Month: February 2023

The latest Covid-19 statistics, to 25 February, shows the stead, but gradual decline, in cases – 444 new cases, then 356, and now 259 in the week to 25 February. Just 1 new fatality, with 370 active cases, 1 in ICU and 31 in other wards – but with test positivity unchanged at 2.5%.

The relatively new US Ambassador has given an interview to local TV, saying about former President Martinelli (and leading candidate in opinion polls to win again in 2024) – who the State Department has sanctioned – that “He was bribed and improperly awarded contracts during the term of his presidency. The United States cares a lot and wants to send clear messages. This is a way to send those messages and keep people who are corrupt out of the US border”. It will be interesting if he was to actually win in 2024…

Meanwhile, La Estrella de Panama carries an article about why the EU decided to keep Panama on its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/230228/regimen-fiscal-pernicioso-motivo-ue

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-list-of-non-cooperative-jurisdictions/#countries

In the past few weeks I had cause to request a duplicate birth certificate from the UK. The service was efficient and prompt, with it being sent by DHL, but at a significant (but not exorbitant cost). Here in Panama, if you want such a duplicate document, there are ATM-like terminals of the Tribunal Electoral in malls, Metro stations etc. Using your ID card you can request and obtain, there and then, the document you need.

In other news, at about dawn today a dog got into the underground section of the most busy Metro line here in Panama City. All services were suspended on the affected section, with several stations closed (and huge backlogs of passengers). It took until 1 pm for the dog to be found and caught, with the Metro service saying that, ” For the Panama Metro, the life of an animal is as valuable as that of any human being”.

28 FEBRUARY 2023

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 28 February, OFAC announced that it had sanctioned Jesus Cisneros Hernandez, a Mexican arms trafficker, for having provided, or having attempted to provide, financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG).  CJNG is a violent Mexico-based organisation that traffics a significant proportion of the illicit fentanyl and other deadly drugs that enter the US.  The action was taken in coordination with Mexico.

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1310

https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20230228

https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/126/20230228_cjng_chart.pdf

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 27 February, Global Trade Magazine reported that a $30 million revolving trade finance facility awarded by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to South Sudanese company Trinity Energy has drawn scrutiny after its implementation raised a host of red flags for trade-based money laundering (TBML) and bribery.  This followed a 3-year investigation into the deal by corruption-tracking organisation The Sentry.  The arrangement was intended to address South Sudan’s lack of refining capacity and pump US dollars into the country’s depleted reserves of hard currency.  However, a report voices concerns over indications of illegal activity stemming from the way the deal was implemented and calls on Afreximbank, along with the other parties involved, to investigate its dealings with Trinity Energy and the South Sudanese government.

https://www.gtreview.com/news/africa/afreximbank-deal-raises-money-laundering-bribery-red-flags-report-claims/

https://thesentry.org/reports/crudedealings/

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 28 February, a Notice from HM Treasury advised of a correction in the entry relating to Matthias Artur WARNIG, and the Isle of Man followed suit.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1139201/Notice_Russia_280223.pdf

https://www.gov.im/news/2023/feb/28/financial-sanctions-russia/

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

Panama America reported today that former President Martinelli leads in a recnt Gallup poll, as he is seeking re-election as President in 2024 (in Panama, Presidents are limited to one 5-year term at a time). The result is despite all his well-known past, and continuing, travails… he is also said to have formalised his Presidential candidacy, on behalf of the Realizing Goals (RM) party. He was President in 2009-14 (I still have the Martinelli for President T-shirt I picked up at the time of the 2009 campaign – but don’t wear it outside of the house now, wearing it inside as, I maintain, an ironic genture…).

Further to the news about problems with the transporting of migrants (the bus service used has been suspended after a fatal crash and a non-fatal fire), it is reported that so far in 2023, 45,727 migrants have passed through Panama bound for the US, according to the Ministry of Public Security (Minseg). Of these, 16,113 were Haitian, 11,70 Ecuadorian and 7,875 Venezuelan.

27 FEBRUARY 2023

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 27 February, OFAC issued a humanitarian assistance fact sheet, which supplements its 2014 guidance on the same topic.  The fact sheet seeks to provide guidance on the reach of economic sanctions for persons involved in the conduct of humanitarian-related activities, including: the US government; international organisations and entities; non-governmental organisations (NGO); persons involved in the provision of food, other agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices; and financial institutions and other service providers who support or facilitate transactions for such persons.

https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/126/supplemental_ngo_humanitarian.pdf

https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/126/ngo_humanitarian.pdf

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 27 February, an Alert from FinCEN on mail theft-related check (cheque) fraud, which generally pertains to the fraudulent negotiation of cheques stolen from the US Mail.  It says this type of fraud is the largest source of illicit proceeds in the US and represents one of the most significant money laundering threats to the US, as highlighted in the US Treasury’s most recent national money laundering risk assessment.  The information contained in the Alert is derived from FinCEN’s analysis of BSA data, open-source reporting, and information provided by law enforcement partners.

https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/shared/FinCEN%20Alert%20Mail%20Theft-Related%20Check%20Fraud%20FINAL%20508.pdf

https://www.fincen.gov/news/news-releases/fincen-alert-nationwide-surge-mail-theft-related-check-fraud-schemes-targeting

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

EU Regulation 2023/420/EU reissues the list of those subject to sanctions under Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 following a review.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.L_.2023.061.01.0037.01.ENG&toc=OJ%3AL%3A2023%3A061%3ATOC

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2023.061.01.0058.01.ENG&toc=OJ:L:2023:061:TOC

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

EU Regulation 2023/419/EU amended entries relating to 21 natural and 2 legal persons included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 are amended.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.L_.2023.061.01.0020.01.ENG&toc=OJ%3AL%3A2023%3A061%3ATOC

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2023.061.01.0041.01.ENG&toc=OJ:L:2023:061:TOC

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 27 February, FATF issued this report which includes a list of risk indicators that can help public and private sector entities identify suspicious activities in the art and antiquities markets highlights the importance of rapidly identifying and tracing cultural objects involved in money laundering or terrorist financing.  The report includes some good practices that countries have taken to address the challenges they face, including the establishment of specialised units and access to relevant databases and cooperation with experts and archaeologists to help identify, trace, investigate and repatriate cultural objects.

https://www.fatf-gafi.org/content/dam/fatf-gafi/reports/Money-Laundering-Terrorist-Financing-Art-Antiquities-Market.pdf.coredownload.pdf

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y