WILL THE FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE GREY LIST THE UNITED STATES?

A reader from Europe brought this topic up last week, and while some of you may immediately dismiss the idea as inconceivable, there are a number of things that could occur to create a Perfect Storm of what I can only describe as American government policies that could be called Anti-AML, and which would justify FATF action to Grey List the USA. I know you are thinking that politically, this could never happen, as it may spawn a nasty response, given the current "retribution" posture we are seeing, but compliance officers should, like their money laundering adversaries, always be thinking several chess steps ahead of the game.

First of all, the US moves to stop enforcement of the FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT (FCPA), as they pertain to American citizens, and the obvious administration efforts to shield US companies from the reporting requirements regarding the reporting of beneficial ownership of corporations, have been noticed abroad. The effect will be that these major tools available to rein in illegal AML/CFT activity shall not be available to suppress financial crime. If the new American administration continues to block the weapons law enforcement employs to suppress money laundering and yes, therefore even terrorist financing, international regulatory agencies who are tasked with measuring what they deem non-cooperative jurisdictions, could step up and essentially sanction the United States for allowing financial crime to flourish.

It all depends upon what the administration has up its sleeve now, as it obviously tries to protect American businesses who are political allies and campaign contributors, and who will now not have the same powerful gatekeepers policing their illicit conduct as before. Will we see similar action allowing PEPs to make deposits free from transaction monitoring, or a diminution in Trade-Based Money Laundering investigations? All I know is that the DOJ hasn't filed on new major money laundering case since January 20. America used to be on the cutting edge regarding AML/CFT, ever since the passage of the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, but no more.

Will American banks now complain after their wire transfers abroad for exports are subject to enhanced due diligence at the receiving end? Perhaps then, we might see a move back to true enforcement, but in the meanwhile, compliance officers abroad may want to watch what comes out of the United States financial community, and the FATF should sharpen its pencil when looking at Grey Listing; I rest my case.

GRENADA ISSUES A CBI PASSPORT TO AN ACCUSED NIGERIAN MONEY LAUNDERER WHO IS A FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE; SHE HAS A REPUTED RELATIONSHIP WITH GRENADA'S PRIME MINISTER DICKON MITCHELL

Nigerian businesswoman and prominent Abuja socialite AISHA SULAIMAN ACHIMUGI, wanted by the ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC) for money laundering and criminal conspiracy, most likely became a fugitive from justice by using her GRENADA CBI PASSPORT, which allowed her to evade the government dragnet set to capture and interrogate her. She abruptly fled Nigeria, rather than appear before the EFCC

Achhimugu is accused of secretly funnelling funds to opposition leaders Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 elections.

We question the Grenada CIU's total lack of an effective due diligence investigation in her ability to acquire a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) passport, when her involvement in criminal activity would have been exposed. There may be a different reason why Achimugi received her passport; she is known to have had what is being described as a personal relationship with Grenada's Prime Minister, DICKON MITCHELL.

The case remind me of the scandal that broke several years ago in nearby DOMINICA, when that country's Prime Minister, ROOSEVELT SKERRIT, flew to the United Kingdom, to hand-deliver a Dominican passport to the former Nigerian Oil Minister, DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE, who them unsuccessfully employed that identity document to try to evade arrest in the UK on criminal charges.

Grenada PM Mitchell should be called upon to explain (1) How Achimugi came to acquire a Grenada CBI passport, given her known criminal background, and (2) what is the exact nature of his relationship with her, including any financial transactions or payments, in Grenada or Nigeria.

I personally would like to know how she managed to be allowed to enter the UK if she was a fugitive from justice in Nigeria. Don't Border police in the UK check documents?

AMBIGUOUS STATEMENTS PLACED IN SOCIAL MEDIA OF OTHERS ABOUT YOUR DUBAI ARREST DO NOT A DENIAL MAKE

Social media postings, ladies & gentlemen, are NOT facts. MIMOUN ASSRAOUI, of RIFT TRUST, was definitely arrested this week in Dubai, in connection with the sale of economic citizenships for Saint Kitts & Nevis, and Saint Lucia (CBI/CIP). This social media posting, by a third party in Saint Lucia, attempts to constitute Mimoun's denial that he was indeed arrested. In truth and in fact, he does not come out and affirmatively say he was not arrested by UAE authorities; he dances around it, trying to convince the public that his appearance means he wasn't. Not true, Ms. Alexander.

in truth and in fact, he was simply released on bond; he cannot travel outside the Emirates, and he is currently under supervision, The tag line at the bottom of the Facebook posting below (hashtag#PROPAGANDA) says it all. Most Internet users are fully aware that social media information is never to be taken at face value; ignore it. If you haven't seen the original articles about the arrest:
HEAD OF CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT CONSULTANCY RIF TRUST MIMOUN ASSRAOUI ARRESTED IN DUBAI

CLAIMS THAT MIMOUN ASSRAOUI, CEO OF CBI CONSULTANCY RIF TRUST, WAS NOT ARRESTED IN DUBAI ARE FALSE AND A MISREPRESENTATION OF MATERIAL FACT

Both can be found on my blog:https://rijock.blogspot.com  

READ IT AND WEEP, EC; EU PARLIAMENT COMES DOWN HARD ON EAST CARIBBEAN CBI STATES, PLANNING ON DENYING THEM VISA FREE ENTRY, DUE TO SERIOUS SECURITY RISKS CAUSED BY A LACK OF DUE DILIGENCE

This is the Amendment to the EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT proposal, regarding the suspension of visa-free travel to the Schengen Zone for the five East Caribbean states that sell passports & citizenships (CBI/CIP) When it rains it pours, gentlemen. Start cleaning up your act or be prepared for a rocky ride on CBI.

CLAIMS THAT MIMOUN ASSRAOUI, CEO OF CBI CONSULTANCY RIF TRUST, WAS NOT ARRESTED IN DUBAI ARE FALSE AND A MISREPRESENTATION OF MATERIAL FACT

We are hearing that MIMOUN ASSRAOUI, the CEO of the Dubai-based Citizenship by Investment (CBI/CIP) passport sales agency,is alleging that he was not arrested this week by UAE authorities after receiving complaints from victims of RIF. In truth and in fact, Assraoui, himself, personally told me today about his arrest, interrogation and release on bond, which included a prohibition on his ability to leave the UAE until his case is concluded. Any claims that Assraoui has made in the media or elsewhere, to the effect that he was not arrested, and can leave Dubai at any time, are completely false and without any basis in fact. If he is free to leave Dubai, we challenge him to take a flight, today, to Saint Lucia, and appear there in public, tomorrow. Obviously, his statements are false, and a poor attempt to deceive the investing public and his clients, some of whom have already brought civil lawsuits against RIF Trust.

Likewise, Facebook postings by third parties, claiming that Assraoui was not arrested, and that my article was fake news, are not based upon fact, and untrue. The investing public and the people of the Caribbean should disregard social media postings intended to confuse them, and rely solely upon objective and truthful media sources. Mr. Assraoui is currently a defendant in a UAE criminal case, and the facts speak for themselves. He can lie and seek to deceive the public by making false statements, but the truth is he is now facing the criminal justice system of the Emirates. Let justice be served.

HEAD OF CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT CONSULTANCY RIF TRUST MIMOUN ASSRAOUI ARRESTED IN DUBAI

We have confirmed that the authorities in Dubai, United Arab Emirates have arrested MIMOUN ASSROUI, the head of RIF TRUST, a seller of Citizenship by Investment (CBI/CIP) for Saint Kitts & Nevis and Saint Lucia. He is prohibited from leaving the Emirates after victims filed complaints about the company's passport sales. The company's alleged sale of fraudulent CBI contracts was introduced last year in legal proceedings in both East Caribbean states. We are advised that Mr. Assroui has notified McCLAUDE EMMANUEL the head of the Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU); this news has not yet been released to the public in either Saint Kitts or Saint Lucia. 

We have contacted government and legal sources in Dubai, who have advised that the defendant is cooperating with the authorities, and has been interviewed at length. One source has stated that he understands Assroui gave information to investigators about the operations of other CBI consultancies and sales agents operating in Dubai, as well as those located in other countries, and a second source included both the United Kingdom and Canada in the details he said he was aware of. We shall have further information in our next article.

We have previously reported that Dubai prosecutors are known to be cracking down on CBI operators in the Emirates of late. DUBAI AUTHORITIES PUT CHINESE COMPANIES SELLING FRAUDULENT CARIBBEAN PASSPORTS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

AHEAD OF SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO'S REGIONAL VISIT, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING ON REIGNING IN CHINA'S GEOPOLITICAL THREATS POSED BY ITS ILLICIT CARIBBEAN CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES, EXPLAINS AMERICAN POLICY AND RESPONSE TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS CBI POSES

This week, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to embark on his first tour of several Caribbean countries; he will also hold meetings with senior government officials of additional West Indian states while in Jamaica. In advance of his trip, in an On-the-Record briefing, State Department officials and Presidential Advisors detailed the official American position on several topics, including the dangerous role of China in the Citizenship by Investment (CBI/CIP) programs of the East Caribbean states.

To quote from the Briefing,"You mentioned also the Citizenship by Investment. That’s been a longstanding concern we have seen, obviously, in some of these islands in the Caribbean a lot of movement from not only Chinese nationals but Iranian nationals and other countries that affect not only the national security of the United States but, frankly, that affect the security of these islands. That’ll be also an issue for conversation." Additionally, the United States policy on CBI was specifically spelled out here: "So where we want to be is in a place where some of these islands don’t find these citizenship-by-investment programs which attract, unfortunately, nefarious actors from China, Iran, and other countries into the Americas, which then becomes a security challenge for all of us – that we don’t want that to become – CBI should not be a major part of these smaller islands’ GDP. That’s not the goal."

Expect Secretary Rubio to firmly explain America's new assertive foreign policy on controlling bad actors, especially, China, who are using CBI to commit financial crime, engage in espionage against the U.S. and other countries, and create undue influence over the East Caribbean states, which is a direct threat upon America. We note that the penetration by China of Caribbean CBI was the center of the MSR Media documentary “THE MEN WHO SOLD THE CARIBBEAN TO CHINA, “ which was privately screened at the US. Congress in February 2025, before two Congressional Committees. While not yet available to the public, we have seen the program, and it is a damning indictment of widespread systemic fraud, money laundering and corruption by the CBI programs and government leaders responsible for operating them, in coordination with China. The documentary, which was also seen by several US Government officials, exposes the takeover by China PRC of CBI in the Caribbean.

We will be reporting fully on Secretary Rubio's upcoming trip, and his policy announcements and statements regarding the Citizenship by Investment programs, and what reforms must be instituted, if they are to continue to exist for the economic benefit of the people of the Caribbean.

CBI PASSPORT AGENTS RIF TRUST AND LATITUDE BLACKLISTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF SAINT KITTS & NEVIS FOR ILLEGALLY DISCOUNTING SALES OF PASSPORTS

now

ERIC MAJOR, Latitude

The Board of Governors of the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) of Saint Kitts & Nevis has formally blacklisted both RIF TRUST and LATITUDE, two CBI consultancies found to have fraudulently sold illegally-discounted citizenships to thousands of applicants. The news of the blacklisting by the country's CIU appeared in a court filing, made by GLENROY BLANCHETE, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Citizenship and Immigration, in the pending judicial proceeding filed by MSR MEDIA against Prime Minister TERRANCE DREW, seeking to compel the government to cancel all discounted citizenships and revoke passports. The Government of Saint Kitts is named as a party to the fraud in the proceeding. Blanchette is the government official who ordered applicants who paid the illegal price to pay the balance, or face cancellation.

MIMOUN ASSRAOUI, RIF Trust

The filing, which is entitled SUPPLEMENTAL AFFIDAVIT OF GLENROY BLANCHETTE, and filed on 19 March, 2025, details how 32 of the 158 applicants under investigation have now paid the balance of the amount duly owned under the law, and how 13 applicants have has their citizenship revoked, as the direct result of the administrative action. Notably missing is any reference to illegally-discounted applications processed by CARIBBEAN GALAXY GROUP, which has not been blacklisted, reportedly to protect the interests of the Peoples' Republic of China. Galaxy is the main beneficiary of the Saint Kitts CBI fraud.

The two CBI consultancies, RIF TRUST and LATITUDE which also sell Saint Lucia CIP, have been named by former SLC Prime Minister ALLEN CHASTANET in a civil action alleging rampant fraud pending there. Their illegal sales for both East Caribbean states' programs, which have money laundering implications, are known to have continued since they were brought to public attention by MSR Media.

Given that these consultancies are actively involved in the sale of economic citizenships of a number of the other four Caribbean CBI states, it is expected that they will now be blacklisted in those jurisdictions as well. it is too early to determine the impact that the blacklisting will have on the CBI industry in the Caribbean, among allegations of widespread, rampant corruption, money laundering and fraud, and whether reform of the beleaguered CBI and CIP programs will now commence, but court action, such as the SKN judicial proceeding could accelerate it.

NOTE ABOUT EXHIBITS DELETED: BE ADVISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF SAINT KITTS HAS ALLEGED THAT THE AFFIDAVIT WAS FILED UNDER SEAL, AND HAS DEMANDED THAT IT BE REMOVED. THE DOCUMENT DID NOT HAVE ANY MARKINGS, NEITHER IN THE CAPTION NOR ON THE COVER SHEET TO INDICATE THAT IT WAS A SEALED DOCUMENT, AND WE THEREFORE PUBLISHED IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SAINT KITTS. WE HAVE DELETED IT FROM THIS ARTICLE. WHETHER THE DEMAND FOR DELETION OCCURRED AFTER PUBLIC OUTCRY OVER ITS CONTENTS, WE LEAVE TO THE READER TO DECIDE FOR HIMSELF.

The relevant paragraph, for the benefit of those who have not read it:

"I am also informed by the Board of Governors of the Citizenship by Investment Unit and verily believe that the process for blacklisting of international Marketing Agents RIF Trust and Latitude is ongoing."