TRADE-BASED MONEY LAUNDERING
Detecting and Disrupting Financial Crime Through International Trade Channels
Course Schedule
| Date | Venue | Fees (Face-to-Face) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 – 18 Jul 2025 | Dubai, UAE | USD 1995 per delegate |
Course Introduction
Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML) is one of the most complex and widespread forms of illicit financial activity, where legitimate trade is exploited to disguise criminal proceeds. As global trade increases, regulators and institutions face growing challenges in identifying suspicious patterns in cross-border transactions.
This two-day intensive course provides compliance, finance, and risk professionals with practical tools to detect, prevent, and respond to TBML schemes. Through typology analysis, red flags, and regulatory expectations, participants will be equipped to strengthen anti-money laundering (AML) frameworks and ensure compliance with FATF guidelines.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Understand the mechanisms and typologies of Trade-Based Money Laundering
• Identify red flags and high-risk trade activities across sectors and geographies
• Analyze trade documentation and transaction flows for anomalies
• Apply best practices in AML/CFT compliance related to international trade
• Enhance coordination with customs, regulators, and financial institutions
Key Benefits of Attending
• Stay ahead of evolving financial crime risks in trade finance
• Learn to detect fraudulent invoicing, over/under-invoicing, and phantom shipments
• Improve your due diligence on suppliers, buyers, and trade chains
• Prepare for regulator and audit scrutiny of trade compliance programs
• Network with AML professionals and benchmark institutional practices
Intended Audience
This program is designed for:
• AML and compliance officers in banks and financial institutions
• Trade finance professionals and export/import documentation teams
• Risk and internal audit managers
• Customs, regulatory, and law enforcement authorities
• Legal and advisory professionals in trade and compliance
Individual Benefits
Key competencies that will be developed include:
• Detection of TBML schemes and misuse of trade instruments
• Interpretation of invoices, bills of lading, and shipping documents
• Use of red flag indicators and risk typologies
• Implementation of trade-related AML/CFT policies
• Cross-functional collaboration with trade and compliance teams
Organization Benefits
Upon completing the training course, participants will demonstrate:
• Enhanced protection against trade-based financial crime
• Improved compliance with FATF Recommendations and local regulations
• Reduced risk of reputational damage and regulatory penalties
• Strengthened internal controls across trade finance operations
• More effective communication between compliance, operations, and trade desks
Instructional Methdology
The course follows a blended learning approach combining theory with practice:
• Strategy Briefings – FATF guidance, TBML trends, cross-border threats
• Case Studies – TBML cases from real-world prosecutions and investigations
• Workshops – Document reviews, red flag analysis, escalation procedures
• Peer Exchange – Industry comparison of controls and detection methods
• Tools – TBML red flag checklists, due diligence frameworks, reporting templates
Course Outline
Training Hours: 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Daily Format: 3–4 Learning Modules | Coffee breaks: 09:30 & 11:15 | Lunch Buffet: 01:00 – 02:00
Day 1: TBML Risk Landscape and Detection Techniques
- Module 1: Introduction to TBML – Definitions and Global Impact (07:30 – 09:30)
• FATF typologies, trade finance vulnerabilities - Module 2: Common TBML Techniques (09:45 – 11:15)
• Over/under-invoicing, multiple invoicing, phantom shipping - Module 3: Reviewing Trade Documents for Risk Indicators (11:30 – 01:00)
• Invoices, letters of credit, bills of lading, shipping discrepancies - Module 4: Workshop – Identify TBML Red Flags in Sample Transactions (02:00 – 03:30)
• Hands-on analysis of trade records
Day 2: Compliance Frameworks and Institutional Response
- Module 5: Regulatory Guidance and Enforcement Trends (07:30 – 09:30)
• FATF, Basel, Wolfsberg, and national compliance mandates - Module 6: Designing a TBML Compliance Program (09:45 – 11:15)
• Policies, procedures, internal controls, training - Module 7: Role of Technology in TBML Detection (11:30 – 01:00)
• Transaction monitoring, AI/ML, data analytics - Module 8: Final Workshop – Draft a TBML Risk Mitigation Plan (02:00 – 03:30)
• Create a tailored plan for your organization
Certification
Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion in Trade-Based Money Laundering, validating their competence in identifying, mitigating, and responding to financial crime risks hidden within legitimate trade activity.