The Egmont Group of FIU has released a public version of the Information Exchange Working Group (IEWG) public bulletin on “Money Laundering of Serious Tax Crimes: Enhancing Financial Intelligence Units’ Detection Capacities and Fostering Information Exchange”.  This is a product of a programme launched by Egmont Group in July 2019.  Its state purpose is to present key lessons, best practices, and representative case examples to help enhance the fight against money laundering of serious tax crimes both at the national and international levels.  The information in the bulletin should assist with establishing national strategies and to facilitate effective cooperation between FIU, tax authorities and tax practitioners.  It is said that it should also assist reporting entities to better detect money laundering of serious tax crimes

Click to access 2020%2C%20Public%20Bulletin%20Money%20Laundering%20of%20Serious%20Tax%20Crimes.pdf

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On 7 October, a news release advised that the Nevada Attorney General, along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and more than 50 federal and state law enforcement partners, announced a nationwide initiative to protect consumers from phantom debt collection and abusive and threatening debt collection practices.  Operation Corrupt Collector includes enforcement actions brought by the FTC, 3 federal partners, and partners from 16 different states against debt collectors engaged in these illegal practices.

https://ag.nv.gov/News/PR/2020/Attorney_General_Ford,_FTC,_State_and_Federal_Law_Enforcement_Partners_Announce_Nationwide_Crackdown_on_Phantom_and_Abusive_Debt_Collection

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On 7 October a blog from the FCPA Blog announced that Gujarat-based Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd. (KPTL) and 12 global subsidiaries are now  ineligible to participate in World Bank-financed projects following alleged fraud involving programmes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Egypt.

World Bank debars South Asian power transmission company

http://www.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/procurement/debarred-firms

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On 7 October, a news release from the Law Commission said that reforms that would reduce the number of unlawful search warrants being issued and help law enforcement to investigate crime and collect evidence (especially that stored electronically) have been recommended by the Law Commission, the UK Government’s independent law reform body.

Search warrants reform to help law enforcement investigate crime

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A news release from Border Force on 7 October announced that a woman from Yorkshire has been charged with money laundering after almost £2 million in cash was seized by Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport.  Tara Hanlon, 30, was stopped at the airport on 3 October before attempting to board a flight to Dubai. Officers searched 5 suitcases and found cash totaling £1.9 million in sterling notes – the largest such detection at the border so far in 2020.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/woman-charged-over-heathrow-airport-cash-seizure

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On 7 October, Deutsche Welle reported that civil government institutions are losing the war against the criminal networks that appear to have infiltrated much of Mexico’s crucial maritime infrastructure, including ports and customs services.  Mexican drug cartels have diversified their business model, which was formerly rooted in murder, kidnapping and drug trafficking. Now they are targeting sectors such as mining, logging and real estate, he says.  To counter the threats, customs and port operations would be taken away from the civil servants in the Transportation Ministry and placed into the hands of army personnel.

https://www.dw.com/en/mexicos-military-to-take-control-of-ports-in-the-war-against-cartels/a-55169773

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UK FREEPORTS

On 7 October, the House of Commons Library published a research briefing which sets out the background to the UK Government policy on proposed freeports.

Click to access CBP-8823.pdf

RISHI SUNAK UNVEILS PLAN TO CREATE ENGLAND FREEPORTS

On 7 October, City AM reported that HM Treasury will soon start taking bids from cities and towns in England to become Freeports next year.  The government announced today that its selection process will begin before the end of the year and will see the first England Freeports set up by the end of 2021.

Rishi Sunak unveils plan to create England Freeports

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/freeports-consultation

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-outlines-new-plans-for-freeports-to-turbo-charge-post-brexit-trade

Meanwhile, Tax Research also published a post and video suggesting that it was almost impossible to identify any benefits that might arise from this proposal, whilst there were plenty of downsides to all-too-easily spot. 

Whatever Liz Truss says about freeports today, their greatest benefit is to tax abusers and, worse still, organised crime

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On 7 October, the EU Official Journal published the latest report which contains the updated list, together with brief reasons for the listings. It also contains details of the state of play of the cooperation with the EU with respect to commitments taken by various cooperative jurisdictions to implement tax good governance principles.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.C_.2020.331.01.0003.01.ENG&toc=OJ:C:2020:331:TOC

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On 7 October, the EU Observer reported that the leadership of Greece’s neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party have been found guilty of running a criminal organisation by a court in Athens.  It came under investigation following the murder of an anti-fascist rapper a year later. Golden Dawn’s leader, Nikos Michaloliakos, and 6 colleagues were convicted of heading a criminal group. Golden Dawn supporter Giorgos Roupakias was also found guilty of murder.

https://euobserver.com/tickers/149674

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/golden-dawn-trial-greek-neo-nazi-party-murder-anti-fascist-rapper-b857871.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/golden-dawn-greek-neo-nazi-party-criminal-organization-murder/

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On 6 October, Taylor Wessing produced a a list of actions brand owners should consider taking to prepare for the upcoming end to the Brexit transition period on 31 December – split into actions to consider now and those to consider after 31 December.

https://www.taylorwessing.com/en/insights-and-events/insights/2020/10/brexit-and-brands-checklist-what-should-brand-owners-be-doing-now

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