Day: February 10, 2021

On 10 February, the Daily Mail reported that federal authorities are investigating a massive counterfeit N95 mask operation in which fake 3M masks were sold in at least 5 US states to hospitals, medical facilities and government agencies. The foreign-made fakes are said to be becoming increasingly difficult to spot and could put health care workers at grave risk for the coronavirus.  Officials could not name the states or the company involved because of the active investigation.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-9246639/Government-investigating-massive-counterfeit-N95-mask-scam.html

I would be grateful for any modest contribution for my time and ongoing costs of computer, relocation, and (still ongoing) removal costs, I have a page, where contributions start as low as $3, at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

A news release from the US State Department carried this news, saying that the Secretary of State has notified the US Congress of the intention to revoke the designation of Ansarallah.  It was only listed by the previous Trump Administration on 11 January, and its designation is said to have caused problems with humanitarian aid to Yemen.

https://www.state.gov/briefings/department-press-briefing-february-8-2021/

I would be grateful for any modest contribution for my time and ongoing costs of computer, relocation, and (still ongoing) removal costs, I have a page, where contributions start as low as $3, at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 10 February, the Strategic Trade Research Institute published this report.  Drawing upon existing best practices, risk assessments, surveys, interviews, and stakeholder feedback, it aims to empower governments with tools, in the form of good practices, with which to conduct outreach to emerging technology sectors that could be targeted by non-State actors for malicious purposes.  The report authors have identified an advanced outreach model, Outreach 2.0, that can be used by countries to enhance compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1540.  Outreach 2.0 consists of a more customized, targeted, creative, real-time, and collaborative communication strategy between regulators and technology holders that builds trust, support, knowledge-sharing, and inclusion.

https://strategictraderesearch.org/outreach/

I would be grateful for any modest contribution for my time and ongoing costs of computer, relocation, and (still ongoing) removal costs, I have a page, where contributions start as low as $3, at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 10 February, the FATF-style regional body CFATF issued a news release saying that, as a result of Barbados’ progress in strengthening its framework to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing since their 2018 mutual evaluation, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force re-rated the country on 13 of the FATF 40 Recommendations.  Barbados has been in an enhanced follow-up process, following the adoption of their CFATF mutual evaluation report.  Following the new report, Barbados will remain in enhanced follow-up on the basis that it has a low or moderate level of effectiveness for 7 or more of the 11 effectiveness outcomes (11 in total) – and follow-up reports do not address effectiveness ratings. According to the enhanced follow-up process, Barbados will continue to report back to the CFATF on its progress to strengthen its implementation of AML/CFT measures.

https://www.cfatf-gafic.org/home/cfatf-news/704-barbados’-progress-in-strengthening-measures-to-tackle-money-laundering-and-terrorist-financing

https://www.cfatf-gafic.org/home-test/english-documents/4th-rd-follow-up-reports/barbados-4/15070-barbados-2nd-enhanced-follow-up-report-and-technical-compliance-re-rating/file

I would be grateful for any modest contribution for my time and ongoing costs of computer, relocation, and (still ongoing) removal costs, I have a page, where contributions start as low as $3, at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

Transparency International has produced this Index which assesses the levels of public commitment to the matters in the corporate policies and procedures of 134 of the largest defence companies, thereby hoping to inspire reform, and reduce corruption and its impact.

https://ti-defence.org/dci/

I would be grateful for any modest contribution for my time and ongoing costs of computer, relocation, and (still ongoing) removal costs, I have a page, where contributions start as low as $3, at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 10 February, a report from ICIJ says that combining public data with leaked FinCEN reports, ICIJ’s data team plotted a matrix of shadowy “straw men” who filed false accounts worth more than $4.5 billion.  It concentrates on limited liability partnerships (LLP) and limited partnerships (LP) set up by formation agencies, which help register the shadowy companies and file the required paperwork with the British registrar.  It says that by comparing and compiling signatures on documents as well as other common factors across the paperwork, we were able to tie companies into clusters and identify the specific formation agencies at the centre of each cluster.  An entire cottage industry had been established around the administration of these LLP and LP that was, ultimately, enabling criminals to wash dirty money clean through the UK financial system.  It points out that, since 2018, there have been only 5 prosecutions for supplying false information, despite overwhelming evidence that Companies House is littered with fictitious filings.

https://www.icij.org/investigations/fincen-files/how-signatures-in-public-data-helped-expose-the-uks-dirty-money-cottage-industry/

I would be grateful for any modest contribution for my time and ongoing costs of computer, relocation, and (still ongoing) removal costs, I have a page, where contributions start as low as $3, at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 8 February, an article from Stephenson Harwood LLP asks how can claimants before the English Court freeze assets across the world?  What are the risks of trying to enforce an order from the English Courts internationally?  And how should third parties react when they are notified of an English WFO?

https://www.shlegal.com/insights/worldwide-freezing-orders-and-third-parties-practical-steps-for-claimants-and-third-parties

I would be grateful for any modest contribution for my time and ongoing costs of computer, relocation, and (still ongoing) removal costs, I have a page, where contributions start as low as $3, at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 8 February, Reuters reported that US prosecutors are investigating Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, according to a new court filing, adding pressure on a leader who prosecutors have already accused of participation in the narcotics trade.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-honduras-idUSKBN2A8291

I would be grateful for any modest contribution for my time and ongoing costs of computer, relocation, and (still ongoing) removal costs, I have a page, where contributions start as low as $3, at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 9 February, the Wall Street Journal reported that SAR related to transactions just below the threshold for currency transaction reports hit a record in 2020.  This is said to indicate how the closure of borders and businesses because of the coronavirus pandemic may have altered the way potentially illicit transactions are conducted.  The number of SAR on cash transactions below a $10,000 threshold was the highest in the 7 full years the category has existed, and was the leading suspicious activity category in 2020.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/suspicious-activity-reports-related-to-cash-transactions-surge-11612900800

I would be grateful for any modest contribution for my time and ongoing costs of computer, relocation, and (still ongoing) removal costs, I have a page, where contributions start as low as $3, at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y