Trade-based money laundering (TBML) has ranked top of the list of emerging financial crime risks in the latest LexisNexis True Cost of Compliance Study – Asia-Pacific Edition. Crimes involving digital payments and cryptocurrency, third parties – including TBML, money mules,… Read More ›

China
Pakistan and China agree to a single electronic customs portal to fight TBML
Pakistan’s new national single window customs portal, which allows traders to submit and access all relevant documents relating to a trade via a single electronic gateway, is to integrate with its Chinese counterpart after the customs authorities in the two… Read More ›
IWT Financial Flows Toolkit launched to support financial institutions
A toolkit aimed at supporting financial institutions in addressing and reporting suspicious transactions relating to the illegal wildlife trade (IWT) has been launched. Developed by the UK Serious Organised Crime Network in collaboration with the UAE government, WWF, TRAFFIC and… Read More ›
China’s central bank fines MYBank US$3.5 million for AML/CFT and other violations
China’s MYBank has been handed a 22.4 million yuan (US$3.5 million) penalty by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) for anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) and several other violations. The fine reflects the Chinese authorities’ increased focus… Read More ›
Illicit cryptocurrency transaction activity reaches all-time high in value, all-time low in share of all cryptocurrency activity
Cryptocurrency-based crime hit a new all-time high in 2021, with illicit addresses receiving US$14 billion over the course of the year, up from US$7.8 billion in 2020 according to blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis. Evidence suggests that cryptocurrencies have been and… Read More ›
US$1.6 trillion lost in potential trade misinvoicing in 2018 amongst developing and advanced countries says GFI report
An estimated US$1.6 trillion in potential trade misinvoicing among 134 developing countries has been identified in 2018 according to a new report published by Global Financial Integrity (GFI). Trade-related Illicit Financial Flows in 134 Developing Countries 2009-2018 says that of that US$1.6… Read More ›
South Africa’s understanding of trade-based financial crime limited says FATF
South Africa has been given 18 months by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to improve its capacity to track and prosecute money laundering and terrorist financing or face being including on the so-called FATF grey-list. The Mutual Evaluation Report… Read More ›
Afghanistan’s opium related TBML history and banking uncertainty
International efforts to monitor flows of cash into Afghanistan following its takeover by the Taliban are underway as the new Afghan government must search for financial lifelines now that international funds are cut off. What role trade-based financial crime will play… Read More ›