Dear Supporter,

Today The Sentry published its first anti-money laundering advisory, “Looted Resources Used to Buy African Real Estate.” The advisory highlights the risks to cities in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nairobi, Kampala, Windhoek, Cape Town, and Johannesburg, where kleptocrats have exploited the real estate sector as a means for laundering the proceeds of corruption. The advisory details specific red flags and examples of the money laundering techniques seen in these areas, and it provides recommendations to banks, governments, and those working in the real estate sector on how to address these risks and stem the flow of illicit finance.

This advisory is just the first money laundering risk advisory you will see from The Sentry. Using our data and analysis, The Sentry’s advisories will issue specific, actionable information to the public and private sectors. Similar to publications issued by the US Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the UK’s National Crime Agency, The Sentry’s advisories will contain useful information like typologies, red flags, and guidance on mitigating specific risks. This type of highly targeted and detailed information is useful for banks and important in the global effort to combat illicit finance.

Read The Sentry’s advisory on risks to the real estate sector in sub-Saharan Africa.

Sincerely,

Hilary Mossberg
Director of Illicit Finance Policy
The Sentry