Report on the National Evaluation of the Risks of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in Switzerland
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Report on the national evaluation of the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing in Switzerland Report of the interdepartmental coordinating group on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism (CGMF) June 2015 C:\Users\U80831615\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\EALUOOGN\75503_Ber-GeldwaeschRisiko-Terrorfinanzier-CH_e.doc Table des matières Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 4 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 8 2 Aims of the report ................................................................................................................... 9 3 Basic concepts ...................................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Money laundering ................................................................................................................. 10 3.1.1 The money laundering process .............................................................................................. 11 3.1.2 Complexity .............................................................................................................................. 11 3.2 Terrorist financing ................................................................................................................ 11 3.3 Criminal risk assessment..................................................................................................... 12 3.3.1 Criminal risk ............................................................................................................................ 12 3.3.2 Threats .................................................................................................................................... 12 3.3.3 Vulnerabilities .......................................................................................................................... 12 4 Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 13 4.1 Quantitative measurements ................................................................................................. 13 4.2 Qualitative risk assessment matrix ..................................................................................... 14 5 Information on Switzerland's general framework .............................................................. 14 5.1 Composition of the economic and financial sector .......................................................... 14 5.1.1 Economic significance of the financial sector ......................................................................... 15 5.1.2 International significance of the Swiss financial centre .......................................................... 17 5.2 Political and legal framework for combating financial crime ........................................... 18 5.2.1 Federal Council's policy on combating financial crime ........................................................... 18 5.2.2 Regulatory developments in the area of financial crime since 2005 ...................................... 18 5.2.3 Policy and regulation in the fight against tax evasion at the international level...................... 20 5.2.4 Developments in the fight against terrorism ........................................................................... 21 5.2.5 Developments in the fight against cybercrime ........................................................................ 21 5.2.6 Other developments in the legal framework concerning the fight against financial crime ...... 22 5.3 Institutional framework for combating money laundering and terrorist financing ....... 23 5.3.1 Financial intermediaries .......................................................................................................... 23 5.3.2 Supervisory bodies and authorities ......................................................................................... 24 5.3.3 Federal authorities involved in combating money laundering and terrorist financing ............. 26 5.3.4 Cantonal authorities involved in combating money laundering and terrorist financing .......... 28 5.3.5 Commissions and groups specialised in combating money laundering, terrorist financing and organised crime ..................................................................................................................................... 29 6 General analysis of the threat of money laundering and terrorist financing ................. 29 6.1 Context and potential threat ................................................................................................ 29 6.2 Money laundering ................................................................................................................. 30 6.2.1 Significance and development of the potential threat ............................................................. 30 6.2.2 Identification of the real threat ................................................................................................ 34 6.2.3 Analysis of the key threats ...................................................................................................... 37 6.2.4 Overall risk evaluation ............................................................................................................. 42 2 6.3 Terrorist financing ................................................................................................................ 46 6.3.1 Alternative financial circuits outside of financial intermediation .............................................. 48 6.3.2 Types of financial intermediary used and reasons for detection ............................................ 48 6.3.3 Involvement of non-profit organisations and commercial enterprises .................................... 50 6.3.4 Exchange of information and collaboration between players directly involved in combating terrorist financing ................................................................................................................................... 52 7 Sectoral risk analysis ........................................................................................................... 53 7.1 Main sectors subject to the AMLA ...................................................................................... 53 7.1.1 Banks ...................................................................................................................................... 56 7.1.2 Securities dealers ................................................................................................................... 68 7.1.3 Asset managers ...................................................................................................................... 71 7.1.4 Insurers ................................................................................................................................... 75 7.1.5 Lawyers and notaries .............................................................................................................. 78 7.1.6 Fiduciaries ............................................................................................................................... 81 7.1.7 Casinos ................................................................................................................................... 84 7.1.8 Money transmitters and foreign exchange transactions ......................................................... 88 7.1.9 Credit services ........................................................................................................................ 92 7.1.10 Payment transactions (credit cards, pre-paid cards, e-money) .............................................. 94 7.1.11 Trade in precious metals......................................................................................................... 97 7.2 Analysis of the areas of activity not subject to the AMLA ............................................. 100 7.2.1 Real estate sector ................................................................................................................. 100 7.2.2 Non-profit organisations (NPOs) ........................................................................................... 104 7.2.3 Cross-border cash transfers ................................................................................................. 107 7.2.4 Free ports .............................................................................................................................. 110 7.2.5 Trade in works of art ............................................................................................................. 112 7.2.6 Commodities trading ............................................................................................................. 115 8 Conclusions and recommendations ................................................................................. 118 9 Appendices .......................................................................................................................... 123 9.1 Risk calculation ................................................................................................................... 123 9.2 Sources ...............................................................................................................................