International experts set for Dubai Channels Banking summit

Thomas Cash was 25 years fighting drug cartel money launderers for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in the US. A regular speaker on the international circuit, he is a foremost authority on anti-money laundering matters.

On the other side of the coin is Ken Rijock, a former bank lawyer who spent a decade laundering money for drug rings in the US. So great was his expertise that upon his release from prison after being convicted for his crimes, Rijock started assisting law enforcement across the spectrum of anti-money laundering.

Both men will generate massive interest at Channels, the four-day global banking strategy summit from April 25-28, where they will be among 62 experts in the global financial sector taking part as speakers.

Says Cordelia Henry, Channels Conference Director: "Because they deal with people's money, banks and other financial and professional institutions rely heavily on a reputation for integrity. Banks need their good name to build business. Any link with money laundering is obviously very bad for business."

Cash and Rijock possess a wealth of knowledge that will be of great benefit to the industry in the Middle East in preventing money laundering.

Abdulrahim Mohammed Al Awadi, Assistant Executive Director and in Charge of Anti-Money Laundering and Suspicious Cases Unit, Central Bank of the UAE, is a particularly highly regarded industry expert who will also be speaking at Channels.

Organised by IIR, Channels covers globalisation, profitability and technology. Industry authorities are flying in from Europe, Asia, Far East, Australia and South Africa. Channels also includes an exhibition catering for the top level of the financial services industry.

Rijock spent a decade as a money launderer for drug rings in North America. Operating from Miami, he plied his trade in the tax havens of the Caribbean. He was eventually arrested and jailed over money laundering.

Later he became part of the first joint cooperative Swiss-American money laundering investigation of Swiss bankers and lawyers. The probe resulted in major seizure and forfeiture of the proceeds of drug crimes.

Since Rijock's release from jail he has trained and consulted to police and the banking community. He is currently the anti-money laundering compliance consultant at Mutual Benefits Corporation in Florida.

Cash is currently executive managing director of Business Intelligence and Investigations Division at Kroll, the world's leading risk consulting company. He also works with Security Services Group and
specialises in international narcotics trafficking matters plus money laundering and fraud investigations in Latin America.

During his 25 years in the DEA, Cash was in charge of the Florida and Caribbean Division, the largest DEA office in the world. He crafted a sophisticated system for detection of money laundering for many Mexican and Dominican banks.

Cash's systems were put to the test when the US government seized $7 million from a number of banks in a famous sting called 'Operation Casablanca'. Cash is currently Chairman of the anti-money laundering committee at Banco Popular Dominicano, the largest bank in the Dominican Republic.

The sell-out Channels is being staged at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Sheikh Zayed Rd.

Henry concludes: "There's no bigger event of its type in Dubai this year than Channels. It is a 'must attend' for the industry."