This week we shine the spotlight on environmental crime, which if left unchecked will ultimately affect every single living being on the planet. It has many ugly yet profitable faces such as the wildlife trade, logging, and waste disposal, which combine to make it the third-most lucrative area… Read More

Almost 50 million people are currently trapped in slavery, so this week we turn the spotlight on this most pernicious and pervasive of crimes against humanity. While certain commercial organisations must publish an annual statement setting out the steps they take to prevent modern slavery in their business and… Read More

This week we shine the spotlight on politically exposed persons (PEPs). While there is no single, globally agreed definition of a PEP, according to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) it refers to any individual who is or has been entrusted with a prominent public function. It is because… Read More

Since 2010, the enforcement budget of the IRS has been cut by 31%. Robert Mazur, a federal agent for 27 years, examines the implications of the reduction in the numbers of revenue agents and special agents who investigate big-time tax cheats. Read More

While money laundering isn’t the only risk faced by the world’s business community, it has one of the highest profiles. And while there was a time when financial institutions were the sole focus for policing and regulatory authorities, today there are few businesses that are spared. Trusts and Corporate… Read More

“Corruption erodes our institutions.” These were the stark words of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her recent State of the Union address. But corruption isn’t just about business bribes and kickbacks, it occurs at the very highest level of government with kleptocrats siphoning off their nations’ wealth,… Read More

The release of a new documentary has thrown fresh light on one of the biggest financial scandals of recent times. Once the golden child of the financial and tech world, Wirecard was eventually exposed for corrupt business practices and subsequently collapsed. The Wirecard debacle was the result of a… Read More

With an eye on future trends, this week we lead by exploring Web3, the catch-all term for the vision of a new internet which at its core uses blockchains, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs to give power back to the users in the form of ownership. For some it represents a… Read More

This week we lead on the growing menace of environmental crime. According to the FATF, it is one of the most profitable criminal enterprises, generating between £110 billion to $281 billion in criminal gains every year. This pernicious crime covers a broad range of unlawful activities such as illegal… Read More

In this week’s roundup we start off with a brief look at crypto. The relationship between crypto and sanctions is once again being questioned after Iran’s new import regulations provide a potential loophole for the country to skirt sanctions. In AML, a new report has called on Switzerland to get… Read More