Month: April 2022

On 28 April, a report from Global Witness explains that minerals extracted by hand from the African Great Lakes region are in huge demand. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda produce nearly half the world’s coltan, the main ore of tantalum, as well as large amounts of tin and tungsten ores – collectively known as 3T minerals. The metals obtained from the smelted 3T minerals are widely used in electronic equipment such as mobile phones, computers and automotive and aeronautical systems.  Due to concerns, industry interests set up traceability systems which, working alongside government validation of mines, were intended to establish a supply of “conflict-free”, responsibly sourced minerals.  However, the report contains evidence of how the most widely used of these schemes – the International Tin Supply Chain Initiative (ITSCI), established in 2009 – appears to facilitate the laundering of minerals originating from mines controlled by abusive militias or that use child labour.  Furthermore, it is said that the scheme many international companies are relying on to source responsibly, is also used to launder huge amounts of minerals that have been smuggled and trafficked, new evidence suggests.

https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/natural-resource-governance/itsci-laundromat/

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This report published by Conflict Armament Research examines the use of a Diversion Analysis Framework (DAF), an analytical tool designed to help unpack the problem of diversion. The Framework is part of a wider research project through which the 3 partner organisations hope to support Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) States Parties in understanding the impact of the Treaty in addressing diversion risks associated with arms transfers.  It draws on findings from CAR field investigations of weapon diversion in conflict-affected locations to illustrate how the DAF can be applied to real-world cases.  These studies also explore what measures States that have been involved in such cases have introduced to create or strengthen an ‘enabling environment’ to better prevent, mitigate, and address cases of diversion.

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/85696cc9a7e24d18ba87b0b9fe6d353f

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A report from Conflict Armament Research says that a wide spectrum of materials can be used to manufacture improvised explosive devices (IED).  These include both military and civilian commercial products. The variety in design and means of deployment of IED vastly complicates efforts to regulate and control their proliferation.  The UN General Assembly has repeatedly stressed the urgent need to prevent illicit actors from obtaining and using materials to produce IED.  CAR investigators have been working to document and trace components, subcomponents, and materials like commercial explosives that can be used to create IED.  The report presents case studies from CAR investigations that demonstrate examples of upstream IED prevention in action.  It highlights the importance of field documentation, analysis, and tracing to provide governments, manufacturers, and distributors with verified evidence on patterns of illicit production and procurement of IED materials.

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/6f06554d7c6c407c9952236fd78763b6

On 30 April, the Guardian reported that the acting premier has said he opposes a recommendation that the UK take direct control of the territory after his predecessor appeared in a US court on charges linked to drugs trafficking.  BVI operates under a 2007 constitution that gives them limited self-governance under a Governor who is the ultimate executive authority as the representative of the Queen.  However, an inquiry into corruption in the territory recommended the Governor take direct rule of the territory for 2 years, saying that “Almost everywhere, the principles of good governance, such as openness, transparency and even the rule of law, are ignored”.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/30/call-for-direct-rule-of-british-virgin-islands-resisted-by-acting-premier

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On 29 April, OCCRP published a report saying that the RCB Bank was set up and owned by VTB, a Russian bank dubbed Putin’s “piggy bank” and that, despite making moves to obscure its Russian ties following the invasion of Ukraine, current and former RCB executives have ties to the Kremlin and acquired Cypriot passports under dubious circumstances.

https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/the-kremlin-connections-behind-cypruss-rcb-bank

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Another helpful chart provided by ACAMS and which includes the key export restrictions imposed by certain G7 countries, namely the US, the EU, Japan, Australia, and the UK on luxury goods destined for Russia.

https://www.acams.org/sites/default/files/2022-04/ADT1116_Ukraine%20Rapid%20Response_Luxury%20Goods%20Infographic%20vF.pdf

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On 28 April, INTERPOL published a report, saying that it has established a dedicated team to support member countries combating illegal gold mining in Latin America and beyond.  Analysis for law enforcement shows the clear involvement of organized criminals in illegal gold mining, taking advantage of surging gold prices and leaving severe environmental degradation in their wake. Latin America is especially affected by this crime area, experiencing one of the world’s largest illegal gold extraction rates, according to INTERPOL’s findings. The high involvement of sophisticated criminal networks in illegal gold mining and the transnational dimension of illegal mining and associated crimes also pose challenges for law enforcement, who sometimes lack the necessary resources to combat this crime threat effectively. 

https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2022/The-devastating-impact-of-illegal-gold-mining-in-Latin-America

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On 28 April, the UK Parliament published responses from the Government, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) to the Committee’s February report on Economic Crime in the UK.  The report urged the Government to legislate against online fraudulent adverts and seriously consider whether online giants should reimburse those who fall victim to scams on their platforms.  It also called for the Government to urgently legislate to make reimbursement for victims of ‘authorised push payment fraud’ mandatory.  Part of the response to the report was that the Government has dismissed the suggestion that anti-fraud enforcement should be the responsibility of a single body or department.

https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/158/treasury-committee/news/166100/treasury-committee-publishes-government-response-to-fraud-scams-and-economic-crime-report

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On 29 April, Europol reported that its Europol Innovation Lab has published its first report under its Observatory function, entitled ‘Facing Reality? Law enforcement and the challenge of deepfakes’.  The report, which draws its conclusions based on extensive desk research and in-depth consultation with law enforcement experts, provides a detailed overview of the criminal use of deepfake technology, alongside the challenges faced by law enforcement in detecting and preventing the nefarious use of deepfakes.  The report argues that law enforcement agencies will need to enhance the skills and technologies at officers’ disposal if they are to keep pace with criminal use of deepfakes.  Examples of such new capacities range from the deployment of technical and organisational safeguards against video tampering to the creation of deepfake detection software that uses artificial intelligence. 

https://www.europol.europa.eu/publications-events/publications/facing-reality-law-enforcement-and-challenge-of-deepfakes

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On 28 April, the Mirror reported that the NCA is investigating deals by PPE Medpro, a company set up by a business associate of Baroness Michelle Mone – the famous lingerie tycoon – whose £11 million London home has been raided by police.  It reported that warrants were executed at 4 addresses on the Isle of Man, including the headquarters in Douglas of the Knox Group of companies, which was founded and is chaired by Mone’s businessman husband Doug Barrowman.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/michelle-mones-home-raided-police-26827493

HOMES AND OFFICES IN LONDON AND ISLE OF MAN RAIDED BY POLICE IN SECRET COVID PPE FRAUD PROBE

On 27 April, Sky News reported that police have raided homes and offices in London and the Isle of Man as part of a criminal investigation into the supply of government personal protective equipment at the start of the pandemic.  It is said that officers made no arrests in a series of discreet and co-ordinated raids.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/homes-and-offices-raided-by-police-in-secret-covid-ppe-fraud-probe/ar-AAWFCHx?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=c7654356459d4bc4801c1c5ea3be5235

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