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US Treasury publishes 2024 National Money Laundering Risk Assessment

The report details recent, significant updates to the illicit finance risk environment. These include the ongoing fentanyl crisis, foreign and domestic terrorist attacks and related financing, increased potency of ransomware attacks, the growth of professional money laundering, and continued digitization of payments and financial services.

FinCEN proposes rule to combat money laundering and promote transparency in residential real estate

The proposed rule would require certain professionals involved in real estate closings and settlements to report information to FinCEN about non-financed transfers of residential real estate to legal entities or trusts. FinCEN’s proposal is tailored to target residential real estate transfers considered to be high-risk for money laundering…

MEPs adopt new rules requiring PSPs to have in place robust and up-to-date fraud detection and prevention measures

The new regulation aims to make sure that retail clients and businesses, especially SMEs, will not have to wait for their money, as well as to enhance the safety of transfers. Banks and other payment service providers (PSPs) will have to ensure credit transfers are affordable and immediately processed…

ESA’s Joint Board of Appeal confirms ESMA’s decision to withdraw the recognition of Dubai Commodities Clearing Corporation (DCCC) due to deficiencies in the DIFC’s AML framework

ESA’s Joint Board of Appeal confirms ESMA’s decision to withdraw the recognition of DCCC on the basis of money laundering and terrorist finance risks and rejects appeals for transition period…

 

EU Council and the Parliament strike a deal to boost EU’s green industry – Net-Zero Industry Act

The Council and the European Parliament today reached a provisional deal on the regulation establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology products manufacturing ecosystem, better known as the ‘net-zero industry act’ (NZIA). The regulation aims at boosting the industrial deployment of net-zero technologies needed to achieve EU’s climate goals, using the strength of the single market to reinforce Europe’s leadership in industrial green technologies…

UK Govt publishes response to consultation on ‘A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation’

The consultation highlights the importance of ensuring AI’s trustworthiness and public adoption through a strong pro-safety approach in order to realise the benefits of these technologies. The Govt announces over £100m to help realise new AI innovations and support regulators’ technical capabilities…

 

FinCEN Exchange in Los Angeles brings together public and private sectors to share information on combating fentanyl trafficking

FinCEN and law enforcement representatives highlighted the significant value that suspicious activity reports contribute to law enforcement efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking. They also shared views on ways the financial industry can further increase the effectiveness of suspicious activity reporting involving suspected fentanyl trafficking and related money laundering in Southern California and beyond.

US DoJ charges Utah man in $2.8m wire fraud scheme

The US DoJ charged a Utah man with wire fraud, making a false statement, impersonating a federal officer and aggravated identity theft. Garcia Gutierrez allegedly falsely promised his victim that he could acquire at discounted prices exotic cars, planes and vessels that had been seized by the U.S. govt through forfeiture…

Moneyval’s Fifth Round Mutual Evaluation of Montenegro urges heightened efforts to combat ML through improved investigation, prosecution, and supervision of high-risk non-financial entities

MONEYVAL has found that in relation to the 11 areas under assessment (i.e. Immediate Outcomes), Montenegro obtained a substantial level of effectiveness in two areas, i.e. in understanding money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF) risks, as well as in international co-operation where the authorities are commended for their efficient and effective cooperation with respect to both evidence and intelligence exchanges…

Europol releases podcast on Balkan Cartels for shipping vast amounts of cocaine to the EU

Europol and the DEA provide a behind-the-scenes look at Operation Familia, one of Europol’s biggest cocaine trafficking investigations.

ESAs recommend steps to enhance the monitoring of BigTechs’ financial services activities

The European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA, and ESMA) released a report on BigTech’s role in the EU financial sector, focusing on their licensed activities in payments, e-money, insurance, and banking. The 2023 findings reveal plans to implement a data mapping tool for ongoing monitoring of BigTech’s influence and encourage information exchange between financial and regulatory bodies to address emerging challenges…

The CPS prosecutes 2 men for laundering more than £12m of criminally obtained cash in the UK

The CPS prosecuted Kuksov, and Dzetska, both of Kensington, London, following an investigation by the NCA. Kuksov played a leading role in running the illegal enterprise which laundered large sums of criminally derived cash for a fee…