STR: Suspicious Transaction Report
Royal United Services Institute
From the team analysing the intersection of finance and security, tune into compelling conversations on the real-world impact of global illicit finance.
This podcast explores the financial dimensions of today's leading transnational security challenges. Host Tom Keatinge and the team from the Centre for Finance and Security at RUSI bring you unique insights on the challenges posed by illicit finance and practical analysis of the policy responses. They interview top thinkers and influential voices who unpack the complex world of money laundering, corruption, sanctions evasion and illicit flows, and explain how this shapes the evolving global security landscape, and what democracies and international institutions must do to stay ahead when it comes to the financial dimensions of the global threat outlook.
Suspicious Transaction Report is also home to CFS's 'Financial Crime Insights' podcast, which ran from 2020 to 2023.
This podcast explores the financial dimensions of today's leading transnational security challenges. Host Tom Keatinge and the team from the Centre for Finance and Security at RUSI bring you unique insights on the challenges posed by illicit finance and practical analysis of the policy responses. They interview top thinkers and influential voices who unpack the complex world of money laundering, corruption, sanctions evasion and illicit flows, and explain how this shapes the evolving global security landscape, and what democracies and international institutions must do to stay ahead when it comes to the financial dimensions of the global threat outlook.
Suspicious Transaction Report is also home to CFS's 'Financial Crime Insights' podcast, which ran from 2020 to 2023.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 10, 2021 • 27min
Financial Crime Insights Episode 22: Organised Environmental Crime: Dissecting the FATF Approach
Originally published 10 September 2021. In June 2020, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) urged countries to increase the use of financial investigations into illegal wildlife trade cases. A year on, in July 2021, it published a further analysis on mineral, waste and timber trafficking. In advance of the FATF's upcoming October plenary, Tom Keatinge and Alexandria Reid take a deep dive into the thornier aspects of the FATF's current approach to environmental crime.
Apr 19, 2021 • 37min
The NGO–Human Rights Sanctions Link
Governments pursuing human rights sanctions increasingly rely on evidence collected and submitted by NGOs on the ground. Charlie Loudon, international legal advisor at REDRESS – an organisation which fights torture – joins Emil Dall in offering insights on the vital role NGOs have in identifying states or entities that should be sanctioned, and why this matters not just for policy, but also for the victims. This week's 'In the News' includes CFCS's Emil Dall and Associate Fellow Samantha Sheen.
Apr 12, 2021 • 40min
Unintended Consequences: Humanitarianism and CTF Compliance
Aid organisations must navigate through tough circumstances to reach those most in need. The challenges are not solely physical; they also include compliance with a complex global sanctions and counter-terrorism finance regime, one that is often disconnected from realities on the ground. Former humanitarian policy advisor Rachel Sider joins Stephen Reimer to share insights from the field. This week's 'In the News' includes CFCS's Olivia Kearney and Associate Fellow Nick Turner.
Apr 6, 2021 • 38min
Dinosaur or Innovator? Inside the US AML Machine
Despite half a century of evolution, the US financial crime policy landscape remains as convoluted and challenging to navigate as ever. Yet, it has also shown real sparks of innovation, particularly in terms of information sharing and the much-lauded AML Act of 2020. Host Tom Keatinge is joined by RegTech consultant Jim Richards to dive into the complex world of financial crime compliance in the US and explore what might lie ahead. This week's 'In the News' includes RUSI's Darya Dolzikova and Associate Fellow Jessica Davis.
Mar 29, 2021 • 37min
Finding a Balance: Controls vs Inclusion
A robust anti-money laundering regime prevents crime and terror, yet it can also exclude large portions of society from financial services. Roughly 1.7 billion people across the globe lack access to finance, and this includes 1 million in the UK alone. Host Isabella Chase is joined by Mariam Zahari, Policy Specialist at the Alliance for Financial Inclusion, to explore why the fostering of an inclusive financial integrity framework matters for both sustainable development and global security. This week's 'In the News' includes CFCS's Wojciech Pawlus and RUSI Associate Fellow Malcolm Wright.
Mar 22, 2021 • 34min
Proliferation finance: A Sub-Saharan African Bank Stays Ahead
It's no secret that North Korea and other actors seek to exploit financial systems to pursue their proliferation goals. Sub-Saharan Africa has been one of the most affected regions; its financial institutions stand on the front lines of compliance, particularly when it comes to the recently-intensified UN sanctions measures. Host Wojciech Pawlus is joined by Mpendu Zwane, the counterproliferation finance manager at Absa, to hear how this South Africa-based banking group stays on top of the threat. This week's 'In the News' includes CFCS Director Tom Keatinge and RUSI Associate Fellow Gemma Rogers of Fintrail, the financial crime-fighting consultancy.
Mar 1, 2021 • 42min
Getting the Partnership Right
The public-private partnership (PPP) concept is now an essential component in the fight against financial crime, but that wasn't always the case. Host Tom Keatinge is joined by Paul Jevtovic, the former CEO of the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), who had an instrumental role in placing PPPs at the centre of financial crime-fighting. This week's 'In the News' includes CFCS's Isabella Chase and Michael O'Kane from leading UK law firm Peters & Peters.
Feb 22, 2021 • 37min
The Watchful Croupier: The UK Gambling Commission
Preventing financial crime in gambling is no mean feat, particularly given the diversity of criminal methods both online and on land. Yet the UK has managed to stay on top of the threat, even receiving accolades from FATF for the strength of its risk-based supervision. Claire Wilson, Senior Manager of Anti Money Laundering and Money Laundering Reporting Officer at the UK Gambling Commission, joins host Anton Moiseienko in offering insights on the UK's approach. This week's 'In the News' includes CFCS's Anton Moiseienko and RUSI Associate Fellow Matthew Redhead.
Feb 15, 2021 • 43min
The Illegal Wildlife Trade: Not Just a Talking Point
Environmental Crime is the 4th largest transnational organized crime in the world. This episode focuses on the illegal wildlife trade (IWT), where the pace of the global response does not match the scale of the threat. Yet, many local authorities embraced the challenge long before it was on the global anti-financial crime agenda. Host Alexandria Reid is joined by Atuweni Agbermodji, who headed Malawi's Financial Intelligence Authority and was instrumental in driving change to tackle IWT crime in the country. This week's 'In the News' includes CFCS's Maria Sofia Reiser and RUSI Associate Fellow David Artingstall.
Feb 8, 2021 • 39min
Digital ID: Advancing the Possibilities
A cashless society is nearly here and with it comes the need for effective and secure digital identity. While many governments and institutions are playing catch up, Canada has embraced the challenge. Host Isabella Chase is joined by Andre Boysen, Chief Identity Officer at SecureKey to get the scoop on Canada's pioneering efforts in digital identity and the game-changing impact it could have on financial services across the world. This week's 'In the News' includes CFCS's Kayla Izenman and Charles Delingpole of Comply Advantage.
