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Kathryn Westmore @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social · 22d

It’s excellent to see the focus on this in government, a really important issue. I’m also personally gratified that the Security Minister used the phrase ‘high street money laundering’ as I feel we are one step closing to adopting the acronym HSML which I have copyrighted (I haven’t).

APPG on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax @appgonacrt.bsky.social · 22d

❗High-street money laundering and tax abuse is damaging communities nationwide. After our APPG received a briefing from the NCA last week, APPG Chair @philbrickellmp.bsky.social asked the Home Office what they’re doing about it ⬇

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Kathryn Westmore @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social · 22d

Congratulations Phil, delighted for you and looking forward to working with you and the APPG.

Reposted by Kathryn Westmore

Jess Davis @jessmarindavis.bsky.social · 23d

This sounds to me like they’ll be weaponizing FATF recommendation 8 (prevention of terrorist abuse of the non profit sector). It’s a powerful tool that has been used by authoritarian regimes to shut down dissent.

Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 23d

"We're going to go after the NGO Networks"

JD Vance and Stephen Miller openly outline how they are going to crackdown on civil society and use the government to crush political opposition.

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Kathryn Westmore @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social · 25d

Nice window ;)

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Reposted by Kathryn Westmore

RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 26d

Following the crowd and maintaining the status quo is comfortable – and the kleptocrats, corrupt and criminals hope that does not change, write Georgia Jones, Tom Keatinge and Kathryn Westmore.

The Global Anti-Financial Crime System is Broken

Following the crowd and maintaining the status quo is comfortable – and the kleptocrats, corrupt and criminals hope that does not change.

www.rusi.org

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Reposted by Kathryn Westmore

RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · Aug 14

🚨🧵New RUSI paper, ‘Following the Fraud: The Role of Money Mule’ by @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social and Allison Owen is out now!

Following the Fraud: The Role of Money Mules

This paper discusses the rising issue of fraud in the UK, particularly focusing on the role of money mules in facilitating authorised push payment fraud and the implications for national security and ...

www.rusi.org

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Kathryn Westmore @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social · Apr 6

Sunday lunch with a side of anti-money laundering.

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Reposted by Kathryn Westmore

Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · Mar 17

We're hosting a panel event at RUSI at 0900 on 3 April to discuss the UK government's ongoing consultation on ransomware legislation. I'll be joined by:

@alexmartin.bsky.social
@kathrynwestmore.bsky.social
Verona Hulse-Johnstone (NCC Group)
Edward Lewis, CyXcel

my.rusi.org/events/asses...

Assessing UK Ransomware Policy

Join an expert panel to discuss the UK government’s approach to ransomware.

my.rusi.org

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Kathryn Westmore @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social · Jan 22

I think my 5 year old might actually be trying to steal my job. He brought this home from school today. I’m pretty sure he’s making me redundant.

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Kathryn Westmore @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social · Jan 22

So many questions about how the UK’s proposed new OIC sanctions will work. We wrote a piece about some of those questions and what the government should consider to ensure the sanctions actually have an impact.

RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · Jan 21

The UK government has announced a new sanctions regime targeting organised immigration crime. But is the Labour government holding itself hostage to fortune like those that have come before? @keatingetom.bsky.social and @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social explore this question below.

A New Frontier: Organised Immigration Crime and UK Sanctions

The UK government has announced a new sanctions regime targeting organised immigration crime. How does it ensure these new sanctions have teeth?

rusi.org

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Reposted by Kathryn Westmore

James Sullivan @mrjamessullivan.bsky.social · Dec 23

Reposting this fine write-up by @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social and @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social on Operation Destablise. A compendium of national security threats, showing the clear links between organised crime, sanctions evasion and hostile state activity. Read👇

www.rusi.org/explore-our-...

Operation Destabilise: Russia, Organised Crime and Illicit Finance

A Russian-speaking money laundering network uncovered by the UK’s National Crime Agency shows the clear links between organised crime, sanctions evasion and hostile state activity.

www.rusi.org

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Reposted by Kathryn Westmore

Steve Goodrich @stevejgoodrich.bsky.social · Dec 19

New investigation from @occrp.org with research by @transparencyuk.bsky.social highlights the limits of current UK transparency reforms. Trusts are the new transparency frontier. Regs laid by gov earlier this month could help but, on first blush, have some issues.

www.occrp.org/en/investiga...

Luxury London Properties Linked to Family of Azerbaijan's President Are Hidden Behind an Offshore Trust

The family and associates of Azerbaijani strongman Ilham Aliyev acquired U.K. real estate worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Are they still holding onto their property empire? Despite new transpar...

www.occrp.org

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Kathryn Westmore @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social · Dec 10

Want to come and work with me at the @cfs-rusi.bsky.social working on all things financial crime policy? We’re recruiting for a new research analyst/project officer. Details here! royalunitedservicesinstitute.peoplehr.net/Pages/JobBoa...

Research Analyst/Project Officer – Financial Crime Policy Programme

The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) is the world’s oldest and the UK’s leading defence and security think tank. The Centre for Finance and Security (CFS) at RUSI is a specialist research group ...

royalunitedservicesinstitute.peoplehr.net

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Reposted by Kathryn Westmore

Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · Dec 9

Statement in the Commons today by the Government, on tackling corruption at 3:30pm - one to watch this Anti-Corruption Day. We're expecting a few announcements

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Reposted by Kathryn Westmore

Joanna Hardy-Susskind @joannahs.bsky.social · Dec 7

Everyone else: The best thing about Christmas is the goodwill and festive community cheer.

Me, a criminal lawyer: I’ve embedded a location tracker in my Christmas wreath in case anyone tries to nick it.

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Kathryn Westmore @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social · Dec 6

I have just bought myself this and I couldn’t be happier with life right now.

www.selfridges.com/GB/en/produc...

ANNA + NINA - Champagne Refill earthenware jug 17.5cm | Selfridges.com

www.selfridges.com

Reposted by Kathryn Westmore

RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · Dec 6

In the latest RUSI Commentary, @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social and @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social note that a Russian-speaking money laundering network uncovered by @nca-uk.bsky.social shows the clear links between organised crime, sanctions evasion and hostile state activity.

Operation Destabilise: Russia, Organised Crime and Illicit Finance

A Russian-speaking money laundering network uncovered by the UK’s National Crime Agency shows the clear links between organised crime, sanctions evasion and hostile state activity.

rusi.org

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Kathryn Westmore @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social · Dec 6

New: What does Operation Destabilise mean for the future of the UK’s response to illicit finance? Also, Tether is bad. @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social and I have shared our perspectives over on the @rusi.bsky.social website this afternoon.

www.rusi.org/explore-our-...

Operation Destabilise: Russia, Organised Crime and Illicit Finance

A Russian-speaking money laundering network uncovered by the UK’s National Crime Agency shows the clear links between organised crime, sanctions evasion and hostile state activity.

www.rusi.org

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Kathryn Westmore @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social · Dec 5

Look at this line up! Very excited for this is treat in the new year - some of best in the business talking about #statethreats.

Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · Dec 5

My annual excursion is near. I have a paper coming on #statethreats, and I will be at @rusi.bsky.social on 14 January 2025 with @hamarquette.bsky.social, @rorycormac.bsky.social, @keatingetom.bsky.social and undisclosed special guests to talk about it. Please join us.

my.rusi.org/events/tackl...

Tackling the Growing Threat from Hostile States

Join us for a discussion on the growing covert threat from hostile states and their proxies.

my.rusi.org

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Kathryn Westmore @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social · Dec 5

I think the only way to understand crypto is to realise that everything you think you know about money is wrong.

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Reposted by Kathryn Westmore

Matt Burgess (WIRED) @mattburgess1.bsky.social · Dec 4

“I don’t think anyone could anticipate the size and complexity of this operation, the huge amounts of cash involved, and the number of different organized criminal gangs which used the services” — @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social

She Was a Russian Socialite and Influencer. Cops Say She’s a Crypto Laundering Kingpin

Western authorities say they’ve identified a network that found a new way to clean drug gangs’ dirty cash. WIRED gained exclusive access to the investigation.

www.wired.com

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Reposted by Kathryn Westmore

RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · Dec 4

🚨Following the news that the @nca-uk.bsky.social has uncovered a multi-billion-dollar Russian money laundering network, RUSI's @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social provides her analysis below.

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Reposted by Kathryn Westmore

Oliver Bullough @oliverbullough.bsky.social · Dec 4

Operation Destabilise is the most stunning example yet of crypto's great use-case, which is to move value between countries outside any controls against money laundering.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Russian crypto criminals helped UK drug gangs launder lockdown cash

UK drug gangs paid Russian criminals to swap their dirty street cash for untraceable crypto currency, police say.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Kathryn Westmore @kathrynwestmore.bsky.social · Dec 4

Oh, and they helped oligarchs evade sanctions and purchase property in the UK. And laundered the proceeds from ransomware attacks. The scale of this is really quite staggering.

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