This report provides a summary of the anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) measures in place in Mexico. Mexico has a mature AML/CFT regime, with a correspondingly well-developed legal and institutional framework. Most of the key authorities have a good understanding of money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing risks, and there is generally good policy cooperation and coordination. The financial sector demonstrates a good understanding of the primary ML threats from organized crime groups and associated criminal activities as well as tax crimes, but the recognition of corruption as a main threat is uneven. Financial intelligence and other relevant information are made available by the financial intelligence unit and accessed on a regular basis by competent authorities.

This assessment of the anti-money laundering (AML) and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) regime of Mexico is based on the Forty Recommendations 2003 and the Nine Special Recommendations on Terrorist Financing 2001 of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and was prepared using the AML/CFT assessment Methodology 2004, as updated in June 2006. The assessment team considered all the materials supplied by the authorities, the information obtained on site during their mission from January 14 through 30, 2008, and other verifiable information subsequently provided by the authorities. During the mission, the assessment team met with officials and representatives of all relevant government agencies and the private sector. A list of the bodies met is set out in Annex 1 to the detailed assessment report.

Palau’s detailed assessment report on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) has been examined. Palau has strengthened its AML/CFT legislative framework that has been in place since 2001 with the amendments to the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act of 2001 (MLPCA) and the Financial Institutions Act of 2001, as well as the enactments of the Counter-Terrorism Act of 2007 and the Cash Courier Disclosure Act of 2007. The offense of money laundering is criminalized in the MLPCA.

This report evaluates the observance of standards and codes on Financial Action Task Force recommendations for anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) in Mexico. Mexico has a mature AML/CFT regime, with a correspondingly well-developed legal and institutional framework. The financial sector demonstrates a good understanding of the primary money laundering threats from organized crime groups and associated criminal activities as well as tax crimes, but the recognition of corruption as a main threat is uneven. Mexico also has a solid legal and institutional framework in place to seek and provide mutual legal assistance and extradition. The authorities also frequently rely on other forms of international cooperation to exchange information with other countries.

This report examines Mexico’s observance of Standards and Codes on the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering's recommendations for antimoney laundering and combating the financing of terrorism. The Mexican government has instituted unprecedented measures to support law enforcement activities against organized crime and drug trafficking. The authorities have approved an Integral Strategy against Organized Crime, and various key national stakeholders have executed an interagency agreement entitled the National Agreement for Security, Justice, and Legality.

This paper discusses key findings of the detailed assessment report on antimoney laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) for Paraguay. The assessment reveals that there are significant gaps in Paraguay’s AML/CFT framework, and the level of awareness of money laundering/financing of terror risks is low in both the public and private sectors. The country falls well short of complying with most of the Financial Action Task Force recommendations. There are also no provisions that would allow the authorities to freeze suspected terrorist assets in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.