Day: August 21, 2019

Calvin Ayre on 21^st August reported that from 21^st October Paypal will cease offering its services (in line with its revised terms and conditions) after the government ordered the payment processor to stop facilitating unauthorised online casino activity.  Schleswig-Holstein is the only German state to have issued online casino licences – but even these have now expired.

https://calvinayre.com/2019/08/21/business/paypal-halts-german-online-casino-payments/

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

The Department for International Trade has announced that, on 2^nd August, a new OGIL was published, replacing the previous version.  In effect, the OGIL allows the import into the UK of any goods unless they are covered by one of the many exceptions – when they may require a specific licence or be prohibited or restricted in some way.  These prohibitions and restrictions may be under UK or EU law.  However, it should be noted that just because goods are covered by the OGIL, this does not mean that there may not be other importation, taxation or legal restrictions, including under relevant EU laws, that may be involved.  Whilst most import controls are contained in EU law (at least until the effects of Brexit are felt),  EU law does allow that Member States may maintain or impose some national controls in some circumstances and the OGIL is about these national controls.  Member States can, for example, impose restrictions on the movements of firearms including (on public security grounds) firearms from elsewhere in the EU.  The advantage of the OGIL model is that national measures can be immediately implemented – by adding to the OGIL an exception to the general permission to import.  The amendments being made in the new OGIL relate to changes in the control of so-called bumpstocks and rifles with a chamber from which empty cartridge cases are extracted using energy from propellant gas or energy imparted to a spring or other energy storage device by propellant gas.  A bumpstock is an attachment that allows a semi-automatic rifle to mimic a fully automatic weapon’s rate of fire.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/826687/notice-to-importers-2924-ogil-update-dated-2-august-2019.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/824334/explanatory-note-ogil-dated-2-august-2019.pdf

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

OCCRP on 21^st August carried an article saying that a high-profile trial against businessmen, a former minister, and 2 dozen accomplices shines a spotlight on illicit cigarette production, widespread smuggling, and the government’s struggle to hold its officials accountable.  Well-connected businessman, Awni Mutee, is charged with tax evasion, bribery, trademark imitation, smuggling, and money laundering.  Prosecutors say Mutee produced counterfeit cigarettes in Jordan’s low-tax, free trade zones, which are designed exclusively for goods manufactured for export, then used his government connections to smuggle them onto the domestic market and sell them throughout the country.  The case is described as a rare case involving the prosecution of high-level corruption.  Among the defendants are Wadah Al-Hamoud, Jordan’s former general director of Customs, and Mounir Aweys, a former Minister of Water and Irrigation.

https://www.occrp.org/en/blog/10533-fake-cigarette-ring-exposes-jordan-s-corruption-woes

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 21^st August, FinCEN issued a new Advisory intended to alert financial institutions to financial schemes related to the trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Information in the advisory will assist them in detecting and reporting related criminal activity.  It includes Red Flags that should alert one to the risks.

https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/advisory/2019-08-21/Fentanyl%20Advisory%20FINAL%20508.pdf

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 20^th August, Defense One carried an article saying that a Defense Intelligence Agency team is using artificial intelligence to map the shadowy production-and-distribution networks of synthetic drugs.  It is said that tracking fentanyl and other synthetic drugs, which can be made almost anywhere, is harder than tracking cocaine, which is processed by relatively few cartels in relatively few places in South America.  It says that a program, called SABLE SPEAR, ingests data from 43 million websites, 8 million of the cargo receipts dubbed “bills of lading,” a billion satellite images, and about 20 other data sources.  Algorithms help researchers to draw connections that would otherwise be invisible.

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2019/08/military-scientists-harness-ai-fight-synthetic-opioids/159331

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 21^st August, OFAC announced the adding of 3 Chinese individuals, plus the QINSHENG PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD and the ZHENG DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION (said to be a vendor of “research chemicals”).

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20190821.aspx

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm756

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

 

On 21^st August, HM Treasury announced the addition of 2 names to the Consolidated List of those subject to sanctions, following the UN and EU listing Ali MAYCHOU and Bah AG MOUSSA.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/826749/Notice_ISIL_2019_1353.pdf

https://www.gov.im/news/2019/aug/21/financial-sanctions-isil-daesh-and-al-qaida/

 

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 20^th August, Kenneth Rijock in his blog reported that St Kitts & Nevis has reportedly abruptly cancelled the vessel registration of the BONITA QUEEN, an Iranian crude oil tanker, which has taken on a cargo of crude at the terminal at Kharg island in Iran, and has sailed for Syria.

http://rijock.blogspot.com/2019/08/st-kitts-pulls-its-flag-from-yet.html

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

The Times on 21^st August reported that, with many companies said to have not applied for the requisite registration number from HMRC for exporting after Brexit (an EORI number), it has been announced by the Chancellor that says that 88,000 British businesses will be automatically authorised to trade in the EU to minimise the disruption.  In the following 2 weeks businesses registered for VAT will be given an Economic Operators Registration and Identification number.  Those without a number after Brexit will be unable to trade with counterparts in the EU.  It says that about 240,000 British companies trading solely with the EU will require the code to carry on importing and exporting, but only 72,000 have applied.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/automatic-registration-for-firms-to-continue-trading-after-brexit-qb2hng95b

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

Front Page Africa on 21^st August reported that the government has levelled a new charge against Milton Weeks, former Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, Charles E. Sireaf, suspended Deputy Governor for Operations and 3 other staff of the Central Bank.  This is the second time the 5 have been arrested and detained following the release of reports on the printing of Liberian dollar banknotes.  They were accused of printing excess banknotes without the approval of the Legislature as required by law, and were initially charged with economic sabotage, theft of property, criminal conspiracy, facilitation and solicitation.

https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/liberia-government-rearrests-and-detains-charles-sirleaf-milton-weeks-as-indictment-surfaces/

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y