Money Laundering and Illicit Financial Flows: Following the Money and Value Trails Paperback – May 15, 2020

He has successfully harnessed his wide experience to write this latest fascinating book on Anti-Money Laundering and the illicit financial flows covering, not only a wide range of related topics, but doing so with very extensive references – in fact, a total of 557 throughout the book. It is written in an extremely comfortable style which makes the more complicated topics very easy to understand. He includes, in the narrative, some remarkably interesting facts supported by references such as “52% of Russia’s wealth resided outside the country” and “over the last decade, an estimated $3.8 Billion in capital has left China” and “in 2010, between $21 and $32 Trillion was hiding in more than 80 international tax havens”. He very convincingly makes the case that money laundering is truly a global problem.This book is essential to understanding the immense volume of global illicit flows of money and value and it represents a major contribution to money laundering education. It can appeal, very successfully, to many audiences such as: A primer for anyone embarking on a career in Anti-Money Laundering A useful reference for more experienced personnel A briefing for senior management Leave a copy in the Board room for the Directors A guide for regulators, examiners and policy and law makers A resource for law enforcement An interesting read for members of the public interested in global issuesWith this extraordinary book John Cassara has provided yet another example of why he is one of the most significant thought-leaders in the field of Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.

I highly recommend John Cassara's tour de force on the current trends and methodologies related to the security harms and threats posed by money laundering and illicit financial flows. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that money laundering comprises approximately 2 to 5 percent of the world's gross domestic product each year (or several trillions of dollars). His book is a must read for AML/CFT professionals, policy makers, and others interested in the ingenuity and nimbleness of today's kleptocrats, criminals, and terrorists who launder their dirty money and finance greater insecurity and instability around the world. In the global fight against money laundering, transnational crime, and threat finance, Cassara remains one of the world's most important thought leaders and practitioners on these important issues. His powerful insights, analyses, and cited case studies are outstanding, outlining the latest techniques leveraged by bad actors as they continue to hijack the technological, financial, and communication advances of globalization including through cyber laundering, digital assets, trade-based money laundering (TBML), underground financial systems, Free Trade Zones (FTZ), and other innovative and clandestine methods. His take on China as a global money laundering threat is also instructive. As he notes, "greed will always be with us." Cassara not only "tells it like it is", but also offers pragmatic and well thought-through recommendations, solutions, and actionable steps to help partners across the international community to confront these threats moving forward.

Overview looks like it covers many topics. Importance of gold is brought up and really important many don't talk about. We knew British bank complicity in drug trade because of how much gold bullion was being moved around way back in the 70s. That last bit is not in the book though. The problem with the book is missing the money laundering systems worldwide and their history: One could look at the City of London and associated laundering spots in the Isle of Man, Hong Kong, the Carribean, Malta, Bulgaria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Myanmar, Haiti, Panama, Algeria, UAE and Israel. That would make the book a useful reference for professionals.It also focuses on "pressing" issues like ISIS and China. The Overton window is childish here. There is so much organized crime, rogue state operations, et al. which does not show up on the news in America. To rely on American Overton window for a book on international laundering is pretty narrow minded.Otherwise, I learned enough to make it a worthwhile read.

Very informative

This book explores all the different money laundering can be /is hidden the world economy today. It also shows some of the impact on the US economy. It is well documented and talks about the processes and the corruption that permits it. An enlightening presentation from a 20+ yr expert who has spent much of his career trying to protect the US from that damage done to the US and other companies by "bad actors".

Cassara’s comprehensive and readable take on money laundering should be read by everyone in the finance, compliance and legal space. As a battle-scarred veteran of the drug wars. And his long years of experience and historical perspective allow him to tell an engaging story that even newbies will appreciate.

The author does a great job of explaining the many facets of money laundering in a way that is easy to follow and understand.

Was okay and simple enough for non-practioners to get up to speed.Giving this book 2 star for that long chapter rant on China.It is obvious the writer is anti-PRC but if he is going to rant like this, then he needs to apply the same level of scrutiny to USA. Otherwise it is hard to take him seriously.At that point, I put the book down.Author also missed the chance to talk about illegal wildlife trade in SEA, which is driven by China (whom he hates).