reveals widespread abuse of legitimate business structures (LBS) across high-risk sectors like financial services, real estate, and tech, with methods including VAT carousel fraud, subsidy fraud, and cyber-enabled ML, leveraging cryptocurrency and global tech infrastructure to obscure illicit operations…

 

FCA charges John Dance, former WealthTek LLP partner, with fraud and ML, alleging he misappropriated £64m of client funds to finance personal ventures

John Dance, former principal partner at WealthTek LLP is accused of abusing his position to transfer over £64 m from client accounts for personal gain between 2014 and 2023. The FCA alleges he laundered funds through personal and business accounts using the money to purchase racehorses, properties, and fund other ventures. Additionally, he faces charges of making false representations about WealthTek’s regulatory permissions…

 

Dutch prosecutors drop ML cases against former executives of ING and ABN Amro, citing insufficient evidence despite lengthy investigations

Despite both banks facing significant fines, ING in 2018 and ABN AMRO in 2021—prosecutors found insufficient evidence to hold the individuals criminally accountable for the lapses in their oversight…

EBA’s Final review of EU banks’ efforts against ML/TF notes significant progress in risk-based supervision

The Report highlights good practices, for example in relation to cooperation and risk assessments, which reflect the positive changes in supervisory approaches. Nonetheless, the EBA continued to find weaknesses in competent authorities’ risk assessment methodologies and enforcement processes not being fully effective or deterrent, including divergent approaches in the way prudential…

FATF assesses Nauru’s AML/CFT framework, highlights low ML/TF risks but calls for improved risk understanding and enforcement

Report accepts that Nauru has a low risk for ML/TF, but identifies opportunities to improve Targeted Financial Sanctions implementation and cross-border currency controls, and to update the 2023 National Risk Assessment.

FATF identifies need for Papua New Guinea to strengthen resourcing of AML/CFT institutions, improve beneficial ownership data collection and enhance cross-border cooperation

Other areas flagged in the latest follow-up report on Papua New Guinea include the use of financial intelligences, out-of-date ML/TF risk assessments and risk-based supervision of high-risk FIs and DNFBPs.

FATF highlights significant gaps in Timor-Leste’s AML/TF risk understanding, supervision, enforcement, and guidance

Report urges the updating and broadening risk assessments, including for NPOs and legal persons, supporting financial inclusion with simplified measures for low-risk areas and prioritizing investigations into high-risk crimes like corruption, tax evasion, and trafficking.