Although investigators have little empirical insight into how often criminals exploit trade to transfer illicit value, the scope of trade-based money laundering is likely "overwhelming," according to John Cassara, a former U.S. Treasury Department official.
A long-negotiated economic treaty finalized Monday will require global banks to review billions of dollars in subsequent trade transactions for potential links to financial crimes, according to analysts.
An expected U.N. plan to tackle illicit financial flows and other global problems could make curbing the manipulation of trade invoices an international priority.
Long considered one of the toughest illicit finance schemes to crack, trade-based money laundering is on the rise in response to stricter regulatory oversight of financial institutions, U.S. investigators said Monday.
Switzerland's Federal Council says it may limit cash purchases of property, jewelry and other assets, Iran appeals European Union sanctions imposed in March, and more, in this midweek roundup.
Three recently adopted international treaties drafted to foster trade between the Americas and Europe will also make it easier for financial criminals to launder money, say attorneys and former investigators.
Faced with raised compliance expectations, many large financial institutions are expanding the types of corporate clients they ask to implement anti-money laundering controls to include import-export businesses, payroll companies and payday lending firms.
Criminals are exploiting inadequate safeguards in free trade zones to launder money, evade taxes and illegally ship material used to build weapons of mass destruction, according to an intergovernmental group.
The use of loan service businesses to cover costs while waiting for payments for goods or services is increasingly being exploited by money launderers based in Latin America, say analysts.
The U.S. Treasury Department's financial intelligence unit issued guidance Thursday on how to spot and report transactions tied to trade-based money laundering, a type of crime on the rise.
U.S. government investigators have become aware of a new subset of money laundering that takes advantage of the international market for professional services, according to a report issued by the U.S. State Department.
Senate lawmakers introduced a bill Thursday that would require hedge funds to implement anti-money laundering controls and answer to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Financial institutions providing credit in international transactions should check for suspicious activity pointing to trade-based money laundering, a banking consortium said Thursday.
U.S. lawmakers will likely vote to implement anti-money laundering and other controls on hedge funds in the wake of the alleged multi-billion dollar Ponzi scheme by Bernard Madoff, say consultants.
FATF's new president talks to reporter Larissa Bernardes about the organization's plans to revisit its 40 + 9 recommendations and address emerging money laundering threats.
A federal judge's ruling that online auctioneer eBay is not responsible for determining whether items sold on its website are counterfeit is likely to increase online vulnerabilities to money launderers, say analysts.
Countries need to establish training programs to help bank regulators and law enforcement agents detect the growing problem of trade-based money laundering, FATF said in guidance issued Tuesday.
The United Kingdom may turn over trade data to U.S. officials in exchange for access to a U.S. computer system designed to detect trade-based money laundering, according to the British customs service.
Since 2000, organized criminal syndicates and terrorist organizations have "dramatically" increased efforts to counterfeit goods, a crime that can be both highly profitable and difficult to detect, money laundering experts say.
The growth of the online auction industry, which is not subject to anti-money laundering requirements, has translated into opportunity for criminals to launder ill-gotten cash because there are few checks on the legitimacy of online transactions, say AML compliance professionals.