Anti-Financial Crime & Financial Crime Compliance
Regulatory Intelligence Leadership | Insight | Network

Asia-Pacific, Banking, Financial Crime

INSIGHT: How Chinese money laundering groups undercut rivals in a ‘bloodless coup’

Premium November 22, 2025

The Chinese national flag is seen in Beijing, China April 29, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo

Premium

AMLA DAY ANALYSIS: Agency is racing against time to tackle divergence, crypto and AI as political backing comes with conditions

 Premium

OPINION: As AMLA pivots mission from rules to harmonisation, the challenge is to follow through and deliver

AMLA DAY HIGHLIGHTS: Three times Brussels fires clear shots across agency’s bow, our ‘Word of the Day’ plus ‘Faces We Spotted in the Crowd’

By PAUL O’DONOGHUE, Senior Correspondent

CHINESE underground banks have emerged as a leading force in the world of international money laundering, supporting drug cartels, cybercriminals and North Korean hackers.

The U.S. Treasury Department estimates that around $154 billion in illicit proceeds flows through China each year. Most of the money comes from Mexican cartels that sell drugs in the U.S.

AML Intelligence
Subscribe now to have unlimited access

With our membership subscription, you will have unlimited access to the AML Intelligence site, updated daily with the latest analysis, opinion, and breaking news across the sector, newsletter delivered twice per week, access to our Global Bank Fines & Penalties database, free access to Boardroom Series and more!

View subscription optionsIf you have an account, log in
Premium

AMLA DAY ANALYSIS: Agency is racing against time to tackle divergence, crypto and AI as political backing comes with conditions

 Premium

OPINION: As AMLA pivots mission from rules to harmonisation, the challenge is to follow through and deliver

AMLA DAY HIGHLIGHTS: Three times Brussels fires clear shots across agency’s bow, our ‘Word of the Day’ plus ‘Faces We Spotted in the Crowd’

Regulatory Watch News

  • U.S. Extradites to Ghana Former Ghanaian Official Convicted of Stealing and Misappropriating More Than $6M

    US Department of Justice

    Former Agency Head Failed to Return for Trial and Now Faces a 10-Year Prison Sentence in Ghana
    On June 8, the United States extradited Sedina Christine Tamakloe Attionu, also known as “Sedina Sharon Christine Acolatse,” a Ghanaian citizen, to serve a 10-year prison term in Ghana for convictions on more than 70 criminal counts that include charges of stealing, conspiracy, causing financial loss to the State and to public property, money laundering, and other offenses.

  • Today, Tuesday 09 June, the UK Government has varied the following 3 individuals and 2 entities under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

    UK Government

    Individuals varied:

    Name: Unique ID:
    Ahmed KERIMOV RUS2529
    Talat SAFAROV RUS2531
    Anar MADATLI RUS2532
    Entities varied:
    Name: Unique ID:
    2RIVERS PTE LTD RUS2380
    2RIVERS DMCC RUS2381

  • European business wallets: Council adopts negotiating position

    European Council

    Today, the Council adopted its position on the proposal to establish European business wallets, a digital tool designed to simplify and secure business interactions across the EU, both between companies and with public administrations. Building on the eIDAS2 framework, European business wallets will allow companies to digitalise many operations that currently require in-person processing. By providing a harmonised European solution, European business wallets will enable secure, cross-border communication and document exchange for businesses operating in multiple member states.

Sign Up To Our Newsletter

Contact Us