Financing terrorism through hawala banking in Switzerland

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Maximilian Johannes Teichmann
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Law Enforcement Officers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Searches ◽  
Financing Of Terrorism ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to illustrate the feasibility of circumventing the Swiss financial sector’s compliance mechanisms by financing terrorism through hawala networks. Design/methodology/approach Based upon a qualitative content analysis of 15 informal interviews with providers of illegal financial services and 15 formal interviews with compliance experts and law enforcement officers, the general suitability of hawala networks for the financing of terrorism was assessed and concrete methods of doing so were better understood. In addition, it is shown how terrorists can limit their risks in using the services of hawala bankers. Findings Hawala banking in Switzerland is extraordinarily useful for the financing of terrorism. Research limitations/implications The findings are based on semi-standardized interviews limited to the perspectives of the 30 interviewees. Practical implications Law enforcement and intelligence agencies must be provided with additional tools, such as a broader scope of allowable activity for undercover police officers and the possibility of secretly conducting remote online searches of electronic devices. While this article focuses on Switzerland, its findings could be applied on a global level. Originality/value While the existing literature focuses on understanding the channels terrorists can use to finance their activities and on developing prevention mechanisms, this paper describes exactly how terrorism can be financed through hawala networks in Switzerland.

Combatting the financing of terrorism in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 782-795
Author(s):  
Fabian Maximilian Johannes Teichmann
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Criminal Prosecution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Whilst the existing literature focuses on developing prevention mechanisms for banks, this paper aims to show how feasible it still is in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland to finance terrorism without getting detected. Design/methodology/approach A three-step research process, including both qualitative and quantitative methods, was applied. The empirical findings are based upon qualitative content analysis of 15 informal interviews with illegal financial services providers and 15 formal interviews with compliance experts and law enforcement officers. Findings During those interviews, concrete and specific methods of financing terrorism and limiting the risks of facing a criminal prosecution were discussed. The interviews were analyzed based upon a qualitative content analysis. To assess the risk, which criminals, a quantitative survey among 181 compliance officers was conducted to determine what leads to investigations. Research limitations/implications The findings are limited to the 30 interviewees’ and 181 survey participants’ perspective. Practical implications The practical implications include suggestions for providing law enforcement and intelligence agencies with new tools, such as remote online searches of electronic devices. Originality/value Whilst the empirical findings are based upon Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, the results could be applied on European level.

Insider trading – unsolved issues

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 786-792
Author(s):  
Fabian Maximilian Johannes Teichmann
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Insider Trading ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Law Enforcement Officers ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quantitative Content ◽  
Compliance Officers ◽  
Trading Mechanisms ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to show that, despite the development of prevention mechanisms for banks, undetected insider trading remains highly feasible. It, thereby, highlights that the current anti-insider-trading mechanisms, on which previous literature has extensively focused, can be easily circumvented. Design/methodology/approach A two-step research process was employed. First, informal interviews were conducted with illegal financial services providers. Second, 50 compliance experts and law enforcement officers were formally interviewed. Responses from both sets of interviewees were subjected to quantitative content analysis to yield empirical findings. Findings Concrete and specific methods of insider trading and limiting the risks of being prosecuted were reported by interviewees. They suggested that the use of strawmen and offshore banks greatly facilitate insider trading. Research limitations/implications The perspectives of the 100 interviewees have not been quantitatively tested. Practical implications Suggestions on how to more effectively combat insider trading are provided for financial institutions and compliance officers. Originality/value Although the empirical findings are based on conditions in Europe, the results have potential global application.

Money laundering through raw diamonds

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Maximilian Johannes Teichmann ◽  
Marie-Christin Falker
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Money Laundering ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Compliance Officers ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Three Stages ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Combat Money Laundering

Purpose This paper aims to illustrate how illegally obtained funds are laundered through raw diamonds in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Design/methodology/approach To identify specific money laundering techniques involving raw diamonds, this study used a qualitative content analysis of data collected from 60 semi-standardized interviews with both criminals and prevention experts and a quantitative survey of 200 compliance officers. Findings Raw diamonds are extraordinarily suitable for money laundering in European German-speaking countries. In particular, they may be used in all three stages of the laundering process, namely, placement, layering and integration. Research limitations/implications Because the qualitative findings are based on semi-standardized interviews, their insights are limited to the perspectives of the 60 interviewees. Practical implications Identifying gaps in existing anti-money laundering mechanisms should provide compliance officers, law enforcement agencies and legislators with valuable insights into how criminals operate. Originality/value While prior studies focus on the methods used by organizations to combat money laundering and how to improve anti-money laundering measures, this paper investigates how money launderers operate to avoid detection, thereby illustrating authentic experiences. Its findings provide valuable insights into the minds of money launderers and combines criminal perspective with that of prevention experts.

scholarly journals Deceiving suspects about the content of their alibis: consequences for truthful and untruthful suspects

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Sauerland ◽  
Svenja Mehlkopf ◽  
Alana C Krix ◽  
Anna Sagana
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Law Enforcement Officers ◽  
Natural Occurrence ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Professional Groups ◽  
The Past ◽  
Low Profile ◽  
Interrogation Techniques ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test how modifying one’s alibi statement interacts with exposure to deceptive interrogation techniques. Design/methodology/approach – In all, 90 participants walked about a university building for 15 minutes and either stole an envelope from a staff pigeonhole (guilty condition) or put the envelope there along the way (innocent condition). Subsequently, participants were asked to provide an alibi for the past 15 minutes. Guilty and half of the innocent participants were instructed to omit that they had been in the vicinity of the pigeonholes. The rest of the innocent participants were asked to tell the truth. Several days later, participants were questioned about six statements taken from their alibis, three of which contained altered information. Findings – As expected, participants were largely blind to our alterations, with detection rates ranging from 1 to 36 percent. Contrary to cognitive load predictions, detection rates did not vary as a function of truthfulness. Rather, guilty participants were less likely to detect alterations than innocents. Research limitations/implications – Memory distrust and guilty suspects’ aim to keep a low profile might be possible explanations for these findings. Practical implications – It is recommended that law enforcement officers and other legal practitioners refrain from using deceptive interrogation techniques and such techniques that can cause inconsistencies in suspects’ reports. Researcher should make it their task to educate these professional groups about the natural occurrence of memory related, non-deceptive inconsistencies in successive statements. Originality/value – This research uses a new methodology to study the effect of deceptive interrogation techniques on both innocent and guilty suspects. The findings are relevant for legal practitioners and researchers.

Resting heart rate and risk of violent encounters during arrest in a sample of law enforcement officers

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryanna Fox ◽  
Lauren N. Miley ◽  
Richard K. Moule Jr
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Law Enforcement Officers ◽  
Resting Heart Rate ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

Purpose Research indicates that a link exists between resting heart rate (RHR) and various forms of antisocial, violent and criminal behavior among community and criminal samples. However, the relationship between RHR and engagement in aggressive/violent encounters among law enforcement has not yet been examined. The purpose of this paper is to examine the link between RHR and engagement in violent encounters using prospective longitudinal data on a sample of law enforcement officers in the USA. Design/methodology/approach Negative binomial regression, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox hazard regressions are conducted using a sample of 544 police officers to determine if there a relationship between RHR and engagement in violent encounters by law enforcement, even when controlling for demographics, biological and social covariates. Findings Results indicate that higher RHR is associated with an increased risk of officers engaging in a violent altercation, as measured by the number of arrests for suspects resisting arrest with violence, even after controlling for all other relevant factors. Originality/value This study was the first to examine police officers RHR levels and its associated with violent altercations during arrest using a rigorous statistical methodology.

Money laundering through consulting companies

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Maximilian Teichmann ◽  
Marie-Christin Falker
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Money Laundering ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Compliance Officers ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Combat Money Laundering ◽  
Consulting Companies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how illegally obtained funds are laundered by employment of consulting companies in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative content analysis of 28 semi-standardized expert interviews with both criminals and prevention experts, and a quantitative survey of 200 compliance officers led to the identification of concrete money-laundering techniques involving the employment of consulting companies. Findings Consulting companies continue to be used for money laundering in European German-speaking countries, especially in the layering and integration stages of the money laundering process, during which the origins of funds are concealed, and the money is integrated into the legal economy. Research limitations/implications Qualitative findings from the analysis of semi-standardized interviews are limited to the 28 interviewees’ perspectives. Practical implications Identification of gaps in existing anti-money-laundering mechanisms provides compliance officers, law enforcement agencies and legislators with valuable insights into how criminals operate. Originality/value The existing literature focuses on organizations that combat money laundering and the improvement of anti-money-laundering measures. This paper outlines how money launderers avoid detection. Both preventative and criminal perspectives are considered.

Current developments in money laundering and terrorism financing

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Maximilian Johannes Teichmann
Keyword(s):  
Money Laundering ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Compliance Officers ◽  
Terrorism Financing ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Whilst the existing literature focuses on developing prevention mechanisms for banks, this paper aims to demonstrate the ongoing feasibility of money laundering and financing terrorism undetected. This study thereby reveals that the current anti-money-laundering and anti-terrorism-financing mechanisms can easily be circumvented. Design/methodology/approach A three-stage research process was used, including both qualitative and quantitative methods. The empirical findings are based on a qualitative content analysis of 50 informal interviews with illegal financial services providers and 50 formal interviews with compliance experts and law enforcement officers. Findings During these interviews, specific methods of financing terrorism and limiting the risks of being prosecuted were discussed. Hence, specific methods of money laundering and terrorism financing have been analyzed. Research limitations/implications The findings thus convey only the perspectives of the 100 interviewees, such that generalizability is limited. Practical implications The practical implications include suggestions for financial regulators, financial institutions and compliance officers on how to more effectively combat money laundering and terrorism financing. Although the empirical findings are limited to Europe, the results could be applied globally. Originality/value This paper reveals new insights about criminals’ actions, which help to develop more effective compliance mechanisms.

Money-laundering and terrorism-financing compliance – unsolved issues

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-95
Author(s):  
Fabian Maximilian Johannes Teichmann
Keyword(s):  
Money Laundering ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Compliance Officers ◽  
Terrorism Financing ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to focus on developing prevention mechanisms for banks, this paper shows the ongoing feasibility of laundering money and financing terrorism undetected. It, thereby highlights that the current anti-money-laundering and anti-terrorism-financing mechanisms can be easily circumvented. Design/methodology/approach A three-step research process, including both qualitative and quantitative methods, was used. The empirical findings are based on qualitative content analysis of 35 informal interviews with illegal financial services providers and 35 formal interviews with compliance experts and law enforcement officers. Findings During those interviews, concrete and specific methods of financing terrorism and limiting the risks of being prosecuted were discussed. To assess compliance officers’ awareness of those methods, a quantitative survey of 190 compliance officers was subsequently conducted to determine what leads to investigations. Research limitations/implications The findings only convey the perspectives of the 70 interviewees and 190 survey participants. Practical implications The practical implications include suggestions for financial regulators, financial institutions and compliance officers on how to more effectively combat money laundering and terrorism financing. Originality/value While the empirical findings are based in Europe, the results could be applied globally.

Determinants of police officers' support for the public-private partnerships (PPPs) in policing cyberspace

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 877-892
Author(s):  
Seung Yeop Paek ◽  
Mahesh K. Nalla ◽  
Julak Lee
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Law Enforcement Officers ◽  
Public Private Partnerships ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Illegal Activities

PurposeThis exploratory research examined law enforcement officers' attitudes toward the public-private partnerships (PPPs) in policing cyberspace. Particularly, by investigating the predictors of police officers' support for the PPPs, the authors aimed to offer practical implications for maintaining order and responding to illegal activities in the virtual environment.Design/methodology/approachA convenience sample of South Korean police officers was surveyed using a paper-and-pencil questionnaire.FindingsThe findings showed that officer perceptions of the seriousness and the frequency of property cybercrimes, computer proficiency and awareness of a lack of training were positively associated with the support for the PPPs. In addition, years of experience was negatively related to the support for the PPPs.Originality/valueLaw enforcement officers' perceptions toward public-private cooperation in combatting cybercrime have never been examined. This research fills the gap by exploring the predictors of officer support for cross-sectoral partnerships within the framework of nodal governance security in the cultural context of South Korea.

scholarly journals Characteristics of officer-involved vehicle collisions in California

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 458-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott E. Wolfe ◽  
Jeff Rojek ◽  
Geoff Alpert ◽  
Hope M. Tiesman ◽  
Stephen M. James
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Law Enforcement Officers ◽  
Severe Injuries ◽  
Vehicle Collisions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Damage Costs ◽  
The Law ◽  
Injury Outcomes ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the situational and individual officer characteristics of officer-involved vehicle collisions that result in fatality, injury, and non-injury outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – Data on 35,840 vehicle collisions involving law enforcement officers in California occurring between January 2000 and December 2009 are examined. A descriptive analysis of collision characteristics is presented. Findings – There were 39 officers killed by collisions over this study period and 7,684 officers who received some type injury. Incidents involving officers on motorcycles represented 39 percent of officer fatalities and 39 percent of severe injuries. In the case of fatalities, 33 percent of officers were reported as wearing seatbelts, 38 percent were not wearing a seatbelt, and seatbelt use was not stated in 29 percent of car fatalities. Research limitations/implications – The findings only represent one state and the analysis is based on an estimated 86 percent of collisions that occurred during the study period due to missing data. Nonetheless, the results are based on a robust sample and address key limitations in the existing literature. Practical implications – During the study period in California the estimated financial impact of collisions reached into the hundreds of millions of dollars when considering related fatality, injury, and vehicle damage costs combined. These impacts highlight the need for the law enforcement community to give greater attention to this issue. Originality/value – At the time of this writing there was no published independent research that compares the situational and officer characteristics across fatality, injury, and non-injury outcomes in these events. The findings reported here will help inform emerging interest in this issue within the law enforcement, academic, and policy-making communities.

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