Day: April 15, 2024

Logisticcs trade publication Freightwaves has reported that the end of Panama’s dry season is in sight, and the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) plans to welcome more vessels in the coming weeks. It also says that the US National Weather Services’ Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a swift end to El Niño conditions in the coming months.

Meanwhile, the election campaign trundles on. As a non-voter, the biggest impact on me personally are the occasional noisy parade-cum-demonstration nearby (leading us to eat out more), and the odd vehicle with loudspeakers broadcasting local candidates’ manifesto pledges… My wife, a Panamanian, is more involved, and has just received her training as an election observer on 5 May – with a long day predicted, having to be on site before 6 am, and not expected to be home until the evening.

One of the nice things about Panama is the precence of wildlife (much more exotic than back in Britain), even in the city (with even large crocodiles venturing into the city centre). The other day I came across this Jesus lizard (photo below), holding up the traffic, as he was determined to cross the road.

15 APRIL 2024

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The Estonian FIU has issued an English version of its report on 2023, a year that included a MONEYVAL report on Estonia.  One of the points made is that the greatest threat to Estonia is the layering of foreign proceeds of crime through Estonia; also noting that fraud continues to be the most common predicate offence for money laundering.

https://fiu.ee/sites/default/files/documents/2024-04/Estonian%20Financial%20Intelligence%20Unit%20Yearbook%202023.pdf

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On 15 April, a news release from FinCEN advised that it had issued a Notice to financial institutions on fraud schemes related to the use of counterfeit US passport cards.  The Notice provides an overview of typologies associated with U.S. passport card fraud, highlights select red flags to assist financial institutions in identifying and reporting suspicious activity, and reminds financial institutions of their reporting requirements under the Bank Secrecy Act.

https://www.fincen.gov/news/news-releases/fincen-issues-notice-use-counterfeit-us-passport-cards-perpetrate-identity-theft

https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/shared/FinCEN_Notice_Counterfeit_US_Passport_FINAL508.pdf

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On 15 April, OFAC advised that it was designating 12 entities and 10 individuals.  It is said that this action builds on US sanctions imposed in response to Belarus’s fraudulent August 2020 election, as well as support for Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.  The individuals and entities OFAC targeted include 6 revenue-generating state-owned enterprises (SOE) and 1 entity and 5 individuals involved in facilitating transactions for a US-designated major Belarusian defence sector enterprise.  OFAC is additionally targeting 5 entities and 5 individuals involved in a global arms network doing business with a US-designated Belarusian defence company.

https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions/20240415

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2251

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On 15 April, the FIU published the Annual Report for the year 2023.  This comprehensive report covers the efforts and impactful initiatives undertaken by the FIU throughout the preceding year, offering insights into the unit’s key role in combating money laundering, terrorist financing, proliferation financing and other criminal conduct.  It features a section on Strategic Analysis that compares data from 2022 and 2023.

https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/press-releases/gibraltar-financial-intelligence-unit-publishes-its-latest-annual-report-featuring-strategic-analysis-2642024-9812

https://www.gfiu.gov.gi/uploads/docs/publications/GFIU%20Annual%20Report%20&%20Strategic%20Analysis%202023.pdf

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On 15 April, the UK and the Isle of Man advised that they had added 3 new entries to the Sudan sanctions list.

https://www.gov.im/news/2024/apr/15/financial-sanctions-sudan

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/661cd6e1c8225636d5bd3d20/Notice_Sudan_150424.pdf

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