[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":368},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-holding-the-corrupt-to-account-the-promise-and-potential-of-corruption-sanctions-2979":3,"news-holding-the-corrupt-to-account-the-promise-and-potential-of-corruption-sanctions-2979-similar":144,"i-heroicons:arrow-left-20-solid":363},[4],{"id":5,"status":6,"date_created":7,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"date":12,"topic":13,"slug":15,"activity":16,"nid":19,"topics":20,"activities":21,"programme":22,"area":22,"websites":22,"language":23,"image":24,"translation_of":22,"countries":34,"tags":78,"authors":124,"images":141,"translations":142,"content":143},10611,"published","2026-06-04T21:13:40.000Z","2026-06-04T21:13:41.000Z","Holding the corrupt to account: the promise and potential of corruption sanctions","Blog","When states fail to hold corrupt actors to account, ordinary citizens pay the price. Corruption sanctions were born from the idea that no one should be above the law, no matter where they are in the world. In a new Working Paper, Dr Anton Moiseienko explores how these tools have evolved and offers recommendations for their more effective and legitimate use.\n\nHere we share the foreword to his paper by the Basel Institute's Andrew Dornbierer, Head of Policy and Research, International Centre for Asset Recovery.\n\n> ### Foreword\n> \n> Every state has an obligation to investigate and prosecute corruption within their jurisdiction. Unfortunately, many states around the world are not willing to fulfil this responsibility.\n> \n> As a result, the very individuals within these states tasked with serving the public interest are instead given free rein to commit acts that not only serve themselves but also corrode the fabric of the state. And ordinary citizens have no alternative but to endure the ensuing economic and social damage.\n> \n> The development of sanctions tools targeting corruption stemmed from the idea that justice should be universal; that no one in any society around the world should be above the law.\n> \n> They are powerful tools, built on powerful principles. States introducing them understand that unchecked corruption will always suffocate a state’s ability to provide security, fairness and prosperity to its citizens.\n> \n> Comparatively though, corruption sanctions are still an underdeveloped concept and are far from perfect. Only a handful of states have introduced them, and those that have are not often using them to their full potential.\n> \n> They also spark valid concerns surrounding due process. These criticisms shouldn’t be ignored: they offer an insight on how these tools could be further developed and enhanced to ensure that they are more credibly and consistently applied.\n> \n> In his paper, Anton Moiseienko provides an excellent and well-researched overview of how corruption sanctions could be designed and employed to better achieve their potential. He explains how these tools have evolved over the last two decades and how they could be further refined to be more effective and achieve a wider range of impact.\n> \n> Critically, his paper is an indispensable resource for those looking to understand exactly how such sanctions can help states deter, disrupt and debilitate the notoriously corrupt that are unreachable through standard criminal justice tools.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   Read Dr Anton Moiseienko’s Working Paper “[Corruption sanctions: What governments need to know](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fwp-62)” for a deeper analysis of the topic and key policy recommendations.\n*   Get a brief introduction to corruption sanctions from our related [Quick Guide](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fqg43).\n*   Register for our public webinar \"[Corruption sanctions – reaching those beyond the law](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnode\u002F2968)\" on 18 June 2026, marking the launch of Dr Moiseienko's Working Paper.","2026-06-03",[14],"Asset Recovery","holding-the-corrupt-to-account-the-promise-and-potential-of-corruption-sanctions-2979",[17,18],"Reports","Insights",2979,[14],[17,18],null,"English",{"id":25,"storage":26,"filename_disk":27,"filename_download":28,"title":9,"type":29,"created_on":7,"modified_on":7,"charset":22,"filesize":30,"width":31,"height":32,"duration":22,"embed":22,"description":22,"location":22,"tags":22,"metadata":33,"focal_point_x":22,"focal_point_y":22,"tus_id":22,"tus_data":22,"uploaded_on":7},"9f5fad98-9243-40da-98d0-1271edd00df2","local","9f5fad98-9243-40da-98d0-1271edd00df2.webp","tmp.webp","image\u002Fwebp",13600,800,453,{},[35,60],{"id":36,"news_id":37,"countries_id":54},7808,{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":38,"date_created":7,"user_updated":38,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":25,"date":12,"topic":39,"slug":15,"activity":40,"nid":19,"topics":41,"activities":42,"programme":22,"area":22,"websites":22,"translation_of":22,"language":23,"countries":43,"tags":45,"authors":49,"images":51,"translations":52,"content":53},"03bebfd8-0b40-4a2a-820d-b9d9c13b9de6",[14],[17,18],[14],[17,18],[36,44],7809,[46,47,48],5995,5996,5997,[50],1372,[],[],[],{"id":55,"name":56,"code":57,"latitude":58,"longitude":59},14,"Australia","AU",-25.2744,133.77515,{"id":44,"news_id":61,"countries_id":72},{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":38,"date_created":7,"user_updated":38,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":25,"date":12,"topic":62,"slug":15,"activity":63,"nid":19,"topics":64,"activities":65,"programme":22,"area":22,"websites":22,"translation_of":22,"language":23,"countries":66,"tags":67,"authors":68,"images":69,"translations":70,"content":71},[14],[17,18],[14],[17,18],[36,44],[46,47,48],[50],[],[],[],{"id":73,"name":74,"code":75,"latitude":76,"longitude":77},36,"Canada","CA",56.13037,-106.34677,[79,94,109],{"id":46,"news_id":80,"tags_id":91},{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":38,"date_created":7,"user_updated":38,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":25,"date":12,"topic":81,"slug":15,"activity":82,"nid":19,"topics":83,"activities":84,"programme":22,"area":22,"websites":22,"translation_of":22,"language":23,"countries":85,"tags":86,"authors":87,"images":88,"translations":89,"content":90},[14],[17,18],[14],[17,18],[36,44],[46,47,48],[50],[],[],[],{"id":92,"name":93},1227,"Sanctions",{"id":47,"news_id":95,"tags_id":106},{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":38,"date_created":7,"user_updated":38,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":25,"date":12,"topic":96,"slug":15,"activity":97,"nid":19,"topics":98,"activities":99,"programme":22,"area":22,"websites":22,"translation_of":22,"language":23,"countries":100,"tags":101,"authors":102,"images":103,"translations":104,"content":105},[14],[17,18],[14],[17,18],[36,44],[46,47,48],[50],[],[],[],{"id":107,"name":108},843,"Asset recovery",{"id":48,"news_id":110,"tags_id":121},{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":38,"date_created":7,"user_updated":38,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":25,"date":12,"topic":111,"slug":15,"activity":112,"nid":19,"topics":113,"activities":114,"programme":22,"area":22,"websites":22,"translation_of":22,"language":23,"countries":115,"tags":116,"authors":117,"images":118,"translations":119,"content":120},[14],[17,18],[14],[17,18],[36,44],[46,47,48],[50],[],[],[],{"id":122,"name":123},982,"Anti-corruption",[125],{"id":50,"news_id":126,"authors_id":137},{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":38,"date_created":7,"user_updated":38,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":25,"date":12,"topic":127,"slug":15,"activity":128,"nid":19,"topics":129,"activities":130,"programme":22,"area":22,"websites":22,"translation_of":22,"language":23,"countries":131,"tags":132,"authors":133,"images":134,"translations":135,"content":136},[14],[17,18],[14],[17,18],[36,44],[46,47,48],[50],[],[],[],{"id":138,"name":139,"position":22,"image":140},306,"Andrew Dornbierer","89aae58b-3e50-4375-9b9b-5b31370dab64",[],[],[],[145,167,189,210,232,260,284,309,332],{"id":146,"body":147,"status":6,"type":148,"date":149,"slug":150,"title":151,"image":152,"countries":153,"topic":154,"activity":155,"tags":157,"nid":158,"topics":159,"activities":160,"authors":161,"images":162,"websites":22,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":23,"translations":163,"translation_of":22,"user_created":38,"date_created":164,"user_updated":22,"date_updated":22,"content":165,"link":166},10612,"Reducing the economic power of organised crime is essential to improving security, strengthening justice systems and supporting sustainable development across Latin America and the Caribbean. And doing that requires strong and dependable partnerships.\n\nBuilding on more than a decade of support to authorities across the region, the Basel Institute on Governance has formally joined the [Alliance for Security, Justice and Development](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.iadb.org\u002Fen\u002Fwho-we-are\u002Ftopics\u002Fmodernization-state\u002Fcitizen-security-and-justice\u002Falliance-security-justice-and-development), a regional initiative led by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).\n\nThe Alliance seeks to strengthen coordinated responses to organised crime in Latin America and the Caribbean through dialogue, cooperation, knowledge exchange and resource mobilisation.\n\n### Supporting the fight against illicit financial flows\n\nFor the Basel Institute and its International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR), participation in the Alliance represents a further opportunity to contribute its expertise in financial investigations, asset recovery, international cooperation and public financial management while working alongside governments, international organisations and other partners committed to strengthening security, justice and development across the region.\n\nExecutive Director Elizabeth Andersen signed the declaration formalising the Basel Institute’s participation in the Alliance in Washington, D.C. The signing followed close engagement between senior IDB and Alliance representatives and Oscar Solórzano, Head of ICAR Latin America.\n\n### Strengthening regional cooperation\n\nThe Alliance for Security, Justice and Development is a regional platform for dialogue, cooperation, knowledge exchange and resource mobilisation aimed at preventing and responding to organised crime in Latin America and the Caribbean.\n\nCoordinated by the IDB through its Citizen Security Division, the Alliance currently brings together 23 member states and multiple strategic partners from the international, development and security sectors.\n\nIts work is structured around three strategic pillars:\n\n*   protecting vulnerable communities from organised crime and violence;\n*   strengthening institutional resilience within security and justice systems; and\n*   reducing illicit financial flows and illicit markets to weaken the operational capacity and influence of criminal organisations.\n\n### Bringing expertise in asset recovery and financial investigations\n\nThe Basel Institute will contribute particularly to the third pillar, leaning on the expertise and two decades of experience of its specialised International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR).\n\nElizabeth Andersen stated that the Basel Institute is honoured to participate in such a high-level initiative focused on issues of critical importance for Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as for the broader international community.\n\nOscar Solórzano highlighted that the Alliance represents an important opportunity to support countries in strengthening asset recovery systems, international cooperation and institutional capacities against increasingly sophisticated forms of organised crime and illicit economies.\n\n### Building on a decade of support in Latin America\n\nOur participation builds on more than a decade of operational and technical support to authorities across Latin America in areas including financial investigations, asset recovery, international cooperation and – through a dedicated programme – public financial management.\n\nActivities under the Alliance framework are expected to begin in the region in the coming months, with our teams supporting key initiatives and technical workstreams developed through the Alliance in the years ahead.\n\nOur participation reflects our longstanding commitment to helping countries tackle corruption, illicit financial flows and organised crime, and our belief that sustainable impact is achieved through strong partnerships that bring together public authorities, international organisations and practitioners around shared goals.","News","2026-06-02","basel-institute-joins-regional-effort-to-strengthen-security-justice-and-development-in-latin-america-2977","Basel Institute joins regional effort to strengthen security, justice and development in Latin America","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fda8fdbf2-aea0-4009-8f38-8a04c5d8e964?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[156],"Partnerships",[],2977,[14],[156],[],[],[],"2026-06-04T21:13:42.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fbasel-institute-joins-regional-effort-to-strengthen-security-justice-and-development-in-latin-america-2977",{"id":168,"body":169,"status":6,"type":10,"date":170,"slug":171,"title":172,"image":173,"countries":174,"topic":175,"activity":177,"tags":179,"nid":180,"topics":181,"activities":182,"authors":183,"images":184,"websites":22,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":23,"translations":185,"translation_of":22,"user_created":38,"date_created":186,"user_updated":22,"date_updated":22,"content":187,"link":188},10617,"As the use of virtual assets accelerates worldwide, so too does their appeal to criminal actors looking to move money faster, hide transactions more effectively and stay one step ahead of enforcement authorities.\n\nAnd it’s natural that when people discuss crypto-related crime, the focus is often on governments, regulators, law enforcement agencies and the private sector – crypto exchanges, financial institutions and blockchain intelligence firms.\n\nWhat about international organisations, non-profits, expert networks and professional associations – what role do they play behind the scenes? And how much impact can they really have when it comes to tackling illicit activity involving virtual assets?\n\nThese questions were at the centre of a [webinar](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002FIOs_virtualassets) co-hosted by the Basel Institute on Governance and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The discussion brought together experts from the OSCE, the Basel Institute, the Financial Intelligence Unit of Moldova, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime.\n\nAcross the discussion, speakers kept circling around the same point: the crypto-crime field does not need more vague talk about cooperation or more one-off awareness workshops. It needs practical, sustained and operational forms of support that help investigators, prosecutors and financial intelligence units respond to increasingly sophisticated criminal activity.\n\n### Beyond awareness raising\n\nA recurring theme throughout the discussion was the gap between recognising the problem and building the capability to address it.\n\nSpeakers noted that crypto-related crime evolves faster than most institutions can adapt. Bots on the Telegram messaging app are now providing money-laundering-as-a-service, as one speaker noted by way of example. Criminal actors – and bots – exploit regulatory gaps, fragmented information-sharing systems and uneven levels of expertise across jurisdictions.\n\nAt the same time, many authorities are still in the early stages of developing operational capacity.\n\nThis is where international organisations and networks can play an important role. Not simply by producing guidance documents or organising workshops and conferences – which are necessary but not sufficient – but by helping countries build practical and lasting capabilities.\n\nThe OSCE shared examples from its regional [project on mitigating the money laundering risks of virtual assets](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002FIOs_virtualassets), which supports participating states across Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, Central Asia and Mongolia.\n\nOne example was Moldova’s sectoral national risk assessment on virtual assets. Beyond identifying vulnerabilities, the process helped prompt institutional action and legislative development.\n\nThe OSCE also pointed to measurable operational outcomes linked to its capacity-building support. Institutions supported through the programme, for example, traced more than USD 100 million in illicit crypto assets in 2025 alone.\n\n### Why PowerPoint presentations are not enough\n\nSeveral speakers emphasised that complex investigations involving virtual assets and asset recovery require highly specialised expertise that cannot be built through isolated workshops.\n\nInvestigators need opportunities to apply knowledge in real cases. Financial intelligence units need ongoing mentoring and technical support. Prosecutors need to understand not only the technology itself but also how to present complex digital evidence in court.\n\nThe Basel Institute highlighted the importance of long-term engagement with practitioners. The approach of its [International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR)](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery) includes combining case-centered training with hands-on mentoring, operational support on live cases and efforts to foster collaboration between different government agencies and with the private sector.\n\nTogether with highly effective train-the-trainer programmes, the focus is on helping agencies develop capabilities that can evolve alongside changing technologies and criminal methods, rather than delivering isolated workshops.\n\n### Networks that make cooperation operational\n\nThe webinar also challenged the tendency to talk about “international cooperation” in abstract terms. In practice, it’s difficult to develop trusting relationships between individuals and institutions operating in very different legal and cultural contexts, especially where there are language barriers.\n\nIn this environment, organisations such as the OSCE, Basel Institute, UNODC and the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime can act as connectors between sectors, jurisdictions and professional communities. They can:\n\n*   help investigators and practitioners exchange expertise and emerging typologies;\n*   create trusted channels for faster information sharing;\n*   connect authorities facing similar challenges across jurisdictions;\n*   support the development of common standards and approaches; and\n*   bridge gaps between public authorities, financial institutions and technical experts\n\nOne example is the Global Coalition’s proposal to develop a framework for sharing illict crypto wallet attribution data between public authorities – a major need, especially for jurisdictions without the resources to purchase multiple blockchain intelligence tools.\n\n### Research and analysis as a basis for action\n\nAnother important thread running through the webinar was the role of research and evidence-based analysis.\n\nAs technologies and criminal typologies evolve rapidly, policymakers and practitioners need reliable analysis rather than hype or speculation. Speakers discussed how international organisations support countries by analysing emerging threats, identifying trends and helping governments design informed legal and operational responses.\n\nSpeakers highlighted several concrete projects, such as UNODC research into [scam compounds](https:\u002F\u002Ftrack.unodc.org\u002Ftrack\u002Fen\u002Ftrack\u002Fresourcehub\u002F2025\u002Finflection_point_global_implications_of_scam_centres_underground_banking_and_illicit_online_marketplaces_in_southeast_asia.html) and cyber-enabled fraud in Southeast Asia and into the links between [cybercrime and corruption](https:\u002F\u002Ftrack.unodc.org\u002Ftrack\u002Fen\u002Ftrack\u002Fresourcehub\u002F2025\u002Fthe_nexus_between_cybercrime_and_corruption.html), and the Global Coalition’s research on links between gaming and crypto-related financial crime.\n\n### A rapidly evolving challenge\n\nThe webinar closed with a discussion on what aspects of collaboration participants would most like to strengthen in the virtual assets space.\n\nWhile perspectives differed, there was broad agreement that current models of cooperation and capacity building are still not moving fast enough to match the pace of technological change and criminal innovation.\n\nIt’s been said many times, but it warrants saying again: As virtual assets continue to evolve at breakneck speed, so too must the international response.\n\nThe discussion demonstrated that international organisations, non-profits and professional networks can have significant impact – particularly when they focus less on rhetoric and more on operational support, sustained partnerships and measurable outcomes.\n\n### Speakers\n\nWith thanks to our moderator, Vera Strobachova-Budway, Head of the Economic Governance Unit, OSCE, and to our excellent speakers:\n\n*   Erlin Agich, Associate Anti-Corruption Officer, OSCE\n*   Valentin Draganel, Deputy Head, Financial Intelligence Unit Moldova\n*   Alexandru Donciu, Specialist, Financial Investigations – Virtual Assets, Basel Institute on Governance\n*   Fabrizio Fioroni, AML\u002FCFT Advisor, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)\n*   Michal Gromek, Chair, Digital Assets Task Force, Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   View the recordings: browse the [full playlist](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutube.com\u002Fplaylist?list=PLYRnhpCcnLP8mqlkcvhkC5kNXuX1M7ax4&si=HeEsEW6u_V9OnsCb) or go straight to individual interventions: [Vera Strobachova-Budway](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FPyjFVx3Da1I), [Erlin Agich](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FyxyKjh2qbc0), [Valentin Draganel](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002Ffn-P6Q1Q04Y), [Alexandru Donciu](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002Fi6AoR2bBGGk), [Fabrizio Fioroni](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FJCET83V2nFk) and [Michal Gromek](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002Fb18ACqpIM64), plus the final [lightning round](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002Fu61VF8rxR5k).\n*   Sign up to the second joint Basel Institute-OSCE webinar on the role of [investigative journalists in tackling crime linked to virtual assets](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fjournalism_virtualassets), on 2 June 2026.\n*   Read the OSCE’s [Decoding Crypto Crime – A Guide for Law Enforcement](https:\u002F\u002Foceea.osce.org\u002Foceea\u002F587475) in multiple languages.\n*   Learn more about the [OSCE Virtual Assets project](https:\u002F\u002Fprojects.osce.org\u002Fvirtualassets).\n*   Learn about the Global Coalition’s [Digital Asset Task Force](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gcffc.org\u002Fsectors\u002Fdigital-asset-task-force-(datf)) and how you can get involved.\n\nThe Basel Institute’s training opportunities are now open to individuals – learn more about short online courses on [crypto and blockchain compliance](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcrypto-aml-training) and [financial investigations and asset recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fassetrecovery-openenrolment); plus [postgraduate courses on anti-corruption and asset recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fstudy).","2026-05-19","virtual-assets-real-world-crime-and-the-search-for-effective-responses-2967","Virtual assets, real-world crime and the search for effective responses","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fb16bddc0-613b-402f-baca-77cc9a835cd9?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[176,14],"Anti-Money Laundering",[178],"Events",[],2967,[176,14],[178],[],[],[],"2026-06-04T21:13:46.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fvirtual-assets-real-world-crime-and-the-search-for-effective-responses-2967",{"id":190,"body":191,"status":6,"type":148,"date":192,"slug":193,"title":194,"image":195,"countries":196,"topic":197,"activity":198,"tags":200,"nid":201,"topics":202,"activities":203,"authors":204,"images":205,"websites":22,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":23,"translations":206,"translation_of":22,"user_created":38,"date_created":207,"user_updated":22,"date_updated":22,"content":208,"link":209},10620,"The Basel Institute on Governance is expanding its training offer to help more professionals build practical skills in financial investigations and asset recovery.\n\nBuilding on decades of global experience, we are launching new courses for both public-sector practitioners and non-state actors. Our hands-on, case-based training is now accessible to a wider audience than ever before.\n\n### Reaching new audiences\n\nFor the first time, our flagship financial investigations and asset recovery training is available as an open enrolment online course for individual public-sector practitioners.\n\nWe are also expanding our offer for civil society organisations, investigative journalists and other professionals outside government. These groups play a growing role in exposing financial misconduct and supporting accountability.\n\nThe new courses build on the success of our popular [Introduction to blockchain: Crypto investigation and AML compliance](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcrypto-aml-training) course. This course equips participants to tackle the misuse of cryptoassets for financial crime.\n\n### New course for public-sector practitioners\n\nThe [financial investigations and asset recovery online course](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fassetrecovery-openenrolment) is a five-day, instructor-led training for investigators, prosecutors, judges and financial intelligence practitioners.\n\nParticipants work through a realistic case. They apply practical techniques to follow financial leads across jurisdictions, analyse financial flows, gather evidence using open-source intelligence and develop effective investigative strategies.\n\nThe first open-enrolment course will take place from 20–24 July 2026.\n\n### New courses for civil society and journalists\n\nWe are also launching Asset recovery for civil society and journalists, tailored to non-state actors working to uncover corruption and track public funds. This includes private-sector professionals working in compliance or investigations.\n\nTwo formats are available:\n\n*   An [online course for individual participants](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Ffiar_csos), with the first open-enrolment session planned from 2–5 November 2026.\n*   A [tailored training programme for organisations and groups](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcourse-asset-recovery-training-civil-society-and-journalists), delivered on site or virtually.\n\nBoth formats are built around a realistic corruption case. Participants gain hands-on experience in tracing assets, analysing financial information and understanding how asset recovery works in practice.\n\n### Part of a wider learning offer\n\nThese courses complement our broader learning ecosystem.\n\nThis includes [Basel LEARN](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fbasel-learn), our free eLearning platform, and [Basel STUDY](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fstudy), our academic programmes. Together, they provide flexible pathways for professionals to build and deepen their expertise.\n\n### A proven track record\n\nThe training courses are led by practitioners from the Basel Institute's International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR). Over the past 18 years, ICAR has trained more than 5,800 practitioners from financial intelligence units, law enforcement, prosecuting and judicial authorities in over 138 countries.\n\nAn independent study by Fondazione Safe found that our case-based, \"learning by doing\" approach drives meaningful institutional change and strengthens the effectiveness of efforts to tackle corruption and related crimes. Thierry Ravalomanda, Head of Training at ICAR, explained:\n\n> “We know from experience that practical, skills-based training makes a real difference in the fight against financial crime. By opening up our flagship courses to individual practitioners and expanding our offer for civil society and journalists, we are helping more people develop the tools they need to trace assets, follow the money and support accountability.”\n\nWith these new courses, we aim to make our expertise accessible to a broader community working to prevent, detect and address financial crime.","2026-05-07","new-training-courses-expand-access-to-financial-investigation-and-asset-recovery-skills-2961","New training courses expand access to financial investigation and asset recovery skills","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fd35bd5ef-7211-4d1f-8ff5-4b27afe8aa5c?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[199],"Training",[],2961,[14],[199],[],[],[],"2026-06-04T21:13:49.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fnew-training-courses-expand-access-to-financial-investigation-and-asset-recovery-skills-2961",{"id":211,"body":212,"status":6,"type":10,"date":213,"slug":214,"title":215,"image":216,"countries":217,"topic":218,"activity":219,"tags":221,"nid":222,"topics":223,"activities":224,"authors":225,"images":227,"websites":22,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":23,"translations":228,"translation_of":22,"user_created":38,"date_created":229,"user_updated":38,"date_updated":229,"content":230,"link":231},10622,"In a world that feels increasingly unsettled, with rising concerns over corruption, organised crime and illicit finance, it is encouraging to see that the Basel AML Index does not show global money laundering risks getting worse. The average score across all jurisdictions has even improved slightly – and in today’s climate even a modest hint of progress is worth noting. \n\nStill, we all know that global averages are hardly meaningful. What matters is what people experience in their own countries and regions, where threats like corruption, fraud, environmental crime and drug trafficking continue to evolve fast and affect their everyday lives. \n\nI have spent more than two decades working to strengthen governance and the rule of law around the world, and I have seen firsthand the power of data and evidence to drive change. With respect to complex topics such as corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes, this is no simple task. They are difficult to define, to quantify and to track over time. But unless we make a sincere effort to assess the risks, and acknowledge where the gaps and uncertainties lie, policymakers and practitioners are left working in the dark. \n\nThis is the purpose of the Basel AML Index. It is not a simple score to be copy-pasted into a risk assessment or put out in a press release. It is a tool to explore what lies behind a jurisdiction’s risk profile. Many users rely on the headline Public Edition score, but there is much to be gained by looking deeper. The Expert Edition, free for the public sector, non-profits, academia and the media, and reasonably priced for private firms, gives an overview of all 17 indicators and supports more informed decisions. \n\nLook behind the curtain and you will see that the Basel AML Index recognises that tackling money laundering is not only about laws, regulations and enforcement. It also depends on independent political and legal systems, a free and active media and real accountability in the public sector. These elements are essential to a jurisdiction’s resilience to financial crime, so the Basel AML Index incorporates measures of these as well as other factors more commonly associated with financial crime. \n\nMeasurement alone, however, is not enough; it is just the starting point for progress. That is why the Basel Institute works directly with partner countries to help them understand their risks and strengthen their resilience to money laundering and related financial crimes. We often undertake this work in the context of preparations for Financial Action Task Force (FATF) evaluations or ongoing efforts to leave the FATF grey list.\n\nLast month we welcomed Mozambique’s exit from the grey list after intensive work by our team and other partners to support improvements in the country’s anti-money laundering framework and asset recovery capacity. Similar assistance is underway with other partner countries, and we continue to engage with FATF-style regional bodies such as GAFILAT and ESAAMLG as an active observer member. \n\nIf we can say one thing for sure about the future, it is that financial crime will continue to evolve at speed. But I remain hopeful, because progress in tackling it is possible when decisions are rooted in solid evidence. By shedding light on the underlying factors driving money laundering risks at the jurisdiction level, the Basel AML Index aims to help focus attention and resources where they matter most. \n\n[Explore the Basel AML Index](https:\u002F\u002Findex.baselgovernance.org\u002F) and [download this year's report](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fbasel-aml-index-2025).","2025-12-08","foreword-to-the-basel-aml-index-2025-report-2898","Foreword to the Basel AML Index 2025 report","\u002Fpics\u002Fimg-placeholder.png",[],[176,14],[220],"Basel AML Index",[],2898,[176,14],[220],[226],1377,[],[],"2026-06-04T21:13:51.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fforeword-to-the-basel-aml-index-2025-report-2898",{"id":233,"body":234,"status":6,"type":10,"date":235,"slug":236,"title":237,"image":238,"countries":239,"topic":241,"activity":242,"tags":244,"nid":245,"topics":246,"activities":248,"authors":249,"images":251,"websites":252,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":254,"translation_of":22,"user_created":38,"date_created":255,"user_updated":256,"date_updated":257,"content":258,"link":259},10456,"_At a recent meeting of the Asset Recovery Network of GAFILAT – the Latin America body of the Financial Action Task Force or FATF – Oscar Solórzano explored what the latest changes to the FATF standards could mean for asset recovery practice in Latin America._\n\n_Through our International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR), we are an observer member of the GAFILAT Asset Recovery Network or Red de Recuperación de Activos (RRAG) and regularly provide training and technical input to the group’s deliberations. The meeting took place in Bogotá, Colombia, on 25–26 June 2024._\n\nIn November last year, new [global rules](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fatf-gafi.org\u002Fen\u002Fpublications\u002FFatfgeneral\u002Foutcomes-fatf-plenary-october-2023.html) on international asset recovery came into force which are intended to change the prevailing global judicial practice. These new rules clarify and complement currently applicable international standards.\n\nThe revisions to FATF Recommendation 4 introduce, among other things, the obligation for FATF member states to implement non-conviction based confiscation mechanisms to complete the arsenal of legal tools used to combat economic crime. The standards of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) do not contain such an obligation to legislate on non-conviction based confiscation (Article 31 UNCAC). As a result, until now the global adoption and implementation of such tools has been erratic.\n\nThe updated FATF Recommendation 38 establishes an obligation to cooperate internationally in non-conviction based confiscation cases. Not only are countries obliged to implement such mechanisms themselves. They are, first and foremost, obliged to provide mutual legal assistance to countries seeking to recover assets internationally through non-conviction based confiscation.\n\nThe new recommendation clarifies the rule in Article 54(1)(c) UNCAC (_Mechanisms for asset recovery and international cooperation_) that left it to the discretion of the requested state whether or not to cooperate when a victim state seeks to recover assets via non-conviction based confiscation. The UNCAC standard in this regard is also limited to corruption offences, while the FATF standards have a broader scope.\n\n### More cases, more requests?\n\nMore than 20 years after UNCAC introduced what were then considered revolutionary asset recovery standards, the FATF has taken a decisive step aimed at changing the global asset recovery landscape. In fact, many developing countries have already enacted these innovative asset recovery tools. In Latin America, for example, only two countries do not possess any form of non-conviction based confiscation law.\n\nThus, it is to be expected that Latin American states that have suffered from rampant economic crime will seek to recover more assets internationally. Cases will be stimulated by the possibility of seeing requests for information, seizures and non-conviction based confiscation judgments enforced in the financial centres holding those assets.\n\nRecommendation 38 codifies some recent judicial practice in GAFILAT countries, such as Peru or Colombia, which have been successful in their efforts to recover illicit assets from Switzerland, Guernsey, Luxembourg and other European financial centres based on non-conviction based confiscation mechanisms.\n\nIn these cases, efficient international cooperation has been provided based merely on national legislation and the understanding that international asset recovery is a _shared responsibility_ which cannot be obtained without the cooperation of both the victim state and the state where the assets are located.\n\n### Urgent need to align with human rights standards\n\nFrom my experience, research and conversations with asset recovery professionals all over the world, however, non-conviction based confiscation has raised concerns and is not globally and coherently applied. The lack of harmonisation and the great variety of applicable standards have contributed to the poor performance of this legal mechanism at the international level, particularly with regard to the international enforcement of judgments.\n\nWill the FATF’s updated standards be enough to foster international asset recovery via non-conviction based confiscation?\n\nThe response to this question is not as clear as it seems. This is because international asset recovery procedures depend on the fulfilment of other standards. For example, the non-conviction based confiscation law used by the victim state should not contravene the fundamental principles of the requested state, particularly its domestic interpretation of human and other constitutional rights. This means that non-conviction based confiscation decisions in a victim state _must_ comply with basic principles of the rule of law and internationally recognised standards of human rights – the right to property and to a fair trial, to name just two.\n\nThe adoption and implementation of fair non-conviction based confiscation procedures, anchored in the rule of law, are the starting point for fruitful international cooperation. It is also a crucial part of the _shared responsibility_ of victim states.\n\n### The picture within Latin America\n\nIn my speech at the RRAG meeting, I explained that judicial practice in GAFILAT countries has exposed shortcomings and a diverse practice in the enforcement of international non-conviction based confiscation judgments.\n\n#### _Lack of clarity on channels of judicial cooperation_\n\nMany Latin America states are still unclear about the judicial cooperation channel to be used in the execution of non-conviction based confiscation decisions, given their quasi-civil nature and the arguments regularly made to distance these legal devices from criminal proceedings.\n\nIndeed, some question why a law of a _civil_ nature would seek international cooperation in _criminal_ matters. The simplest answer is probably that, despite the civil standards used in non-conviction based confiscation, the purpose is to confiscate criminal assets, which is a matter dealt with by international cooperation in criminal matters.\n\nMoreover, cooperation in criminal matters provides more and better judicial safeguards, is mostly free of charge for the requesting state and is regulated by bilateral treaties and binding international law.\n\n#### _Direct enforcement of foreign judgements not always possible_\n\nSome Latin American states can execute foreign decisions through _exequatur_ mechanisms in criminal matters, enabling the judicial enforcement of judgments in the _terms and extension_ as expressed in the foreign decision. The exequatur procedure is a form of judicial cooperation in criminal matters which exists in civil law countries. It has been used by Latin American countries to enforce non-conviction based confiscation (final and enforceable) decisions in European financial centres.\n\nIn this model of execution the requested state (the financial centre) only verifies that the foreign confiscation decision respects internationally recognised standards of due process (for example, if the asset holder or other affected persons has had effective access to defence mechanisms in the foreign procedure or if the notification has been properly served, among others). Once this verification is carried out, the decision is generally enforced following the exact terms ordered by the foreign authority.\n\nThe exequatur procedure generally involves sometimes lengthy judicial proceedings in the requested state where the defence can make (again) its case before a judge of the requested state with _limited_ power of cognition. That is to say, the judge of the exequatur does not rule on the merits of the case. His or her powers are limited to verifying the respect of due process and judicial guarantees in the foreign procedure. The requested judicial authority enforcing the foreign non-conviction based confiscation decision is bound by the factual findings made by the requesting authority. This is the so-called direct enforcement model.\n\n#### _The drawbacks of indirect enforcement_\n\nOther Latin American states cannot directly enforce foreign conviction- or non-conviction based confiscation judgments. Instead, their domestic law regularly compels their judicial authorities to initiate domestic proceedings with a view to obtaining a domestic confiscation order. This _indirect_ enforcement of foreign judgements usually involves re-litigation, new evidentiary requirements, appeals processes, etc., and can lead to catastrophic delays and failures of cases.\n\nA concrete example of the drawbacks of this model of enforcement has emerged in a recent case of international asset recovery between Peru and Mexico. Since 2021, Peru has sought the enforcement of a final and enforceable [judgment](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2021-11\u002FMalca%20judgement.pdf) under its Extinción de dominio law – the local form of non-conviction based confiscation law – through judicial cooperation in criminal matters in relation to a Peruvian politically exposed person’s corrupt account sitting in the Mexican financial system.\n\nDespite the efforts of both Mexican and Peruvian authorities to advance this case, it is noteworthy that the enforcement stage is taking longer than the whole recovery process in the Peruvian Extinción de dominio procedure.\n\n### Progress visible\n\nIn some countries, mainly in Central America, a form of international judicial cooperation for the homologation of foreign civil judgements has been used to enforce non-conviction based forfeiture judgements. For example, Honduras recently executed an Extinción de dominio judgment obtained in Guatemala through a civil procedure aimed at homologating foreign civil decisions.\n\nThis successful cooperation between the two countries actively enforcing Extinción de dominio allowed the recovery of a property that had been corruptly acquired by a Guatemalan politically exposed person.\n\nDespite the complexity described above, most Latin American states use the channels of judicial cooperation used in criminal cases in cases of non-conviction based confiscation. Although the practice is not abundant, the cases mentioned above may well represent the beginning of real good practice in judicial cooperation, leading to better results in the fight against corruption and other scourges that plague this part of the world.\n\nThe updated interpretative notes to the FATF’s Recommendation 38 encourage the “direct enforcement” of foreign confiscation orders to make these international processes more efficient. In many cases, the implementation of the new standards will therefore require changes in both legislation and judicial practices.\n\n### A positive step but a long path ahead\n\nWe believe the FATF new standards are a move in the right direction towards solving some of the challenges I identify above.\n\nStill, much remains to be done by the international community and by domestic authorities to ensure that we see concrete judicial successes, smooth international cooperation and the return of far greater quantities of stolen assets to victim states.","2024-07-05","fatf-seeks-to-change-the-landscape-of-international-asset-recovery-what-this-means-for-latin-america-2653","FATF seeks to change the landscape of international asset recovery: what this means for Latin America","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F3e56c98b-acaf-495e-a71b-043e4f018a96?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[240],7117,[14],[178,18,243],"Presentations",[],2653,[247],"Asset Recovery and Enforcement",[178,18,243],[250],1110,[],[253],"Main page",[],"2024-07-05T16:01:36.000Z","3d9ff205-1640-4f34-b5b6-86977f51bbd6","2026-05-29T22:22:30.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Ffatf-seeks-to-change-the-landscape-of-international-asset-recovery-what-this-means-for-latin-america-2653",{"id":261,"body":262,"status":6,"type":10,"date":263,"slug":264,"title":265,"image":216,"countries":266,"topic":267,"activity":268,"tags":270,"nid":271,"topics":272,"activities":273,"authors":274,"images":277,"websites":278,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":279,"translation_of":22,"user_created":38,"date_created":280,"user_updated":256,"date_updated":281,"content":282,"link":283},10432,"_This blog was originally published on the FCPA Blog, which was discontinued in February 2024._\n\nHundreds of billions of dollars of Russian assets sit frozen in bank accounts, buildings, and harbors, thanks to the unprecedented financial sanctions rolled out since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 2022. Understandably, states holding large quantities of Russian assets are under political pressure to permanently seize these and redirect the money to support Ukraine.\n\nBut political pressure and rule of law are different things, and permanently seizing those assets is not as easy as some make it sound. Hence the debate that is currently raging: should states be able to confiscate those assets purely on the basis that they have been sanctioned?\n\nA dangerous path\n\nOur recent working paper [_From Sanctions to Confiscation While Upholding the Rule of Law_](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fwp-42) examines this debate in depth. It considers the justifiability and legality of new legislative mechanisms that allow a state to permanently seize an asset purely because its holder is under sanction. Canada has already included such a mechanism in its _Special Economic Measures Act_, though it is yet to be tested in court.\n\nIn brief, our analysis concludes that any mechanisms used to confiscate assets need to be in line with the rule of law. They must respect established legal rights and afford due process. If they do not, states open themselves up to legal challenges and the possibility of having confiscation orders overturned after years of wrangling in higher courts. \n\nA better way\n\nThe good news is that most states already have established pathways to target assets that are frozen under sanctions. \n\nIn the working paper, we highlight how both criminal and civil (non-conviction-based) forfeiture mechanisms can be used to target assets where they can be linked to offenses such as sanctions violations, money laundering, or organized crime. \n\nThe U.S. has long used civil forfeiture mechanisms to confiscate assets where it can be demonstrated to a civil standard of proof that the assets were derived from or used in criminal activity. Such mechanisms do not require a criminal conviction before they can be applied. This makes them a powerful option to target the assets of kleptocrats adept at sidestepping criminal prosecutions.\n\nAnother option to seize financially sanctioned assets would be unexplained wealth or [illicit enrichment legislation](https:\u002F\u002Flearn.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcourse\u002Fview.php?id=28). Since such laws reverse the burden of proof onto a person to demonstrate the lawful sources of their assets, states would not need to acquire evidence of criminal activity from potentially uncooperative jurisdictions.\n\nNot all countries, however, have non-conviction-based forfeiture or unexplained wealth mechanisms. Where they do, their scope varies widely, and international cooperation is a challenge. Introducing, applying, and cooperating in the context of these laws would go a long way to targeting those frozen assets. \n\nStrengthening systems\n\nBeyond maximizing the toolkit to target assets frozen under sanctions, states can also make smaller but necessary adjustments to maximize the potential of their laws.\n\nThese may include broadening the scope of relevant terms such as “property” or “money laundering” or ensuring that non-conviction-based forfeiture mechanisms apply to the widest possible definition of “unlawful conduct.” \n\nAs the U.S. [has done](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.congress.gov\u002Fbill\u002F117th-congress\u002Fhouse-bill\u002F2617\u002Ftext), states may also need to amend laws governing the end use of seized assets to permit them to be redirected to the victims of aggression rather than returned to the aggressor state from which they were stolen.\n\nBeyond legislation, states could improve domestic and international coordination by establishing specialist law enforcement task forces such as the [U.S. Task Force KleptoCapture](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.justice.gov\u002Fopa\u002Fpr\u002Fattorney-general-merrick-b-garland-announces-launch-task-force-kleptocapture) and the [Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs Task Force](https:\u002F\u002Fhome.treasury.gov\u002Fnews\u002Fpress-releases\u002Fjy0839). And as anti-corruption advocates have argued for many years, allocating adequate resources to these efforts so that they can actually be effective is fundamental.\n\nBolstering defenses against kleptocracy\n\nStrengthening and applying established asset recovery mechanisms will not only increase the chances of successfully seizing assets in the long run. It will also uphold the rule of law that the Ukrainians are fighting for.\n\nBeyond that, concerted efforts to strengthen asset recovery mechanisms and cooperation will aid in the broader fight against corruption and related financial crimes.\n\nCorruption is a national security issue and a global security imperative. Stopping corruption is key to stopping kleptocracies from gaining illegitimate power and influence – and, as we have sadly seen, using that to launch illegal wars and to corrupt the rules-based order.","2023-02-27","fcpa-blog-how-seizing-sanctioned-assets-can-strengthen-the-rule-of-law-2600","FCPA Blog: How seizing sanctioned assets can strengthen the rule of law",[],[14],[269],"",[],2600,[247],[],[275,276],1025,1026,[],[253],[],"2024-03-19T11:01:35.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:29.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Ffcpa-blog-how-seizing-sanctioned-assets-can-strengthen-the-rule-of-law-2600",{"id":285,"body":286,"status":6,"type":10,"date":287,"slug":288,"title":289,"image":290,"countries":291,"topic":292,"activity":295,"tags":296,"nid":297,"topics":298,"activities":299,"authors":300,"images":301,"websites":302,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":303,"translation_of":22,"user_created":38,"date_created":304,"user_updated":305,"date_updated":306,"content":307,"link":308},10518,"_An interview with Martin Benderson by Nicolas Hocq._\n\nMaritime corruption poses significant challenges to global trade, inflating costs, delaying operations and undermining integrity in supply chains. The Maritime Anti-Corruption Network ([MACN](https:\u002F\u002Fmacn.dk\u002F)), a leading international Collective Action initiative, has been at the forefront of addressing these issues through collaboration with governments, businesses and civil society.\n\nIn this exclusive interview, Martin Benderson, Chief Partnership Officer at MACN, sheds light on the findings of MACN’s [recent report](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Fpublications\u002F2362\u002F). This quantifies the costs of maritime corruption, underscores the importance of transparency and collaboration and revisits how MACN is tackling the USD 260-million corruption problem in the sector. Martin then shares his insights on the organisation’s mission, the evolving nature of maritime corruption and the impactful strategies it has implemented to drive change.\n\n### The costs of maritime corruption\n\n_MACN’s recent report focuses on the direct and indirect costs of corruption for maritime companies. Could you elaborate on the key findings and how companies are using these insights to improve their operations?_\n\nThe report outlines the wide-reaching impact of maritime corruption on the maritime industry and on society as a whole. Using Nigeria as a case study, we used an approach with two hypothetical scenarios:\n\n*   Business-as-usual scenario: Assumes that bribes are paid without resistance by private or public actors in the port and maritime sector. Under this scenario, maritime corruption increases transport and logistics costs by 15 percent, resulting in an annual cost of corruption of over USD 162 million for the industry, substantially reducing GDP and job opportunities.\n\n*   Zero-tolerance scenario: Assumes no bribes are paid or requested by either the public or private sector. This scenario suggests that eliminating corruption could reduce costs by 62 percent (over USD 100 million annually) for the private sector. It also estimates an increase in GDP by USD 130 million annually and the creation of more than 147,000 full-time jobs.\n\nComparing these scenarios illustrates the potential economic gains from eliminating corruption in the port and maritime sector. Further, the study sheds light on the impact of MACN’s current anti-corruption initiatives on socioeconomic development, trade and societies.\n\nAt the company level, the study provides clear evidence of the value of upholding robust anti-corruption standards and participating in Collective Action. It demonstrates how such efforts not only contribute to a healthier bottom line, but also address the broader, often hidden costs of corruption. These industry-wide and societal costs – though not always directly encountered in a company’s daily operations or supply chain – have a profound influence on the sector as a whole.\n\n### The Maritime Anti-Corruption Network\n\n_Please tell us about the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network’s (MACN) origins. How has its role evolved since then?_\n\nMACN was established by a small number of maritime companies in 2011, in response to tightening anti-bribery laws, such as the UK Bribery Act, and the recognition that individual companies cannot combat corruption alone in the global, highly complex supply chains surrounding shipping.\n\nTwelve years ago, we launched our first Collective Action initiative in Nigeria, working with the industry, government, local businesses and civil society to drive reform and establish accountability mechanisms in the country’s port and maritime sector. This model has since been replicated in Argentina, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Ukraine, Pakistan and Ghana. This expansion would not have been possible without the backing of our members, bilateral and multilateral donors as well as local governments that collaborated on these initiatives.\n\nMACN now has over 200 private-sector members representing the global value chain in the maritime industry and has become one of the largest industry-led Collective Action networks.\n\n### Corruption challenges in the maritime industry\n\n_What are some of the practical corruption challenges maritime companies face, and how do these challenges affect global supply chains?_\n\nMaritime trade is a highly complex environment involving numerous public- and private-sector stakeholders. On average, seven industry stakeholders and seven government agencies are involved in inspecting and clearing a single ship when it crosses an international border.\n\nThis complexity creates opportunities for coercive corruption, where bribes are requested during routine vessel and cargo clearance. Shipping companies are often pressured to make corrupt payments – either in cash or in kind – to avoid delays, excessive fines or even the detention of their vessels. These demands exploit the industry's reliance on strict time schedules and daily charter rates, leaving individual companies with limited options to resist without facing severe operational or financial consequences.\n\nThe shipping industry’s supply chain is global, involving multinational companies and local SMEs to ensure a ship reaches its destination. Ensuring transparency and addressing corruption risks across this intricate network is a significant challenge, even for companies with robust compliance standards. Maintaining a strict zero-tolerance policy across supply chains requires strong partnerships empowering and supporting both employees and suppliers to reject and report corruption.\n\n### Measures for meaningful industry change\n\n_What specific actions has MACN implemented to address these challenges, and what has been the impact of these efforts?_\n\nMACN empowers the maritime industry to strengthen internal anti-corruption programmes and enhance collaboration through supply chains to prevent and combat corruption. This is achieved through MACN’s tailored compliance solutions, tools and training designed specifically for the sector.\n\nOur approach combines aligning compliance expectations with practical, frontline support for stakeholders. Key measures include developing anti-bribery contractual clauses, training modules and reporting mechanisms, as well as offering actionable guidance on rejecting corruption. Through our country-based Collective Action initiatives, we equip local companies with industry-specific tools to combat corruption.\n\nAdditionally, MACN advocates higher integrity standards and clearly defined anti-corruption regulation in maritime trade. Our collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the leading body on maritime governance, has been pivotal. Together, we have successfully placed maritime corruption on the IMO agenda and issued actionable anti-corruption guidance for both private and public sectors. This achievement highlights the critical importance of addressing maritime corruption and reinforces MACN’s role as a catalyst for meaningful change in the industry.\n\n### Targeted and adaptive interventions\n\n_Corruption in the maritime sector varies significantly by region. How does MACN tailor its anti-corruption strategies to address specific regional challenges? And what steps are taken to ensure these strategies remain adaptable in a changing global environment?_\n\nMACN is a data-driven initiative that leverages frontline industry data to identify and address the most prevalent and severe corruption risks. We have collected nearly 65,000 anonymous incident reports, detailing firsthand accounts of corrupt demands across more than 1,300 ports. The data helps us build anti-corruption initiatives that are targeting the reported challenges. This in turn helps us get buy-in from companies and governments as we are trying to resolve practical difficulties in daily operations.\n\nMACN applies adaptive learning in all its interventions, recognising that combating corruption often produces unexpected outcomes. When successful anti-corruption efforts eliminate issues in one area, they may resurface in another form elsewhere in the supply chain. Ongoing monitoring and stakeholder dialogue are crucial to stay ahead of these emerging challenges.\n\n### All stakeholders play a role\n\n_What role do different stakeholder groups (private sector, international organisations, governments and civil society) play in supporting MACN, and how does MACN engage with them to maximise efficiency in preventing corruption?_\n\nThe role of various stakeholders in addressing corruption depends on the specific challenges faced in each country. However, at a broader level, MACN’s Collective Action approach is built on several key assumptions.\n\nFirst, the maritime industry must comply with national and international anti-corruption regulations, gather evidence and use MACN’s anonymous reporting platforms to highlight systemic corruption challenges in the port and maritime sectors.\n\nSecond, governments must be open to learning from the private sector's experiences, using evidence to improve their compliance standards, regulatory frameworks and enforcement systems.\n\nThird, MACN and our local civil society partners play a crucial role in holding both public- and private-sector stakeholders accountable, serving as trust builders between the two. Multilateral organisations, such as the IMO, OECD and others, can apply regulatory and normative pressure to drive behavioural and policy changes in both the public and private sector.\n\nWe and our implementing partners carefully assess the position and influence of each stakeholder group to identify who can play which role in our collective efforts to champion the overall anti-corruption agenda.","2024-12-06","how-targeting-maritime-corruption-can-save-and-generate-millions-annually-2730","How targeting maritime corruption can save and generate millions annually","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F06d4f05b-7dfe-457a-a9de-6d25aa0f9a0e?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[293,294],"Collective Action","Private Sector",[18],[],2730,[293,294],[18],[],[],[253,293],[],"2024-12-06T17:01:48.000Z","b0662e2a-864d-4888-a1b7-4342b7570b30","2025-08-31T23:14:40.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fhow-targeting-maritime-corruption-can-save-and-generate-millions-annually-2730",{"id":310,"body":311,"status":6,"type":10,"date":312,"slug":313,"title":314,"image":315,"countries":316,"topic":317,"activity":318,"tags":319,"nid":320,"topics":321,"activities":322,"authors":323,"images":326,"websites":22,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":23,"translations":327,"translation_of":22,"user_created":38,"date_created":328,"user_updated":256,"date_updated":329,"content":330,"link":331},10584,"As cryptoassets and other blockchain-based tokens enter the mainstream, alarm bells are ringing about the risks of their misuse. The technology is neutral in itself, but like any mechanism to transfer value, it can and does facilitate a wide range of crimes.\n\nAnd it’s not just scams, hacks and ransomware attacks. Cryptoassets are now seen in practically all crime types, from drug trafficking and terrorist financing to sanctions evasion, and increasingly as a tool for laundering the proceeds of those crimes.\n\nWhen it comes to the links between crypto and _corruption_, research and closed case examples are still scant. But since both are important enablers of crime, it’s vital to better understand how they intersect.\n\nThis blog outlines some basic areas of concern. Despite the gaps in data and analysis, one thing is clear. While the technologies are fairly new, the corrupt practices are not: they are simply manifesting in different ways.\n\n> _Crypto and corruption: what we mean_\n> \n> _In this blog we take a broad view of both crypto and corruption. By “crypto”, we mean cryptoassets such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) as well as stablecoins tied to fiat currencies such as Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC); plus other digital tokens that run on public, decentralised blockchains. The scope also includes the companies, industries and services built around crypto, as well as the systems for their regulation and supervision and for law enforcement. “Corruption” refers not just to bribery, but to any abuse of entrusted power for undue benefit – whether financial or political, whether personal or for a collective entity._\n\n### 1 Crypto for bribery\n\nIs crypto a brilliant way to pay bribes and kickbacks? Transfers are pseudonymous after all – linked to long wallet addresses like _1Lbcfr2sAHTG9CgdQo3HTMTkV7LK4ZnX75_ rather than names. Transfers can be made directly between individuals, through decentralised platforms or peer-to-peer transactions, which avoids awkward questions about who is who and where the money comes from.\n\nCrypto holdings are easier to keep private, so might not be included in the asset declarations of politically exposed persons keen not to reveal all of their hidden wealth. And it’s fast and easy: you can transfer crypto to any person, anywhere in the world at the touch of a button. That makes it superficially more attractive than an international bank transfer, and less hassle and personal risk than travelling to another continent carrying suitcases stuffed with cash.\n\nSome clearly think crypto is great for bribes:\n\n*   In 2024, a Ukrainian Member of Parliament was [sentenced to eight years in prison](https:\u002F\u002Fhacc-decided.ti-ukraine.org\u002Fen\u002Fnews\u002Fnardepa-odarcenka-zasudili-do-8-rokiv-vyaznici) for offering a bribe of EUR 46,000 in bitcoin to secure funding for reconstruction projects.\n*   Crypto payments were allegedly made to a former senior official at the China Securities Regulatory Commission in return for [abuses of power](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ccn.com\u002Fnews\u002Fcrypto\u002Fyao-qian-china-cbdc-crypto-corruption\u002F) in making appointments and securing loans – alongside expensive liquor and invitations to banquets.\n*   In June 2025, two employees of the state-owned China Construction Bank were charged in Hong Kong with bribery and other offences: they allegedly accepted around USD 470,000 in crypto in exchange for [authenticating false documents](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.artemis.bm\u002Fnews\u002Fchina-construction-bank-manager-accused-of-accepting-bribes-from-vesttoo-employee\u002F) for the now-bankrupt Israeli firm Vesttoo.\n\nYet the use of crypto for bribery has a unique vulnerability: transactions on public blockchains are permanent and publicly visible. If investigators can verifiably link an address to a suspect, the evidence of the bribery remains accessible forever.\n\nSadly, it’s pretty hard to identify bribes or kickbacks being paid unless you already know there’s a bribery scheme or you know the addresses of suspected accomplices. That might explain why major crypto bribery cases haven’t surfaced (yet!).\n\n### 2 Laundering proceeds of corruption using crypto\n\nWhat about laundering the proceeds of corruption? For those with a lot of dirty money to launder, crypto adds a new dimension to the playbook.\n\nSure, keep the shell companies and offshore bank accounts, the trusts and real estate and gambling schemes, the hawala networks. Now you can add to the mix by converting corrupt proceeds into crypto, converting these to other coins, hopping across blockchains and using privacy-enhancing technologies to throw investigators off track.\n\nAs adoption of tokenised assets grows – digital representations of financial or real-world assets – we can expect corrupt actors to buy not only villas in Tuscany and ski apartments in Switzerland, but tokens representing these. And while you can’t ski on a digital token, it is likely attractive to money launderers to be able to trade in a broad range of investments while keeping the beneficial owner hidden.\n\nAre corrupt actors using crypto to launder their funds? There’s little direct evidence, but it does seem likely. Corrupt individuals have long relied on professional money laundering services, often provided by lawyers and accountants. [Europol](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.europol.europa.eu\u002Fpublications-events\u002Fmain-reports\u002Fsocta-report) warns that these professionals,\n\n> “increasingly with specialised knowledge in digital asset trading, have developed parallel, underground financial systems that operate outside the regulatory frameworks governing legal financial institutions”.\n\nAnd we do see that law enforcement is starting to take down organised groups that specialise in laundering illicit funds, including through crypto.\n\nAn [Australian takedown](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ato.gov.au\u002Fmedia-centre\u002Falleged-qld-money-laundering-organisation-dismantled) of an organised money laundering operation in June 2025, for example points to millions of tainted Australian dollars laundered through crypto exchanges as well as bank accounts, couriers, a car dealership and a sales company. Some outfits specialise in a specific clientele: in the Europol-coordinated [Operation Karasu](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.europol.europa.eu\u002Fmedia-press\u002Fnewsroom\u002Fnews\u002F17-providers-of-criminal-banking-services-arrested) in 2025, authorities arrested 17 suspects alleged to be providing money laundering services to Chinese- and Arabic-speaking clients using hawala banking, cash transactions and crypto.\n\nThe largest blockbuster takedown to date is the [October 2025 indictment of the Chairman of Prince Group](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.justice.gov\u002Fopa\u002Fpr\u002Fchairman-prince-group-indicted-operating-cambodian-forced-labor-scam-compounds-engaged), a Cambodia-based multinational business enterprise, and the filing of a forfeiture action for more than 127,000 bitcoin – approximately USD 15 billion at the time of seizure. The press release described the use of professional money laundering operations and pointed to highly sophisticated techniques, such as “spraying” stolen cryptoassets across multiple addresses to obscure the trail of the funds.\n\nCommenting on the indictment, the head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration highlighted the role of corruption in such schemes. He explained how: \n\n> complex criminal schemes \\[such as this\\] exploit global financial systems and emerging technologies to conceal illicit proceeds. These networks operate at the intersection of drug trafficking, corruption, and financial crime, threatening the stability of institutions and communities, alike.\n\n### 3 Corrupt law enforcement in crypto cases\n\nSay you’re a law enforcement officer – a public servant. You’re one of the few in your agency with the technical skills to trace and seize cryptoassets suspected of being involved in crime.\n\nYou see an opportunity to supplement your salary by stealing crypto during an investigation or taking payments from criminals to leave their holdings in peace. Nobody will know – surely?\n\n*   That’s what two US agents from the [Drug Enforcement Administration](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.justice.gov\u002Farchives\u002Fopa\u002Fpr\u002Fformer-dea-agent-sentenced-extortion-money-laundering-and-obstruction-related-silk-road) and [Secret Service](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.justice.gov\u002Farchives\u002Fopa\u002Fpr\u002Fformer-secret-service-agent-sentenced-scheme-related-silk-road-investigation) thought, when they abused their power as law enforcement officers and their access to government-controlled wallets to steal tens of millions of USD in bitcoin linked to the takedown of the illicit Silk Road online marketplace.\n*   In Russia, a former investigator was found guilty in 2023 of [accepting bitcoin bribes](https:\u002F\u002Fcointelegraph.com\u002Fnews\u002Frussia-seizes-10-million-bitcoin-from-official-biggest-bribery) equivalent to tens of millions of US dollars from an organised crime group in order not to confiscate their bitcoin holdings – estimated at USD 138 million at the time.\n*   In Iran, senior intelligence officers of the Revolutionary Guard are alleged to have gained around USD 21 million during the takedown of the Cryptoland exchange: following the CEO’s arrest, they [stole and sold his tokens](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.iranintl.com\u002Fen\u002F202503309549) before the arrest was made public and the tokens’ value collapsed. \n\nIt’s not uncommon for law enforcement officers to go rogue, or for bribes to be paid to influence law enforcement actions or judicial proceedings. So authorities don’t just need to build capacity to go after crypto-related crime. They also need to look out for crypto-related corruption risks among their own ranks, including entities such as asset management offices that have custody over seized and confiscated cryptoassets.\n\n### 4 When the crypto industry meets politics\n\nCrypto is a fast-evolving industry that demonstrates genuinely exciting financial and technological innovation. It’s no wonder that politicians all over the world are getting interested.\n\nCorrupt behaviour by politicians involving the crypto industry is still a realm of speculation, as data on real-world cases is sparse. But red flags for corruption are a common feature of all fast-growing, profitable industries with highly technical aspects, like mining and defence. So, it is sensible to look out for common risks, which span from licencing schemes to the shaping of cryptoasset regulations or the resources put into enforcement.\n\nWhen it comes to public trust in government, even suspicions of crypto-related wrongdoing matter. Examples range from a [political financing scandal in Colombia](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theblock.co\u002Fpost\u002F293857\u002Fcolombian-president-crypto-donation-campaign-2022-daily-cop) to [graft accusations in Venezuela](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.barrons.com\u002Fnews\u002Fvenezuela-kills-off-petro-cryptocurrency-1e2b0317) and to allegations of [crypto-related irregularity affecting the US President](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.economist.com\u002Fleaders\u002F2025\u002F05\u002F15\u002Fcrypto-has-become-the-ultimate-swamp-asset) and his family.\n\nAnd in the Czech Republic, when the Justice Ministry [accepted a bitcoin donation](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.occrp.org\u002Fen\u002Fnews\u002Fbitcoin-scandal-triggers-czech-government-crisis) worth around USD 46 million from a convicted criminal, the ensuing scandal triggered a public investigation and the resignation of the Justice Minister; some feared it might even topple the government.\n\n### 5 Corruption fuelling organised crime and state capture\n\nThe link between crypto and corruption with possibly the most damaging social impact is its role in enabling criminal gangs to carry out cybercrime and launder money with impunity.\n\nAs detailed in a 2025 UNODC report on [corruption and cybercrime](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unodc.org\u002Froseap\u002Fuploads\u002Fdocuments\u002FPublications\u002F2025\u002F2025.10.21_The_Nexus_Between_Cybercrime_and_Corruption.pdf), corruption both creates the “permissive environment” that allow cybercrime operations to flourish and “enables many daily operations of cybercriminal networks.”\n\nIn [Southeast Asia](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unodc.org\u002Froseap\u002Fen\u002F2025\u002F04\u002Fcyberfraud-inflection-point-mekong\u002Fstory.html), for example, a separate UNODC report depicts how industrial-scale scam centres run by organised crime groups generate huge amounts of illegal revenue – mostly in crypto. Despite often being plainly identified in public reports, they remain operational and engage in human trafficking to obtain unwilling workers. The report emphasises “high rates of corruption which criminal actors can leverage” to continue their scam operations unmolested.\n\nUNODC warns that the revenue generated by scam centres, coupled with the ability to easily launder the stolen crypto, is increasing the power and influence of organised crime groups as well as their financial liquidity. And that gives them even more ability to corrupt and capture politicians and states.\n\nThat may already be happening, according to a November 2025 _Economist_ report on [allegations of political collusion](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.economist.com\u002Fasia\u002F2025\u002F11\u002F20\u002Fthe-politicians-protecting-huge-criminal-networks) in scam operations in Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand. These have led to the resignation of a deputy finance minister, the jailing of a mayor and a warning from Thailand's deputy leader of the opposition that without action against politicians colluding in scam operations,\n\n> “we’ll wake up to find the country run by crooks in suits\".\n\n### What to do?\n\nCrypto represents an exciting transformation in financial systems. The industry and its underlying technology could improve privacy, efficiency and access to financial markets. This may benefit many people poorly served by today’s centralised systems.\n\nBut without a clear understanding of crypto-related risks and proper safeguards, the industry could create more opportunities for corruption and related financial crimes such as money laundering, terrorist financing and sanctions evasion. Crypto-fuelled corruption could weaken trust in governments and be leveraged to undermine the stability and security of nation states.\n\nAt the Basel Institute, we’re keen to explore better how the worlds of crypto and corruption intersect and how best to mitigate both systemic and day-to-day risks. We’re also committed to building the capacity of anti-corruption and asset recovery practitioners to “follow the money” across blockchains and to connect these to wider financial and criminal investigations.\n\nBeyond training for [individuals](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcrypto-aml-training) and [public agencies](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002FICAR-training), we also bring together people from across sectors and geographies at our annual [Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptoassets](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002F9crc) together with Europol and UNODC. Look out for more on this topic in the coming months!","2025-11-27","crypto-the-ultimate-enabler-of-corruption-2882","Crypto: the ultimate enabler of corruption?","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fd41fd31d-6c56-48e0-96cc-2be74f18b731?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[18],[],2882,[247],[18],[324,325],1360,1361,[],[],"2025-11-27T17:01:44.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:38.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fcrypto-the-ultimate-enabler-of-corruption-2882",{"id":333,"body":334,"status":6,"type":148,"date":335,"slug":336,"title":337,"image":338,"countries":339,"topic":340,"activity":341,"tags":343,"nid":352,"topics":353,"activities":354,"authors":355,"images":356,"websites":357,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":358,"translation_of":22,"user_created":38,"date_created":359,"user_updated":256,"date_updated":360,"content":361,"link":362},9567,"Released today, the 10th annual edition of the Basel AML Index raises grave questions about whether jurisdictions are serious about tackling their money laundering and terrorist financing (ML\u002FTF) risks, and what is holding them back.\n\nThe Basel AML Index is an independent annual ranking that assesses ML\u002FTF threats around the world and the capacity of jurisdictions’ anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism (AML\u002FCFT) measures to address their specific risks.\n\nThe average global money laundering risk score increased from 5.22 to 5.3 out of 10, as assessed across all 110 jurisdictions in the 2021 Public Edition of the Basel AML Index.\n\nEven among jurisdictions whose risk scores improved this year, none managed to improve by even one point out of 10. Half of improvements were 0.3 of a point or less.\n\nWhat is holding jurisdictions back from effectively tackling their ML\u002FTF risks and avoiding being the weak spot in regional and international financial systems? This year’s [Basel AML Index report](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2021-09\u002FBasel_AML_Index_2021_10th%20Edition.pdf) looks at four areas of AML\u002FCFT policy that urgently need more attention.\n\n### 1 – A strong response to threats from virtual assets\n\nThe use of virtual assets such as cryptocurrencies is exploding – for legitimate as well as illicit purposes. This year’s Basel AML Index report analyses data from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on how jurisdictions are responding to ML\u002FTF threats related to virtual assets.\n\nThe answer: not well at all. Most jurisdictions assessed or re-assessed in the last year have worsened their scores for technical compliance with FATF Recommendation 15 on virtual assets and virtual asset service providers. Average compliance levels have dropped by 10 percentage points globally.\n\n[Read the report to find out why](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2021-09\u002FBasel_AML_Index_2021_10th%20Edition.pdf).\n\n### 2 – Effective prevention, not just enforcement\n\nPrevious editions of the Basel AML Index have lamented that many jurisdictions have AML\u002FCFT systems that are mostly compliant with FATF technical recommendations but are ineffective in practice.\n\n[This year’s report](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2021-09\u002FBasel_AML_Index_2021_10th%20Edition.pdf) looks at the distinction between compliance with technical recommendations vs effective implementation. Does the problem prevail for both prevention _and_ enforcement?\n\nThe analysis reveals that:\n\n*   once again, jurisdictions score rather badly for effective implementation across the board;\n*   the discrepancy between technical compliance and effective implementation is even worse in relation to prevention.\n\nThese findings should ring an alarm bell for policy makers. Jurisdictions should invest more resources in the prevention of ML\u002FTF, without reducing resources for enforcement.\n\n### 3 - Beneficial ownership transparency\n\nBeneficial ownership transparency is directly related to the effectiveness of a jurisdiction’s AML systems and the essential role of these systems in preventing, detecting, prosecuting and sanctioning financial crimes.\n\nThe [Basel AML Index report](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2021-09\u002FBasel_AML_Index_2021_10th%20Edition.pdf) analyses the implementation of beneficial ownership registers around the world. It shows how slow and ineffective implementation of beneficial ownership transparency measures continues to provide safe havens for dirty money.\n\nThis is damaging for individual jurisdictions, but more importantly undermines all global efforts to combat money laundering.\n\n### 4 – Addressing ML\u002FTF vulnerabilities beyond the financial sector\n\nThe final issue highlighted by the Basel AML Index data analysis is the generally weak application of AML\u002FCFT preventive measures by lawyers, accountants, real estate agents and other designated non-financial businesses and professions non-financial entities (DNFBPs).\n\nThis means that there is a significant risk that such businesses and professions remain open to abuse by criminals and corrupt individuals wishing to launder their money. Moreover, there is increasing concern among regulators that:\n\n*   some DNFBPs are advising and assisting criminal clients with hiding and laundering illicit funds;\n*   as some high-profile cases have shown, accountants are used as intermediaries to avoid scrutiny.\n\nAt a minimum, more supervision over DNFBPs is urgently needed. Certain jurisdictions should also tighten their regulatory framework – and ensure that it is effectively enforced – over selected groups of DNFBPs in line with their risk exposure.\n\n### Regional deep dives\n\nFor a second year, the report offers profiles of money laundering risks in different regions. Our regional infographics show how jurisdictions score in relation to each other – and in too many cases let their neighbours down. \n\nPolicymakers should analyse their respective jurisdictions’ risks and make plans for serious reform. No jurisdiction is doing well. We call on all jurisdictions to step up their game.\n\n### See the report and website\n\n*   For a full results, analysis and interactive comparison tables, plus the opportunity to demo or subscribe to the Expert Edition, see our _new_ Basel AML Index website: [index.baselgovernance.org](https:\u002F\u002Findex.baselgovernance.org\u002F)\n*   [Download the press release](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2021-09\u002FBasel%20AML%20Index%202021%20press%20release%2013Sep2021.pdf)\n*   [Download the 2021 report (PDF)](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2021-09\u002FBasel_AML_Index_2021_10th%20Edition.pdf)","2021-09-13","basel-aml-index-2021-4-things-holding-back-the-global-fight-against-money-laundering-2087","Basel AML Index 2021: 4 things holding back the global fight against money laundering","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F21c506b0-bf87-4550-82b1-bed5abd4ea12?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[176,14],[220,342],"Media releases",[344,348],{"tags_id":345},{"id":346,"name":347},854,"Virtual assets",{"tags_id":349},{"id":350,"name":351},818,"Anti-money laundering",2087,[176,247],[220,342],[],[],[253,220],[],"2022-05-26T22:52:36.000Z","2026-05-29T22:21:43.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fbasel-aml-index-2021-4-things-holding-back-the-global-fight-against-money-laundering-2087",{"left":364,"top":364,"width":365,"height":365,"rotate":364,"vFlip":366,"hFlip":366,"body":367},0,20,false,"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M17 10a.75.75 0 0 1-.75.75H5.612l4.158 3.96a.75.75 0 1 1-1.04 1.08l-5.5-5.25a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.08l5.5-5.25a.75.75 0 1 1 1.04 1.08L5.612 9.25H16.25A.75.75 0 0 1 17 10\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\u002F>",1780676519016]