The Cornerstone Report: Volume 2, Issue 2

SAR Review Sparks ICE Financial Investigation in Detroit

Every day ICE special agents, intelligence specialists and contract employees review and analyze Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). The goal—to identify criminal organizations through their behavior patterns.

Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) reporting requirements and effective anti-money laundering programs have caused criminal organizations to resort to acts of desperation in their attempt to earn, move and store their illicit funds.

Recently an analyst assigned to ICE’s Detroit Special Agent-in-Charge office was searching SARs for “red flag” indicators of criminal activity associated with countries of interest. The astute analyst identified a SAR filed by a financial institution referencing a suspicious financial transaction related to a country of interest in the Middle East.

The subject associated with the SAR was further researched and identified through law enforcement databases. The ensuing investigation entailed hundreds of investigative hours and countless grand jury subpoenas, interviews, surveillance and search warrants.

During surveillance, agents observed clandestine money drops being made in remote parking lots and the exchange of bags of currency at businesses and behind dumpsters.

Ultimately, ICE agents identified an organization operating a hawala and sending millions of dollars to foreign nations in violations of numerous U.S. laws and sanctions.

This case demonstrates the effective use of SARs by ICE to identify criminal violations that could have otherwise gone undetected and affected the integrity of the U.S. financial system and the security of the United States.

Back to Top

Suspicious Activity Reports: A Critical Tool for Financial Investigations

Spotlighting ICE’s SAR Review Teams

SAR Referrals Provide Valuable Information to Law Enforcement in Their Fight Against Financial Crime

SAR Review Sparks ICE Financial Investigation in Detroit

ICE Campaign Targets Illegal Money Transmittal Businesses

ICE Partners With IAFCI

SCAM ALERT: Internet Fraudsters Prey On Families of Iraq Soldiers

SAR Referral Identifies Alien Smuggling Ring

Cornerstone Calendar

Cornerstone is U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) comprehensive investigative initiative for fighting financial crime, trade fraud and intellectual property crime.

The Cornerstone Report is a quarterly bulletin highlighting key issues related to ICE financial and trade investigations.

The Cornerstone Report covers a broad range of topics related to financial investigations and potential vulnerabilities in the financial and trade sectors.

We strive to present clear thinking by knowledgeable observers that can be read with ease and pleasure by both professionals and a general audience, and we’re happy to review unsolicited submissions for potential publication in the newsletter.

If you would like to submit an article for publication or simply find out more about how you can participate in the Cornerstone initiative, drop us an e-mail at tripwire@dhs.gov.