There is a realistic possibility that more people and/or businesses will be drawn into acting as money mules due to cost of living pressures

Alongside traditional methods, money laundering networks continue to innovate. Cryptoassets are increasingly used to launder non-digital proceeds of crime such as cash, as well as acquired via increasing levels of cyber crime, such as theft, malware and ransomware.

Organised crime groups continue to use money mules to introduce illicit cash into the banking system. There is a realistic possibility that more people and/or businesses will be drawn into acting as money mules due to cost of living pressures.

UK based criminals continue to use over the counter methods such as everyday banking at the Post Office to introduce cash into the UK banking system. It is a realistic possibility that Chinese underground banking networks exploit this, as well as other financial sector vulnerabilities, to launder billions of pounds annually in the UK.

International controller networks use a variety of methods to provide a professional money laundering service to criminals. They are increasingly able to exchange cash to cryptoassets on behalf of global criminal networks. This links UK generated proceeds of crime to transnational cyber crime impacting victims worldwide.

UK corporate structures enable money laundering due to vulnerabilities in their creation and oversight. Tens of billions of pounds of both UK and overseas generated proceeds of crime are likely laundered through UK registered corporate structures every year. Potential indicators of money laundering via corporate structure misuse include multiple companies being registered at the same residential address and the creation of large numbers of dormant companies.

Electronic money institutions and payment institutions, including money service businesses, feature prominently in investigations. They are used to transfer criminal proceeds globally by organised crime groups, likely attracted by simpler and quicker procedures for opening accounts. 

Professional enablers continue to be used to conceal and move criminal assets. Professional enablers are individuals or organisations that provide professional services that enable criminality. Their behaviour is deliberate, reckless, improper, dishonest and/or negligent through a failure to meet their professional and regulatory obligations.

The war in Ukraine, resulting sanctions and cost of living pressures increase the risk for bribery and corruption to occur in increasingly competitive markets, or in attempts to maintain trade covertly. For example, the extractive industry is a high risk sector for international bribery and corruption and increasing pressure for alternative sources to Russian oil and gas are likely to provide opportunities for this threat.

The scale of sanctions against Russia and complexity of economic links to the UK mean that Putin-linked individuals currently pose the greatest risk for sanctions evasion. Most methods used to evade financial asset freezes are non-complex, such as a simple transfer of assets, or are anticipatory, transferring assets to trusted proxies, such as relatives or employees, before designation. 

The threat from market abuse remains, risking the integrity of the financial system, eroding confidence and lowering participation. The Financial Conduct Authority, which investigates market abuse, assesses that the greatest threat in terms of financial value comes from persistent insider dealing by international organised crime networks. The groups recruit insider sources to illegally disclose price-sensitive information about global markets.