Austria Computer Trader

The NRB has the authority to freeze and seize assets related to criminal investigations. However, the GON’s ability to identify and trace assets is hindered by a lack of a computerized informational sharing system. For example, many bank branch offices do not have computers. The Nepal Police also has the authority to seize any goods or property related to criminal investigations. ...

The CB now supervises 61 hawala brokers, which—like other financial institutions in the UAE—are now required to submit sheets containing names and addresses of transferors and beneficiaries to the CB and to complete suspicious transaction reports. The new attention on hawala is encouraging more people to use regulated exchange houses in the UAE. Traders in Dubai’s Central Souk (Market) said hawala exchange rates are now only 3 percent cheaper than formal exchange houses, persuading many to use the formal, and more secure, banking network. ... [Read More]

Country Reports: N-Z

Namibia Namibia is not a regional financial center. In addition to its Central Bank, Namibia has four commercial banks. Of particular concern in Namibia is the smuggling of precious minerals and gems, the proceeds of which Namibian authorities think may be laundered through Namibian financial institutions. In November of 2004, Namibia criminalized money laundering with passage of the Prevention of Organized Crime Bill. The new law requires both bank and non-bank financial institutions to report suspicious transactions to the Central Bank and provide relevant documents and other information to government authorities for use in criminal investigations. Non-bank financial institutions, such as private pension funds, the stock exchange, and investment companies, were previously ... [Read More]

Chemical Weapons Convention -- Annexes and Original Signatories

PART VI: ACTIVITIES NOT PROHIBITED UNDER THIS CONVENTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE VIREGIME FOR SCHEDULE 1 CHEMICALS AND FACILITIES RELATED TO SUCH CHEMICALSA. GENERAL PROVISIONS 1. A State Party shall not produce, acquire, retain or use Schedule 1 chemicals outside the territories of States Parties and shall not transfer such chemicals outside its territory except to another State Party. 2. A State Party shall not produce, acquire, retain, transfer or use Schedule 1 chemicals unless: (a) The chemicals are applied to research, medical, pharmaceutical or protective purposes; and (b) The types and quantities of chemicals ... [Read More]

International Narcotics Control Strategy Reports

US DEPARTMENT OF STATEBUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS MATTERSINTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRAGEGY REPORTAPRIL 1994FINANCIAL CRIMES AND MONEY LAUNDERING1994 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORTINTERNATIONAL MONEY LAUNDERINGOVERVIEWIntelligence findings from North and South America, Eastern and Western Europe, South and East Asia, Africa and the Middle East confirm that another significant shift has occurred in money laundering trends and methods, requiring changes in policy and strategy for 1994.The critical aspects are the volume of non-drug related money laundering; increased investment of illegal proceeds in legitimate business, including the financial industry; and the targeting of financial systems in countries/territories (some with little or no domestic involvement in drug trading or other serious proceeds-generating crimes) to launder drug and other proceeds generated by crimes committed in other jurisdictions.In 1988, when the United Nations Convention was ... [Read More]

M) Money Laundering and Financial Crimes

In Somalia, there currently is an absence of regulated commercial banks. As a result, remittance companies are the primary conduits for moving funds into and out of Somalia. Although the overwhelming majority of these funds are used for legitimate purposes, a small percentage of transactions—sometimes labeled “black hawala”—mask the transfer of value for criminal purposes. The following is an example of how trade is used to provide counter-valuation for hawala1: A Somali trader buys commodities from Dubai for resale in Somalia. In order to finance the trade, the Somali trader contacts a local agent of a remittance company in Mogadishu. The trader gives cash to the local remittance agent. (Most transactions are dollar-based but other currencies are used as well.) A commission is charged for the exchange. The trader asks that the funds be transferred to his foreign bank account located in Dubai. ... [Read More]

J) Europe and Central Asia

Accomplishments. Work on a National Drug Intelligence Information Center was completed in early 2001 in connection with the final phase of an institution building project sponsored by the UN Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UNODCCP). The operational heart of the Information Center consists of a central server in the Ministry of Internal Affairs connected with computer systems in the State Drug Control Commission, the Committee for National Security, the State Border Guard Service, the General Prosecutor, and the Ministry of Health. The GOTX hoped that the Information Center and resulting connectivity between its primary law enforcement agencies would facilitate the collection, analysis, and exchange of drug related intelligence, and enhance the effectiveness of Turkmen counternarcotics efforts. Unfortunately, the project collapsed in less than a year as a result of poor maintenance of the equipment. The central computer server is damaged and most computer stations are n ... [Read More]

Europe and Central Asia

Agreements and Treaties. Italy is a party to the 1961 UN Single Convention, the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the 1972 Protocol and the 1988 UN Drug Convention. In December 2000, an international conference was held in Palermo, Italy, for the signing of treaty on transnational crime. The treaty must be ratified by a quorum of 40 countries before it comes into force. This new treaty will strengthen governments against serious crimes, including drug trafficking, money laundering, trafficking of human beings and arms trafficking. As a member of the European Union, Italy participates in the Dublin Group, UNDCP Pompidou group, Europol, the EU Commission, and attendant committees and working groups.Cultivation/Production. There is no known coca bush cultivation in Italy. However, opium poppy grows spontaneously in the southern part of Italy and the island of Sicily. It does not present a threat due to the low alkaloid content. [Read More]