Special Reports Archive

Special Report: The ex-HSBC banker, go-fast limousines and bags of dirty cash

A tale of drug money laundering spanning from the crowded streets of Casablanca to the pristine shores of Lac Leman, Geneva, has finally come to its conclusion in the courts in Paris – and an epilogue yet to play out in French prison. The story begins almost a decade earlier… Read More

Demonetisation: India’s unprecedented move against corruption

Five months on from this unprecedented move, has it achieved any of its corruption-reducing goals? Or were these little more than cover stories for a political objective? Alem Ao explores. Read More

Special Report – the UK: the most corrupt place on earth?

Campaigners have frequently branded the UK a world money-laundering hotspot, citing the 'terrifying' scale of money laundering through the City of London. Is this fair? What is the UK doing to remedy the problem? Richard Nicholl investigates. Read More

Special report – Joint accounts: recreational marijuana and the U.S. banking system

Policymakers have given themselves the year to legislate around the legal complexities that have plagued both the marijuana industry and law enforcement in Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Alaska and DC. With a change in law at Federal level still looking unlikely, they have some serious difficulties to resolve when it comes to those $7 billion of cannabis cash. Read More

Special report – EXECUTIVE LAWLESSNESS: MONEY LAUNDERING AND VIGILANTISM IN THE PHILIPPINES

From 2000 to 2005 the Philippines was ‘blacklisted’ as a ‘non-cooperative’ country and subjected to significant sanctions by the Financial Action Task Force for its failure to tackle endemic problems with transparency and traceability in its financial system. Read More

Special report – KAZAKHSTAN: A CORRUPTION HOTSPOT?

The Republic of Kazakhstan, the last Soviet Republic to become independent, is the most developed economy in Central Asia. Read More

Special Report – Treasure Island or Banana Republic? Mauritius faces tough choices about legitimacy and development

In an exclusive report for KYC360, investigative journalist Lucy Wark reflects on Mauritius' progress in establishing itself as a legitimate financial centre and considers the challenges it faces going forwards. Read More

SPECIAL REPORT – MEXICO AND THE HUMAN COST OF FINANCIAL CRIME

KYC360 investigative reporter Clementine Wallop examines the unusual case of Zapata vs HSBC Holdings PLC. Families of several US citizens killed by Mexican drug cartels are suing HSBC under the Anti-Terrorism Act, which creates civil liability for supporters of terrorism, for the bank's role in laundering billions of dollars of drug money. Read More

SPECIAL REPORT: BREXIT – WHAT NOW FOR THE UK’S AML REGIME?

As the EU forges ahead with a ‘fifth AML Directive’ requiring a public register of trusts, KYC360 considers what Brexit will mean for the future of the UK’s financial regulatory regime. Read More

Special Report: CALIPHATE CASH CRUNCH: WHAT LOWER OIL PRICES AND SHRINKING TERRITORY MEAN FOR ISLAMIC STATE’S FINANCES

KYC360 investigative reporter Clementine Wallop takes a look at Islamic State's revenue raising, its recent spending squeeze and what companies can do to protect themselves against an unusually dynamic enemy in this exclusive report. Read More