Day: May 4, 2020

On 2 May, Homeland Security Today reminds one that some criminal and terrorist organizations use trade-based money laundering (TBML) to disguise illicit proceeds and fund their operations. These kinds of schemes can rely on misrepresenting the price, quantity, or type of goods in trade transactions. To help fight this practice, it says, ICE’s Trade Transparency Unit has partnered with 17 countries to exchange and analyse trade data – but a review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found this programme has faced challenges. It says that the GAO says that knowledgeable sources recommended various practices for countries to consider to combat TBML, which GAO has grouped into 5 categories involving partnerships and information-sharing, training and further research.  It also says that ICE has set up TTU in 17 partner countries with the goal of exchanging and analysing trade data to identify potential cases of TBML. While TTUs have played a role in some TBML investigations, GAO found the TTU program has experienced various challenges, including lapses in information sharing between ICE and the partner TTU, differing priorities between ICE and partner TTU in pursuing TBML investigations, and limitations in the data system that ICE and the TTU use.

https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/counterterrorism/gao-dhs-should-strengthen-efforts-to-fight-trade-based-money-laundering/

The report is at –

https://media.kjzz.org/s3fs-public/705679.pdf

If you’d like to help to contribute to the cost of the new laptop and desktop I have had to acquire, now that I am 5,000 miles away from my originals – https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 14 April, the US Congressional Research Service published the latest (107-page) report on the use and effect of US sanctions against Iran.  As well as examining in detail the history and extent of the US sanctions regime, it also details settlements with financial institutions for sanctions violations, and summarising and comparing US, UN and EU and other sanctions measures.

https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RS20871.pdf

 

If you’d like to help to contribute to the cost of the new laptop and desktop I have had to acquire, now that I am 5,000 miles away from my originals – https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 4 May, a Client Alert from Crowell Moring reported that, on 1 May, President Trump signed an Executive Order re “certain threats” to the US bulk-power system and broadly prohibiting acquisition, importation, transfer, or installation of any “bulk-power system electric equipment” where the transaction, by any person, involves property in which any foreign country or national thereof has an interest.  The EO provides authority to take some immediate actions to implement the EO, including directing the timing and manner of cessation of pending and future transactions; and it also provides for new regulations to be made by September to fully implement the EO.  Amongst other things, the EO calls for identification of particular countries and equipment that warrant particular scrutiny, but also contemplates publication of a list of pre-qualified equipment and vendors.

https://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/AlertsNewsletters/all/President-Declares-Threat-to-Electric-Power-Grid-a-National-Emergency

 

 

If you’d like to help to contribute to the cost of the new laptop and desktop I have had to acquire, now that I am 5,000 miles away from my originals – https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

 

 

 

On 30 April, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime published a paper saying that, while much has been written about cigarette smuggling in several countries of the Western Balkans, little is known about the role of Kosovo in this trade. This brief points to gaps in information, holes in border management, divides in regional cooperation, as well as disparities in tax and excise regimes that need to be addressed in order to reduce the illicit tobacco trade in Kosovo. More ‘filters’ are needed, it argues, to reduce the grey and black markets for cigarettes that continue to prevail in this country. Though a small market itself, the paper says that it is a key transit country, however, for counterfeit cigarettes as well as legal cigarettes being produced or shipped illicitly via neighbouring countries.  Its location, porous borders and weak criminal-justice system mean that the risks to traffickers smuggling tobacco products through the country are relatively low.  Its lack of international recognition as an independent state impedes the country from acceding to international treaties and gaining necessary cooperation.

https://globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Kosovo-tobacco-PB-09.04.web_.pdf

If you’d like to help to contribute to the cost of the new laptop and desktop I have had to acquire, now that I am 5,000 miles away from my originals – https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

 

An article from Out-Law on 4 May argues that coronavirus travel restrictions may make it difficult for some companies incorporated in countries with zero or nominal corporate tax rates to comply with the economic substance rules that have been introduced over the last few years.  It refers in particular to the economic substance rules which require companies to use a minimum level of local human and technical resources. The rules were introduced to stop companies having only paper operations in a country so they can benefit from low-tax or no-tax regimes.

https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/analysis/coronavirus-economic-substance-rules-low-tax-countries

 

 

If you’d like to help to contribute to the cost of the new laptop and desktop I have had to acquire, now that I am 5,000 miles away from my originals – https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

 

 

An article in Insight Crime on 4 May outlined 6 ways in which it says the crisis is affecting organised crime –

1. In places groups are becoming the de facto government or support system, earning kudos for providing aid;
2. Providing a new black market for medicine and equipment;
3. Political actors and government officials across the region have leveraged their positions to corrupt everything from national health systems to the processes used to dole out public works contracts and select attorney generals;
4. More cybercime;
5. Less human smuggling; and
6. Less illicit drugs, with higher prices.

https://www.insightcrime.org/news/analysis/coronavirus-organized-crime-latin-america/

 

 

If you’d like to help to contribute to the cost of the new laptop and desktop I have had to acquire, now that I am 5,000 miles away from my originals – https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 30 April, law firm Thompson Hine released an updated version of its (78-page) chart of COVID-19 measures taken by governments around the world.

https://www.thompsonhine.com/uploads/1345/doc/Country-by-Country_Guide_-_Government_Measures_Taken_in_Response_to_COVID-19.pdf

 

If you’d like to help to contribute to the cost of the new laptop and desktop I have had to acquire, now that I am 5,000 miles away from my originals – https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y