STUDY: RED FLAGS INDICATORS ON PROLIFERATION FINANCING

26 March 2018 Bachir El Nakib (CAMS), Senior Consultant Compliance Alert LLC

This study is in an effort to assist and raise awareness among those institutions regulated and supervised by the Commission of the risks of proliferation financing and to assist them in complying with existing legislation. Definitions of the terms “proliferation” and “proliferation financing” are given below. All other definitions are contained in the glossary section. Having reviewed this guidance, regulated and supervised persons may wish to revisit the following areas of their business to consider whether proliferation financing is adequately addressed in the:

• provision of staff training;

• implementation of policies and procedures;

• risk assessments of customers and products – with special attention to trade finance and insurance; and

• application of enhanced due diligence in respect of higher-risk transactions and entities.

OVERVIEW

In summary, this guidance aims to address the following: 

1. What is proliferation?

2. What is proliferation financing?

3. Why is the prevention and detection of proliferation and its financing important?

4. What are the difficulties faced with identifying proliferation and its financing?

5. What are the relevant international obligations in respect of proliferation and its financing?

6. How can proliferation and its financing be targeted?

7. Why are export controls important?

8. Why are financial measures important?

9. How should risk assessments of customers and products take into account proliferation and proliferation financing?

10. What verification can be sought regarding goods?

11. Should special attention be given to trade finance and insurance products?

12. Red Flag Indicators

1. WHAT IS PROLIFERATION?

Proliferation is the manufacture, acquisition, possession, development, export, transhipment, brokering, transport, transfer, stockpiling or use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery and related materials (including both technologies and dual-use goods used for non-legitimate purposes), in contravention of national laws or, where applicable, international obligations. It includes technology, goods, software, services or expertise.

2. WHAT IS PROLIFERATION FINANCING?

Proliferation financing is the act of providing funds or financial services which are used, in whole or in part, for the manufacture, acquisition, possession, development, export, transhipment, brokering, transport, transfer, stockpiling or use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery and related materials (including both technologies and dual-use goods used for non-legitimate purposes), in contravention of national laws or, where applicable, international obligations.

3. WHY IS THE PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF PROLIFERATION AND ITS FINANCING IMPORTANT?

Proliferation financing facilitates the movement and development of proliferation-sensitive goods. The movement and development of such items can contribute to global instability and may ultimately result in a loss of life, if proliferation-sensitive items are deployed.

4. WHAT ARE THE DIFFICULTIES FACED WITH IDENTIFYING PROLIFERATION AND ITS FINANCING?

There are a number of difficulties associated with identifying proliferation financing:

• A growing trend in the purchase and sale of elementary components, as opposed to whole manufactured systems. The individual elementary components may also have legitimate uses (dual-use goods), making their identification for illegitimate purposes even more problematic. 

• Dual-use goods are difficult to identify, requiring specialist knowledge and can be described in common terms with many uses such as ‘pumps’. 

• Networks through which proliferation-sensitive goods may be obtained tend to be complex. This, combined with the use of false documentation, allows for proliferation sensitive goods, the entities involved, the associated financial transactions and the ultimate end-user to avoid detection. Front companies, agents and other false end-users are often used to cover up the ultimate end-user. 

• Risk of proliferation financing is more likely to be present in cases where the source of funds is legal and the end-user of a type of goods involved is obscured, making identification of such activities difficult. 

5. WHAT ARE THE RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS IN RESPECT OF PROLIFERATION AND ITS FINANCING?

The UN Security Council Resolution 1540 – Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (“UNSCR 1540 (2004)”) is concerned with the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as their means of delivery. The general obligation on Member States is to prevent the activities described in UNSCR 1540 (2004), as below:

UNSCR 1540/2004 “

2. Decides that all States, in accordance with their national procedures, shall adopt and enforce appropriate effective laws which prohibit any non-State actor to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery, in particular for terrorist purposes, as well as attempts to engage in any of the foregoing activities, participate in them as an accomplice, assist or finance them;

3. Decides also that all States shall take and enforce effective measures to establish domestic controls to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons and their means of delivery, including by establishing appropriate controls over related materials and to this end shall: 

(d) Establish, develop, review and maintain appropriate effective national export and trans-shipment controls over such items, including appropriate laws and regulations to control export, transit, trans-shipment and re-export and controls on providing funds and services related to such export and trans-shipment such as financing, and transporting that would contribute to proliferation, as well as establishing end-user controls; and establishing and enforcing appropriate criminal or civil penalties for violations of such expert control laws and regulations.”

6. Whilst the primary focus of UNSCR 1540 is the implementation of export controls, a number of jurisdictions have implemented targeted financial sanctions in order to meet the finance-related obligations contained in UNSCR 1540.

6. HOW CAN PROLIFERATION AND ITS FINANCING BE TARGETED?

There are two recognised mechanisms by which proliferation can be targeted; namely export controls and financial measures.

7. WHY ARE EXPORT CONTROLS IMPORTANT?

Proliferators act globally, masking their acquisitions as legitimate trade. Proliferators are known to exploit global commerce, for example by:

• operating in countries with weak export controls;

• utilising free-trade zones where the obtaining and/or shipping of such goods are more likely to escape scrutiny; and

• operating in countries with high volumes of international trade. 

Export controls are thus the primary counter-proliferation safeguard, focussed on preventing the illegal transfer of proliferation-sensitive goods. Reports to the United Nations 1540 Committee suggest that only 80 out of 192 countries apply export controls, with varying degrees of implementation.

8. WHY ARE FINANCIAL MEASURES IMPORTANT?

Financial measures act as a supplement to effective export controls, to address the financial activity associated with proliferation. Similar to international criminal networks, proliferation networks use the international financial system to carry out transactions and business deals. Institutions should be alert to the possibility that their customers may be engaging in, or facilitating, proliferation activities. The Financial Action Task Force’s February 2010 Working Group Report suggests there are three areas where institutions might have responsibilities in relation to proliferation financing, namely: 

a. the risk assessment of customers and products;

b. enhanced due diligence on high-risk transactions and entities; and

c. special attention to trade finance and insurance products.

9. HOW SHOULD RISK ASSESSMENTS OF CUSTOMERS AND PRODUCTS TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PROLIFERATION AND PROLIFERATION FINANCING?

Introducing proliferation financing within current risk assessment practice should be proportionate, given the overall proliferation risk associated with the activities undertaken by the institution. For example, an institution operating internationally or with an international client base will generally assess a wider range of risks, including proliferation risks, compared to a smaller domestically focused institution. The following risks may be relevant to formulating a proliferation focussed risk assessment:

COUNTRY/GEOGRAPHIC RISK

The most immediate indicator will be links to a country that is subject to sanctions imposing restrictions on the movement of military goods : In addition, sanctions measures requiring specific action against proliferation have been applied in respect of Iran and North Korea. Other indicators may be that a country: 

• presents an ongoing and substantial money laundering and terrorist financing risks or have strategic deficiencies in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism, e.g. those identified by the FATF (and listed in Appendix D of the Handbook for the Protection and Detection of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism for Financial Services Businesses regulated under the Regulatory Laws); 

• is an “embargoed destination” listed in Part 1 or 2 of Schedule 4 of the UK’s Export Control Order 2008; 

• has strong links (such as funding or other support) with terrorist activities, e.g.: those designated by the US Secretary of State as state sponsors of terrorism; and those physical areas identified by the US (in its annual report entitled Country Reports on Terrorism) as ungoverned, under-governed or ill-governed where terrorists are able to organise, plan, raise funds, communicate, recruit, train, transit and operate in relative security because of inadequate governance capability, political will, or both; or 

• has higher levels of organised crime linked to arms dealing.

CUSTOMER RISK

Specific categories of customer whose activities may indicate a higher risk are: 

• Those on national lists concerning high risk entities. For example, the United Kingdom’s Iran End-Users List identifies over 100 entities that may potentially pose a proliferation concern. 

• Where a military or research body is connected with a higher-risk jurisdiction of proliferation concern. 

• Where a customer is involved in the supply, purchase or sale of dual-use, proliferation sensitive or military goods.

PRODUCT AND SERVICE RISKS

The following may suggest higher risks: 

• delivery of services subject to sanctions e.g. correspondent banking services captured under Iranian sanctions measures; 

• project financing of sensitive industries in higher risk jurisdictions; 

• trade finance services, transactions and insurance products involving higher risk jurisdictions; or 

• delivery of high volumes of dual-use, proliferation-sensitive or military goods, particularly if to a higher risk country. 

As well as risk factors, mitigating factors should also be considered. For example, whether a customer is aware of proliferation risks and has systems and processes to ensure its compliance with export control obligations and can provide copies of export control licences received.

ENHANCED DUE DILIGENCE ON HIGHER-RISK TRANSACTIONS AND ENTITIES

Financial  institutions must apply, on a risk sensitive basis, enhanced customer due diligence measures in any situation which by its nature can present a higher risk of money laundering. 

It is a matter for institutions to determine the enhanced due diligence measures to be applied. Lists compiled by national authorities can be a useful resource, as they provide information on individuals who may pose a proliferation concern. In individual cases, where proliferation financing is a risk or concern, institutions may wish to consider whether issuing banks, applicants or beneficiaries of letters of credit, or freight companies and shipping lines moving the goods, appear on such lists. 

Where a regulated entity provides services to a trading company or any vehicle that itself has links to higher risk countries, from a proliferation perspective, development of a strategy will assist in responding to any proliferation risks. Such a strategy may call for systems to be put in place to monitor trading activities.

WHAT VERIFICATION CAN BE SOUGHT REGARDING GOODS?

Identifying whether a particular good is a dual-use good or otherwise a proliferation concern, is acknowledged to be difficult. Thus, in higher risk scenarios where the customer is importing or exporting goods, institutions should be alert to the need to mitigate against inadvertent proliferation financing. This can be achieved by asking the customer for the following: 

• valid export licences; or

  • licence not required letters that are less than three months old. If a customer is unable to provide the information referred to above, then an alternative is to ask that the customer provide evidence, by reference to export control requirements in the relevant jurisdiction, that the goods being exported do not require a licence.

 

 SHOULD SPECIAL ATTENTION BE GIVEN TO TRADE FINANCE AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS?

A fairly significant proportion of proliferation activities will use trade finance as a vehicle. Thus special attention should be given to certain trade finance and insurance activities, for example: 

• direct loans or general credit facility to facilitate export transactions; 

• purchase of promissory notes or bills of exchange issued by foreign buyers to exporters for the purchase of goods and services, freeing up cash for the exporter; 

• factoring - the purchase or discounting of a foreign account receivable for cash at a discount from the face value;

• provision of guarantees to or by financial institutions on behalf of exporters such as pre-shipment guarantees and performance guarantees; or provision of insurance against certain risks in the trading process. 

RED FLAG INDICATORS

To assist with awareness of potential proliferation financing a list of red flag indicators are provided below. 

CUSTOMER

• The customer is involved in the supply, sale, delivery or purchase of dual-use, proliferation-sensitive or military goods, particularly to higher risk jurisdictions. 

• The customer or counter-party, or its address, is the same or similar to one of the parties found on publicly available lists. 

• The customer is a military or research body connected with a higher risk jurisdiction of proliferation concern. 

• Customer activity does not match the business profile. 

• Customer is vague, particularly about end user and end use, provides incomplete information or is resistant to providing additional information when sought. 

• A new customer requests a letter of credit from a bank, whilst still awaiting approval of its account. 

• Complicated structures to conceal involvement – use of layered letters of credit, front companies, intermediaries and brokers. 

TRANSACTIONS/ORDERS

• The transaction concerns dual-use, proliferation-sensitive or military goods, whether licensable or not. 

• The transaction involves an individual or entity in a foreign country of proliferation concern. 

• Transaction demonstrates a link between representatives of companies exchanging goods e.g. same owners or management, in order to evade scrutiny of the goods exchanged. 

• Transaction involves the shipment of goods inconsistent with normal geographic trade patterns i.e. where the country involved does not normally export or import the types of goods concerned. 

• Order for goods is placed by firms or individuals from foreign countries, other than the country of the stated end-user. 

JURISDICTION

• Countries with weak financial safeguards and which are actively engaged with a sanctioned country. 

• A presence of an industry that produces dual-use goods, proliferation-sensitive items or military goods. 

• Deliberate insertion of extra links into the supply chain e.g. diverting shipments through a third country. 

OTHER

• Final destination or end-use unclear. 

• Project financing and complex loans, where there is a presence of other objective factors such as an identified end-user. 

• Declared value of shipment under-valued in relation to shipping cost. 

• Inconsistencies in information contained in trade documents and financial flows e.g. names, addresses, final destination. 

• Use of fraudulent documents and identities e.g. false end-use certificates and forged export or re-export certificates. 

•Use of facilitators to ensure the transfer of goods avoids inspection. 

• Innocuous commercial wording on customs declaration/export licence e.g. pump (without further explanation of purpose/use). 

• A freight forwarding firm being listed as the product’s final destination. 

• Wire instructions or payment from or due to entities not identified on the original letter of credit or other documentation. 

• Pattern of wire transfer activity that shows unusual patterns or has no apparent purpose

PROLIFERATION AND PROLIFERATION FINANCING

GLOSSARY 

Consignee

The person or organisation to which goods are exported. Literally, "the person to whom the goods are consigned". Not necessarily the end user.

Correspondent Bank

A financial institution that provides services in a market on behalf of another financial institution that does not have access to that market.

Dual-Use Goods

Items, including software and technology that can be used for both civil and military purposes. For example certain machine tools used for repairing automobiles can also be used to manufacture component parts of missiles.

End-Use

The final use of exported goods.

End-User

The intended user of the goods. Not necessarily the consignee.

Forfaiter

In international trade, the selling of an exporter's receivables (money due) for a particular transaction. Generally, the exporter forfaits the receivable at a discount. This improves cash flow but reduces income.
The buyer is known as a forfaiter, and assumes all the risks associated with collecting the receivables.

Free Trade Zone

Also known as a foreign-trade zone (formerly free port), is an area within which goods may be landed, handled, manufactured or reconfigured, and re-exported without the formalities of complex customs examinations and 
regulations, or the intervention of customs authorities.

Letter of credit

A binding document that a buyer can request from his bank in order to guarantee that the payment for goods will be transferred to the seller. A letter of credit gives the seller reassurance that he will receive the payment for the goods.

Means of delivery

Missiles, rockets and other unmanned systems capable of delivering nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons that are specially designed for such use.

Proliferation

The manufacture, acquisition, possession, development, export, transhipment, brokering, transport, transfer, stockpiling or use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery and related materials (including both technologies and dual-use goods used for non-legitimate purposes), in contravention of national laws or, where applicable, international obligations. Includes technology, goods, software, services or expertise.

Proliferation financing

The act of providing funds or financial services which are used, in whole or in part, for the manufacture, acquisition, possession, development, export, transhipment, brokering, transport, transfer, stockpiling or use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery and related materials (including both technologies and dual-use goods used for non-legitimate purposes), in contravention of national laws or, where applicable, international obligations.

Proliferation-sensitive goods

Nuclear, chemical or biological equipment, material, or technology used in the research, design, development, testing, or production of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.

Related materials

Materials, equipment and technology which could be used for the design, development, production or use of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery.

Trade Finance

The institutions or transactions involved in the financing of international trade. Trade finance looks at banks, credit agencies, insurers, forfaiters, and any other person or institution who enables importers and exporters to trade across borders.

Transhipment

Goods which are not destined for end-use in country, but are passing through it en route to another country.

UNSCR

United Nations Security Council Resolution - imposing sanctions on targeted country.

WMD

Weapons of Mass Destruction.

 

 

 

 

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