Financial Crime Insights

How do terrorists procure and protect their funds, and are the policies currently in place to counter this fit for purpose? RUSI Associate Fellow and terrorism expert Jessica Davis joins CFCS's Stephen Reimer for a discussion on her latest book, Illicit Money. They explore why new thinking is needed to tackle terrorist financing, including an understanding of the complex ways in which funds are raised, used, moved and stored.

Independent journalism and civil society are vibrant in the Balkans. Yet kleptocracy and corruption stifle the region's progress and the prospects for individual EU accession. Leila Bičakčić, executive director of the Centre for Investigative Reporting (CIN) in Sarajevo, joins RUSI Europe's Kinga Redlowska to discuss the multifaceted challenges of illicit finance in the Balkans, including the region's complex history, the influence of Russia and China, and the implications for Europe and beyond.

Investigative journalist Geoff White discusses his new book The Lazarus Heist. It's the story of how North Korea has harnessed cutting-edge technology to pursue a highly effective campaign of cyber-raids to fund its economy. This has included the exploitation of central banks, cryptocurrency exchanges, Hollywood film studios and the UK's National Health Service. Geoff is joined by CFCS's Tom Keatinge and Allison Owen to dive into the mechanics of this cybercriminal threat and its implications for democracies.

Kleptocracy is one of the foremost financial crimes of our time. The role of grassroots actors in holding governments and corrupt actors to account is vital, particularly when it comes to catching illicit funds before they disappear into the global financial system. Host Alanna Putze is joined by CFCS colleagues Tom Keatinge and Maria Sofia Reiser to discuss a project that aims to strengthen the capabilities of investigative journalists and civil society in 'the first mile' of financial crime.

Journalist and author Oliver Bullough delves into his latest book, Butler to the World, which reveals how Britain came to assume its role as the centre of the offshore economy. He joins CFCS's Tom Keatinge and Helena Wood to discuss how so many elements of modern Britain have been put at the service of the world's oligarchs and kleptocrats with disastrous global consequences, what this means within the context of Russia's war in Ukraine, and whether change is realistic.

What stood out for the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies team in 2021? Tune in to the annual festive podcast episode with Isabella Chase, Aaron Arnold, Stephen Reimer and Helena Wood to find out about the financial crime scandals and surprises of 2021 and hear the team's predictions for the year ahead.

Criminals, malign actors and kleptocrats easily find homes in the UK and US for their ill-gotten gains thanks to professional enablers, who are an Achilles' heel in the fight against illicit finance. CFCS's Tom Keatinge ponders how to make a step-change in addressing this challenge. Joining him are Katie Benson of Manchester University, the German Marshall Fund's Josh Rudolph, Moyara Ruehsen of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism's Franz Wild.

Is the existing counterterrorist financing regime useful for tackling the far-right threat? At the launch of RUSI's Far-Right Extremism and Terrorism programme, CFCS's Tom Keatinge is joined by RUSI's Stephen Reimer, Bethan Johnson of the Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right, Jacob Davey of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and Brenna Smith from The New York Times to discuss fundraising strategies of the far right, and how these compare to the financing of transnational jihadist groups.

The principle that 'crime shouldn't pay' is enshrined in various anti-financial crime standards, yet only 2% of global criminal proceeds are frozen, and only 1% confiscated. With public finances increasingly strained, CFCS's Helena Wood explores whether it is time to reconsider the role of private sector actors in the fight against criminal wealth with Katherine Mulhern of Restitution Impact, former detective Jonathan Benton of Intelligent Sanctuary and Aidan Larkin of Asset Reality.

The US and UK have intensified their focus on tackling money laundering, kleptocracy and corruption. Now, words need to translate into action. RUSI set up a Taskforce on a Transatlantic Response to Illicit Finance (TARIF) to provide urgent input into the policy debate. CFCS's Tom Keatinge is joined by Taskforce members Moyara Ruehsen of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and Lord Garnier QC to give the scoop on the first meeting and discuss why any solution must start at home.