China - Specified Unlawful Activities: CCP Inc., Transnational Crime and Money Laundering

I did significant work earlier in my career in the areas of Money Laundering and international fraud so I know of what I speak (and I bought the book just to get myself more-current... with no idea of the new information I'd be learning.) From Galapagos Islands to the US Cattle industry to the Tobacco marketplace to Panama to Canada to Namibia to weapons of mass destruction the actions China is taking across the globe are staggering in their scope, complexity, and destructiveness. You'll learn about the major role China plays on the world stage in: * Drug Trafficking * Weapons * Human/Organ * Counterfeiting * Wildlife trafficking's * and lots more. And you'll also learn the underlying mechanics... how the money moves and how the government in China has real control over these illegal practices. And how the government uses this set of businesses to exert financial and political power around the globe and how the US, and US entities, are complicit in those moves. I knew some of the pieces...but I really didn't understand the enormity and this book pulls it all together, adds it up, documents, analyzes, explains, and gives specific numbers, references, as well as real stories showing the human impact. It is a relatively "easy" read in that it puts things in human terms but it is documented clearly enough with lots of references that it is not a fairy tale... you can tell this stuff is real. China as a published philosophy to “hide its strength and bide its time.” This book does the "unhide". The world would be a better place if we somehow just took the final chapter of this book and implemented every recommendation.

Through meticulous, extensive research and actual intelligence and law enforcement personal experience, Mr. Cassara has revealed to his readers, China’s threat to the global economy. In his new book, “China – Specified Unlawful Activities, CCP Inc., Transnational Crime and Money Laundering,” Mr. Cassara discusses how China engages in transnational crime and money laundering through eleven (11) “Specified Unlawful Activities.” Mr. Cassara examines specific methodologies that China uses to expand their illicit finance and trade activities around the world and how they use the proceeds from these illicit methods to finance their economy, military and government. Just like his previous books on terror financing, illicit financial flows and trade-based money laundering, in his current book, Mr. Cassara has, once again, expertly provided his readers with a straight-forward, in depth discussion of the detrimental impact of illicit financial related activities to the global economy and how it affects all of us. Mr. Cassara does not leave the reader “hanging,” as he provides several recommendations to combat these illegal activities. I highly recommend this book to researchers, politicians, students, members of the intelligence/law enforcement communities and anyone who has an interest in this subject.

I take notice when John Cassara publishes a book. His works are informative, important, and accessible. His latest book--China Specified Unlawful Activities: CCP Inc., Transnational Crime and Money Laundering--is no different. CCP, Inc. refers to the Chinese Communist Party and the book points to China’s complex web of business and governmental interests that intersect with what we in the west call criminal activity. Put bluntly, part of China’s meteoric rise according to Cassara is from its embrace, directly or otherwise, of criminal behavior. But not so fast. Each nation has criminal elements that may be exposed in dozens of shades, including trade fraud, Intellectual Property (IP) theft, and so on. Why pick on China? Answer: because China has become dangerously effective at exploitation and the rest of the world, including the United States, seems incapable at pushing back. Cassara’s book is a must read for folks over at the FBI, Treasury, DHS, State, not to mention elected officials. A must read, too, for consumers, for those who care about democracy and rule of law, for those who wonder how to check the rising power of autocratic states. I’m no stranger to the study of crime among nations. I spent two decades at U.S. Customs and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) pioneering trade fraud and money laundering targeting methodologies and software tools with a brilliant senior special agent named Lou Bock. We targeted—and helped recover--billions of dollars associated with criminal activity, including illicit transactions from China and yet, oddly, the U.S. government all but dismantled our program. Oops. Global anti-money laundering measures are only as strong as the weakest link, Cassara points out in this important and timely book. Mark E. Laxer

This is not simple reading because John carefully footnotes all of the data he provides. It is deep and extensive nad fact, not opinion based, presented by someone who has spent 20+ years fighting foreign financial attacks on the US. This boof remove the rhetoric and factually lays out the ongoing, China based or backed process that is undermining the US and other countries

This book provides such great information to individuals who are both just interested, and others like myself who are on the educational path regarding this. It is easy to understand but can by an asset not just to those who are still in school but as well to those already in the profession. I have recommended and am purchasing another!!!!

An informative, timely call to action for National Security! John’s experience in the field has allowed him to provide readers with a “boots on the ground” perspective! I have read John Cassara’s books for at least a decade and continue to gain new insight from his work. This latest book contains compelling data that we should consider in our international relations with China and other countries concerning AML policy and compliance. John writes this book for the greater community in understandable language. He sheds light on the central issues and, more importantly, offers clear recommendations for future action. University of Cambridge scholar J.C. Sharman wrote in 2011 that the rapid diffusion of AML policy had created gaps where we need collaborative networks between those tasked with policy-making and those enforcing policy. While this was over a decade ago, John Cassara’s latest book seems to echo these sentiments. China - Specified Unlawful Activities: CCP Inc., Transnational Crime and Money Laundering should be required reading for every senator on the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations!

I highly recommend this new book by John Cassara, "China - Specified Unlawful Activities: CCP Inc., Transnational Crime and Money Laundering" and understanding the importance of China’s multi-faceted involvement in, and benefit from, corruptive influence and transnational crime as an instrument of authoritarian security to finance its great power competition strategies to displace the United States and change the current world order: "The CCP’s existential goal remains the same: regime survival, and, eventually, a position of global primacy. Corruption and transnational crime will continue to help China finance its geopolitical ambitions and objectives and exert its malign influence towards optimal economic benefit, and achieving unfettered global power. Throughout the five sections of his book, John weaves a powerful indictment against the PRC's corruption by showing how CCP Inc. has leveraged corruption, illicit markets, and predatory trade and lending practices to become the world's biggest illicit player across global markets, supply chains, and digital marketplaces. Additionally, through clear and convincing evidence, he also illustrates how China is helping to finance its economy and military and thereby bolster public support for the ruling CCP regime. The insights contained in this new Cassara book should consequently help those tasked with foreign policy and national security decision-making confront these destructive cross-border threats and hold CCP Inc. more accountable while holistically prosecuting the fight against corruption, organized crime, and money laundering to ensure greater security, peace, and prosperity in China, Asia, and globally."

Interesting and valuable look at transnational organized crime from a unique perspective. Very timely. I have learned a great deal from Mr. Cassara’s work on trade-based money laundering and highly recommend all of his books. He raises many points that others cannot or will not. I am convinced that effectively combatting money laundering requires a deeper focus on value transfer and genuinely following the money. Keep writing!