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NCA-UKFIU SARs In Action Issue 37 highlights AI-enabled CDD evasion, growing threat of professional enablers and the global scale of asset tracing, with 36,000+ checks across 31 countries

It highlights the second JMLIT Amber Alert on AI-enabled CDD evasion, alongside Project A.S.S.E.T.’s 36,000+ asset-tracing checks involving 40+ law enforcement agencies across 31 countries. This operation identified suspected links to 884 bank accounts, 80 companies, 55 crypto wallets, 44 vehicles, 1 vessel and 44 properties, generating around £5M in UK assets and leads for overseas partners…

HMRC’s Trusts and Estates Newsletter Aug 26 highlights expanded Trust Registration Service requirements for non-UK trusts holding UK property, with new low-value exemptions and enhanced data sharing

Following amendments to the Money Laundering Regulations, non-UK trusts that acquired qualifying UK land before 6 October 2020 and continued to hold it on 30 June 2026 are now required to register with the Trust Registration Service. All non-UK trusts acquiring qualifying UK land also fall within the trust data-sharing process, while new exemptions have been introduced for certain low-value trusts…

FCA calls for greater private-to-private intelligence sharing, urging financial firms to “connect the dots” and disrupt criminal networks before they can scale

Beth Harris, Head of Department at the FCA, highlights the need for firms to make greater use of ECCTA’s information-sharing provisions to close intelligence gaps and detect financial crime earlier. Sharing intelligence responsibly can help firms connect the dots, identify emerging patterns and disrupt fraud, money laundering and wider economic crime across institutions and sectors…

Gambling Commission backs a multi-agency crackdown on illegal gambling, uncovering 16 illicit betting terminals, cash and gold, and highlighting links to ML and organised crime

Operations in Sheffield and Doncaster uncovered 16 illegal betting terminals alongside cash and gold and resulted in three arrests. The action involved the Gambling Commission, South Yorkshire Police, the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, local authorities and Immigration Enforcement. The Commission warned that illegal operators can exploit vulnerable people and undermine legitimate businesses, reaffirming its commitment to working…

FCA steps up scrutiny of Annex 1 Firms, citing financial crime risks linked to over-reliance on third parties and parent-company controls, generic procedures, and complex lending structures such as SPVs

FCA tightens its oversight for unregulated lenders, safe-custody providers, money brokers and financial leasing companies because of concerns that some may facilitate financial crime. The FCA has found over-reliance on parent-company AML controls and generic procedures, rather than controls tailored to each firm’s own risks and operations, as well as risks arising from complex lending structures such as SPVs….

FCA issues Handbook Notice 143, bringing the UK’s new cryptoasset regulatory framework into effect and raising governance, reporting and compliance expectations for virtual asset firms

The changes introduce a more comprehensive regulatory approach for cryptoasset activities, bringing enhanced accountability, transparency and oversight across the sector. For financial crime professionals, this marks a significant step towards strengthening controls around virtual assets, with greater expectations on firms to manage money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud and wider…

FCA finalises rules to streamline transaction reporting requirements, cutting firms’ compliance costs by over £100m a year while maintaining high-quality data to support market abuse and FC detection

The reforms remove reporting obligations for certain foreign exchange derivatives and financial instruments traded only on EU venues, and shorten the timeframe for correcting historic reporting errors from five to three years. The FCA expects the changes to improve data quality, reduce duplication and create a more proportionate reporting framework while preserving…

Gambling Commission publishes its 2026 ML/TF Risk Assessment, updating its 2023 guidance to reflect the UK’s 2025 NRA and revising the ML risk rating for casinos from Low to Medium

The assessment requires licensed gambling operators to review and update their business risk assessments, policies, procedures and AML/CTF controls, using the Commission’s latest risk ratings to strengthen customer due diligence and risk-based compliance. Casino operators, in particular, are expected to maintain documented risk assessments and demonstrate timely implementation of enhanced AML controls, with compliance subject to ongoing supervisory review by the Commission…

House of Commons Library’s Banking Fraud briefing reveals £1.28B lost to banking scams in 2025, with only 4% of fraud cases referred to police for investigation, flagging major challenges in tackling FC

UK Finance recorded £703 million in unauthorised fraud and £576 million in authorised push-payment fraud, while government data showed that banking and other fraud affected around one in 14 adults. The briefing also draws together criticism from the Home Affairs Committee, the policing inspectorate and the National Audit Office concerning fragmented enforcement, low police prioritisation and insufficient preventative action by technology and financial-services companies…

 

NCA secures the conviction of 108 organised criminals, resulting in 851 years of prison sentences, while seizing up to £70M worth of drugs between April 2021 and March 2026

The investigations dismantled major drug trafficking, firearms and money laundering networks, leading to the seizure of up to £70 million worth of cocaine, heroin, cannabis and ketamine, the recovery of £1.8 million in criminal cash, the removal of 33 firearms, and the identification of a further £51 million in criminal assets for confiscation. The operation highlights the effectiveness of coordinated…

NCA launches nationwide romance fraud awareness campaign after 12,348 victims lost £116M between April 2025 and March 2026, equivalent to more than £13,000 every hour

With over half of victims aged 50 and above, the campaign delivers fraud prevention messages across television and social media, highlighting key warning signs such as requests for money, reluctance to video call, and attempts to move conversations to encrypted platforms. The initiative forms part of the NCA’s broader strategy to disrupt fraud networks while strengthening public awareness as a key defence against financially and emotionally devastating…

NCA freezes 16 luxury London properties worth approximately US$30M linked to a suspect under investigation in Singapore’s record US$2.3B money laundering case

The assets, held through UK-registered companies, were restrained under the Proceeds of Crime Act as part of ongoing civil recovery proceedings. The case highlights the ongoing misuse of UK real estate to conceal and integrate suspected illicit wealth and underscores the growing importance of global cooperation, BO transparency and asset recovery in combating cross-border money laundering…

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