Tracing Assets Moved through Trade, Cash Couriers and Informal Value Transfer Systems

Course overview

A large share of illicit value moving in and out of the region never touches a formal bank transfer. It travels as cash in luggage, as over- and under-invoiced goods, and through hawala and other informal value transfer systems that serve legitimate communities as well as criminals. This informal value transfer investigation course gives investigators the methods to trace assets moved in these ways.

Participants study how hawala networks settle balances, how cash couriers operate across borders and airports, and how trade-based laundering uses mis-invoicing, phantom shipments and third-party payments. They learn to combine customs data, trade documents, cash declarations, mobile money records and financial intelligence to reconstruct movements, and to identify the businesses and individuals that act as settlement points. The course covers seizure of cash at borders, forfeiture of cash and goods, and cooperation with customs and foreign authorities. Sensitivity to legitimate remittance needs is emphasised throughout.

Participants leave able to investigate value moved outside the banking system and to target the assets and businesses at its centre.

What you will be able to do

• Explain how hawala and other informal value transfer systems operate
• Recognise cash courier methods and indicators
• Identify trade-based laundering through invoices and shipping records
• Combine customs, trade, financial and mobile money data to trace value
• Identify settlement points and the assets they hold
• Use cash seizure and forfeiture powers effectively

Who should attend

For investigators and analysts in customs, revenue, police, FIUs and asset recovery agencies who deal with cross-border movement of illicit value.

• Customs investigators
• Revenue authority investigators
• Financial investigators
• FIU analysts
• Border and airport officers
• Asset recovery officers
• Counter-terrorist financing investigators

Course outline

Fees are per participant in US dollars and cover tuition, course materials and your certificate. Travel and accommodation are not included.