“The party is over” – Colombia takes action on tax evasion and imposes 33% surtax on “hit list” countries

Tweet Party is over says Colombia Minister of Finance The government of Colombia is imposing a 33% surtax on assets moved out of the country by its nationals to known tax havens. The surtax will be assessed against individuals and corporations to curb the exodus of funds out of Colombia. The government estimates that the […]

G20 agrees to immigration policy measures to crack down on corrupt immigrants and proceeds of crime imported into G20 countries, including deportation of wealthy foreign nationals

Tweet Crackdown on foreign nationals with unverified funds The G20 leaders have endorsed a sweeping plan proposed by its Anti-Corruption Working Group (“ACWG“) in 2012 to tackle the illicit movement of proceeds of crime internationally by corrupt foreign nationals to other countries (usually done as part of an immigration process). The change is part of […]

Las Vegas Sands agrees to pay $47 million to avoid money laundering prosecution

Tweet The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ“) announced that it has resolved its money laundering investigation into the Las Vegas Sands Corp. pursuant to which Sands will pay US$47 million to avoid criminal prosecution in connection with funds gambled by high rollers at its Venetian casino in Las Vegas. The DOJ was investigating Sands for failure to […]

French government concerned over potential money laundering with vineyard purchases

Tweet Tracfin report highlights money laundering In its annual money laundering report, France’s Traitement du Renseignement et Action Contre les Circuits Financiers Clandestins (“Tracfin“) expressed concern over money laundering risks associated with the sale of France’s most renowned wineries to investors from China, Hong Kong and Russia. The concern stems from the increase in suspicious […]

HSBC closes bank accounts of consulates over risks that include exposure to money laundering

Tweet HSBC Cancels Bank Accounts of Consulates HSBC has given notice to several consulates and the Vatican that it is closing their accounts within 60 days. No reason has been officially cited for the cancellation of the client bank agreements but it is likely as a result of the exposure such accounts hold for financial […]

Lawyer subject to sanctions by U.S. for support to listed drug kingpins

Tweet Lawyer added to OFAC List The U.S. Department of the Treasury has designated a lawyer, Jose Antonio Nunez Bedoya, to its Specially Designated Nationals List (“SDNL“). Mr. Bedoya was added to the SDNL for incorporating several companies on behalf of members of Mexican organized crime, the Sinaloa Cartel, in an effort allegedly to create […]

American Express settles over Cuban sanctions issues

Tweet $5.2 million settlement American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (“Amex“) has entered into a settlement agreement to pay US$5.2 million to settle potential civil liability for apparent violations of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. §§515.201(b)(2) (“CACR“). The CACR broadly prohibit trade and investment with Cuba by any person subject to the jurisdiction of […]

Hong Kong Court orders immigrants to Vancouver to repay $213 million in proceeds of crime laundered in Canada and the US

Tweet $485 Million Laundered to Vancouver and Elsewhere In a fascinating series of judgments from Hong Kong, six wealthy immigrants to Vancouver from China, who laundered over US$485 million through casinos in Macau and Las Vegas, and banks in Canada and Hong Kong, were ordered to repay stolen funds to the Bank of China. The […]