Day: April 29, 2018

29^th April 2018

CHINA TO BAN ONLINE AND MOBILE POKER

The Express Tribune IN Pakistan on 29^th April reported that shares in Chinese companies offering online and mobile poker games have shed up to a fifth of their value over a week, following reports in local media that the government would ban all poker-related applications from June 1^st.  There has been no official statement so far and the ministry did not respond to a request from Reuters for comment.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1698267/8-china-ban-online-mobile-poker/

HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS BEGIN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ITALIAN ARMS COMPANY

Ekklesia on 28^th April reported that a coalition of human rights organisations from Germany, Italy and Yemen have begun a legal action against a European arms manufacturer and officials in Italy.  The legal action is brought by the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), Yemen-based Mwatana Organisation for Human Rights and the Italian organisation Rete Italiana per il Disarmo.  The legal challenge focuses on a particular bombing of the village of Deir al-Jari in Hudaydah, Yemen, which took place on 8^th October 2016.  On 17^th April, the groups filed a complaint with prosecutors in Rome against the Italian company RWM Italia, a subsidiary of German arms company Rheinmetall, and officials in the Italian arms export licensing agency.  The complaint asks prosecutors to investigate whether there is liability on the part of the officials and RWM Italia directors over alleged arms sales to the Saudi-led coalition.

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/25739

10 INVOLVED IN HAWALA RACKET ARRESTED IN INDIA

The Hindustan Times in its 30^th April edition reported that they were arrested while they were returning by a flight from Dubai.  It is alleged that the accused would carry credit cards of international banks and cash to Dubai by flight and hand over the same to an operative who would use the same to fund smuggling of gold and electronic items in the country.  To date, 24 people have been arrested in the case and 27 more are wanted.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/10-more-carriers-involved-in-hawala-racket-arrested/story-RjkRu0PxrVGLHNzLNUsVaI.html

EGYPTIAN POLICE FOIL 8 ISLAMIC RELICS SMUGGLING RUN TO LEBANON

Al Bawaba on 29^th April reported that the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities received 8 ancient Islamic artefacts that have been confiscated at Badr harbour last October.  The pieces, which were confiscated during a smuggling attempt to Lebanon, have been put on display in the Islamic Art museum in Bab Al-Khalq, Cairo, according to Ministry of Antiquities Facebook page.  The Head of Central Administration of Archaeological Units in Ports said that the confiscated pieces include 6 ceramic artefacts that date back to the 19^th Century, including a vase, a tea set and 2 metal punnets on which King Farouk’s crest engraved.

https://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/egyptian-police-foil-8-islamic-relics-smuggling-run-lebanon-1123792

BOSNIA STRUGGLES TO COPE WITH MIGRANTS AS ‘BALKAN ROUTE’ TAKES A NEW TURN

The Irish Times on 29^th April reported that Bosnia and international organisations are calling for urgent action to manage a surge in the number of migrants arriving in the country, which people smugglers are now using to bypass tighter borders along the “Balkan route” in the EU.  More than 1,800 migrants are said to have entered Bosnia so far this year – well over double the number for the whole of 2017.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/bosnia-struggles-to-cope-with-migrants-as-balkan-route-takes-a-new-turn-1.3478200

UK ANNOUNCES CONSULTATION ON CRACKING DOWN ON SCOTTISH LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS (SLP)

On 29^th April, Manx Radio repeated a Sky News story that said that UK Ministers have announced plans to crack down on a business loophole which has been used by overseas criminals to launder dirty foreign money.  Government research shows one laundering scheme used 100 SLPs to move up to £60 billion out of Russia.  Scottish Limited Partnerships (SLP) were first created in 1907 for farm holdings.  The Government is launching a consultation on further measures to prevent their abuse.  They include a requirement that users have a real connection to the UK and do business or maintain an address in Scotland, closing a loophole which means they can be used by anyone around the world.  It is also proposing that new SLP should be registered through a company formation agent, meaning the “front men” will be subjected to anti-money laundering checks.

https://www.manxradio.com/news/uk-business/new-laws-to-tackle-foreign-money-laundering/

RESPONSE TO AN INSPECTION REPORT ON UK EXIT CHECKS

On 28^th April, the Home Office published a response to the Independent Chief Inspector of Border and Immigration’s report on an inspection of exit checks, which included achievements and recommendations for improvement.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/response-to-an-inspection-report-on-exit-checks

FINCEN ADVISORY ON THE FATF-IDENTIFIED JURISDICTIONS WITH AML/CFT DEFICIENCIES

On 27^th April, FinCEN issued an Advisory containing details of the list issued by FATF on 23^rd February.

https://www.fincen.gov/resources/advisories/fincen-advisory-fin-2018-a002

The BBC reported on 29^th April that a judge has warned of “systemic failures” in disclosing evidence after a £500,000 red diesel excise duty fraud trial collapsed.  A linked trial also had to be abandoned due to errors on the part of investigating officers from HMRC.  HMRC said it accepted the failings and was working with the CPS to learn from the incident.  In December 2013, HMRC raided tanker driver Peter Norton’s home.  He was charged with others with conspiracy by selling nearly £500,000 of laundered so-called red diesel fuel. Red diesel is only legal for off-road vehicles such as tractors and has a much lower duty rate.  The fraud involving the fuel works by removing the red dye to make it look like regular diesel before the fuel is then sold on fraudulently at the higher VAT rate.  Peter Norton has always denied any wrongdoing.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43923056?src=ilaw

The Times of India on 29^th April reported that Tramadol, a painkiller pharmaceutical drug, has been declared a “psychotropic substance” by the government and its sale in the country will now be strictly monitored after the Narcotics Control Board (NCB) said it was being internationally smuggled, and had possible supply links to the global terror group ISIS.  The synthetic opiate is known to be abused on a wide scale by terrorists of the so-called ISIS to suppress pain and boost strength during injury and hence, is also known as the ‘fighter drug’ among international anti-narcotics authorities.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/isis-drug-tramadol-comes-under-narcotics-law-regulation/articleshow/63961491.cms

All Africa on 29^th April reported that Somalia will host a 2-day international conference in May aimed at stopping the illegal charcoal trade in the Horn of Africa nation and which will bring together Somali environment experts and international donor partners, will discuss ways of stopping the illegal trade, unsustainable production and use of charcoal in the country.  According to the UN, 8.2 million trees were cut down for charcoal in Somalia between 2011 and 2017, increasing land degradation and food insecurity, and illegal trade in charcoal acts as major source of funding for militias and terrorist groups such as al-Shabab.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201804290031.html