AFB Financial Crime Masterclass: Mitigating Trade Based Money Laundering (TBML) in Trade Finance – Part 2

AFB has organised this practical masterclass, which will focus on applying effective controls to manage increasingly complex and emerging trade-related financial crime risks.  Attendees will explore how to assess trade finance risks, conduct effective due diligence and ongoing monitoring, and identify and respond to higher-risk activity across client relationships, trade transactions, payments and shipping activity.

The session builds on the foundational knowledge covered in the first AFB TBML Masterclass held in March, taking a more practical approach through interactive exercises and case studies. It is designed for both those who attended part one and financial crime and trade professionals who want to develop their understanding of how TBML and wider trade-related risks should be managed in practice.

Attendees from international banks operating in the UK will gain a valuable opportunity to consider how changing geopolitical events, sanctions risks, proliferation finance, shipping activity and the movement of CBRN and dual-use goods can affect trade activity, and how these risks should be managed while balancing home office and UK regulation.

Case Studies will examine TBML, TBTF and other trade-related predicate crime, including tax crimes, sanctions, unlicensed dual-use goods and proliferation risks. The session will review what happened, why it happened, how UK and international regulators responded, and what firms can learn from enforcement action to close control gaps and sharpen screening, escalation, reporting and record-keeping.

The session, led by our expert training partner – Great Chatwell Academy of Learning, will also explore current and emerging crime typologies and geopolitical developments, including the impact of events in the Middle East and global tariffs, alongside the practical challenges of shipping due diligence and identifying risks associated with high-risk jurisdictions including Russia, Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Course Structure

• In-person, instructor-led
• 3 hours of learning
• CPD credits for confirmed attendance
• Key learning is supported using practical crime reports, peer-to-peer discussions and case enforcement analysis.
• Practical exercises focused on the application of learning and skills development

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Describe the impact of geopolitical events and criminal developments on trade activity, including events in the Middle East and the impact of global tariffs on goods and services levied as part of foreign policy
• Contribute to the assessment of trade-related crime risks within your firm, including TBML typologies such as misrepresentation of value, quantity and quality, abuse of Free Trade Zones, terrorist group financing activity, sanctions evasion and the movement of CBRN and dual-use goods
• Conduct due diligence and ongoing monitoring to identify emerging crime risks in trade transactions, including shipping due diligence and risks associated with respondent banking relationships
• Outline the systems and controls required to manage and mitigate trade-related crime effectively and efficiently, having regard for both ICC rules and commercial success
• Identify unusual and potentially criminal activity across client relationships, trade transactions and payments
• Analyse regulatory enforcement action to identify critical operational controls and lessons for managing trade-related risks

Who Should Attend?

• Anyone who attended the first TBML Masterclass and wishes to build upon the foundation knowledge and awareness provided previously through a highly interactive, case-study focused and exercise-based development workshop
• Trade finance teams and staff who contribute to the management of trade customer relationships and activities
• Financial crime compliance professionals at all levels who wish to benefit from a more advanced analysis of trade-related crime risks
• All AML professionals who conduct customer due diligence checks and verification on trade customers and transactions
• MLRO’s and their deputies
• Line two and three risk professionals, including Internal auditors

Logistics

Venue:    Banco do Brasil, 280 Bishopsgate, EC2M 4AG
Date:      Wednesday 18 November 2026
Time:      09:30 – 12:30 (registration and light breakfast from 09:00)
Fee:        £410 +VAT

For further information, please contact secretariat@foreignbanks.org.uk.