Counterproliferation Finance Detection and Deterrence – What Can Financial Institutions Do?

The U.S. Treasury recently identified proliferation networks operating on behalf of Russia, North Korea, China, Iran, Syria, and Pakistan as threats to U.S. national security. These networks exploited the U.S. financial system to finance the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including financing to procure WMD components and raising revenues to support efforts by these state actors to advance their WMD activities.

2024 National Proliferation Financing Risk Assessment

The U.S. Department of the Treasury published the 2024 National Proliferation Financing Risk Assessment in February 2024 providing an in-depth analysis of the threats and vulnerabilities related to proliferation financing (PF) and highlighting key countries and non-state actors working to gain access to weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their components and to conventional restricted weapons and technologies.

Liberating Limits: OFAC Licenses

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The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) safeguards national security and helps advance U.S. foreign policy objectives by administering the U.S. sanctions regime. OFAC’s general and specific licenses serve as key mechanisms for authorizing and regulating certain transactions that would otherwise be prohibited under sanctions programs. The exceptions provided by licenses help businesses and individuals navigate international transactions without violating U.S. sanctions policies.

Golden Visas & Global Graft – How Criminal Actors Exploit Citizenship by Investment Programs

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While special naturalization programs offered in certain jurisdictions to foreign investors intend to attract foreign direct investment and economic and infrastructure development, these programs can be abused by criminals who seek to launder and conceal proceeds of crime or commit new offences, including financial crimes.