Venezuela Venezuela

New Documents

The Financial Intelligence Unit of Mauritius issued FIU/Notice/2024/01 concerning the registration of reporting persons pursuant to the Financial Intelligence and Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced the unsealing of an indictment that charges the co-founders of Samourai Wallet with money laundering conspiracy and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.

News

Enforcement Actions

The Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier imposed a €785,000 administrative fine on the Luxembourg-based investment firm for failing to comply with anti-money laundering and counterterrorist financing obligations.

The Solicitor Regulation Authority decided that Albert Partington, a solicitor and director of Ogden Lyles & Fox, must pay a fine of £11,013.67 for violating the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 and other breaches of conduct.


Important Facts

  • The U.S. State Department identifies Venezuela as a major money laundering jurisdiction. The country’s proximity to drug producing countries, an ineffective anti-money laundering regime, limited bilateral cooperation and endemic corruption in commerce and government make Venezuela vulnerable to money laundering and other financial crimes. Venezuela’s distorted foreign exchange system and price controls also create an opportunity for money laundering. The weak control of the border between Venezuela and Colombia has led to an expanding black market. Methods used to launder money include transfers via government currency exchanges; petroleum industry; minerals; and to a lesser extent, through commercial banks, gaming, real estate, agriculture, livestock, securities, and metals. Trade-based money laundering remains thriving in Venezuela (i.e. trade-based schemes used by drug traffickers, smugglers, travel agents, investitures and others). All Venezuelan government agencies and state-owned enterprises appear vulnerable to public corruption and money laundering. Though the Maduro government has expanded the country’s laws to combat organized crime, it has used such laws to suppress political opposition and as a method of intimidation. Although the reform has created criminal penalty for bribes between private companies, it excludes public companies and government employees. Venezuela has implemented enhanced due diligence procedures for foreign and domestic politically exposed persons.
Source: 2019 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR)  

Rankings

FATF i

Technical Effectiveness
Compliant : 6 High :
Largely Compliant : 12 Substantial :
Partially Compliant : 17 Moderate :
Non-Compliant : 14 Low :

BASEL i

Rank : 20/141
Score : 6.56/10

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL i

Rank : 173/180
Score : 16/100

Tax Justice Network i

Rank : 61/133
Score : 69/100