If you were wondering why the FARC bought into the story that the hostages covertly liberated (by the Colombian Armed Forces) were being transferred to another rebel base-camp, they were convinced, in part, by the presence of what appeared to be helicopter transport furnished by a "neutral" non-governmental organisation. The truth is, many radical NGOs are global support systems for designated terrorist groups; they do little to hide their political sympathies for "insurgents" seeking to replace existing democratic governments with communist or radical socialist agendas. Perhaps it is time for you to take a good lookat the NGOs who are your clients. Who are the beneficiaries of their operations? Are you sure?

This week's news, that the Republic of Sao Tome & Principe has passed and enacted a money laundering law, could now be cause for concern if you are with an international bank. Sao Tome, which was designated a country of concern by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in March, has been a target of US law enforcement for some time, due to its prior lack of any AML laws, and suspicious activities observed by investigators. My reason for this alert deals with the illicit funds already on deposit. Where will they now go?

Please correct the URL leading you to my article "How Money Launderers Target Managed Funds," as follows:

Readers who reside in Singapore, and are planning on attending my lecture on "Money Laundering through Trusts and Estates," at the Supreme Court Building on the 29th of this month, from 16:30 to 19:30 and sponsored by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, can register through the STEP (Singapore Chapter).

Guido Alejandro Antonini Wilson is the Venezuelan-American whose attempts to bulk-cash smuggle $ 790,500 past Argentinean Customs opened a Pandora's Box exposing official corruption and money laundering in Venezuela and in Argentina. The problem is, the lessons of his case seem to be lost on all the countries that Antonini touched in his money laundering operations; Let us review those lessons, see how they are being ignored, and why.  

If you have never seen the OFAC Risk Matrix on charities, and bank charitable organisations, you should read a short article from the US Treasury on the subject. Details in the main article.

Our readers in Jamaica heard me on Friday morning on the daily financial programme "Breakfast Club," discussing the scandal involving FSC-sanctioned foreign exchange trader Olint Corporation, whose alleged misconduct and fraud was discussed this week in a filing by the US National Futures Association. 

The United States is circulating a draft resolution before the United Nations Security Council, proposing that an international arms embargo be imposed against Zimbabwe. It also requests that travel bans and asset freeze sanctions be instituted against fourteen prominent Politically Exposed Persons (PEPS) that it blames for violently interfering with recent elections. It is believed that some UN action could occur as early as Tuesday. Details are available in the main article.

A Jersey law firm, BakerPlatt, has published a White Paper analysing the draft European Union 'White List' of countries said to have adequate anti-money laundering and terrorist financing controls. The omission of the Crown Dependencies, whose AML/CFT legislation and practises are superior to those of some of the listed nations, indicates a political agenda, according to the authors, who support this thesis with convincing statistics. I recommend this to our readers. To review the White Paper:

Franklin Duran, the only defendant not to plead guilty in the Antonini case pending in US District Court in Miami, has charged that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias was personally involved in the reported attempts to coerce Guido Antonini Wilson involving his future testimony about the source and destination of $790,000 found in his belongings at a Buenos Aires airport last year. Duran has also, through his counsel, alleged that evidence produced thus far in the case indicates that certain other important disclosures will occur at the trial, currently set for this Fall. Antonini is presently wanted by the authorities in Argentina on money laundering and other related charges.