Episodes

  • Drugs move. Money wins | Why financial flows (not drug seizures) describe the global drug war

    Drugs move. Money wins | Why financial flows (not drug seizures) describe the global drug war
    Feb 25 2026
    Governments seize tons of drugs every year — yet the global drug trade continues to expand. Why?

    In this episode of The Laundromat, Dawn Pretorius examines what actually works in the fight against drug trafficking. From border interdictions and crop eradication to international cooperation and demand reduction, she breaks down why the most visible strategies often produce the least structural impact.

    The core argument is simple: trafficking survives because profits are successfully laundered. As long as money moves through financial systems, trade channels, shell companies, and professional enablers, drug markets regenerate.

    For AML and compliance professionals, this episode reframes the debate — the real battleground isn’t at the border. It’s in the financial system. Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn · The Shepherds of Inequality · Beyond Play
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    18 mins
  • Drugs move. Money wins | Why financial flows (not drug seizures) describe the global drug war

    Drugs move. Money wins | Why financial flows (not drug seizures) describe the global drug war
    Feb 25 2026
    Governments seize tons of drugs every year — yet the global drug trade continues to expand. Why?

    In this episode of The Laundromat, Dawn Pretorius examines what actually works in the fight against drug trafficking. From border interdictions and crop eradication to international cooperation and demand reduction, she breaks down why the most visible strategies often produce the least structural impact.

    The core argument is simple: trafficking survives because profits are successfully laundered. As long as money moves through financial systems, trade channels, shell companies, and professional enablers, drug markets regenerate.

    For AML and compliance professionals, this episode reframes the debate — the real battleground isn’t at the border. It’s in the financial system. Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn · The Shepherds of Inequality · Beyond Play
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    28 mins
  • Are we fighting crime or ticking boxes? | Oonagh van den Berg

    Are we fighting crime or ticking boxes? | Oonagh van den Berg
    Dec 19 2025
    Discover what FSIs can do (and should do) but don't do, to fight crime.

    This episode with Oonagh van den Berg of Raw Compliance takes a bold step in re-looking at how we comply with our AML regulatory requirements.

    Oonagh argues that many current control frameworks are not fully fit for purpose as they were designed for a slower financial world and struggle to keep up with instant payments, embedded finance, crypto, and AI-driven fraud. While these frameworks may be technically compliant, they lack operational effectiveness.

    The conversation covers issues of overregulation, data fragmentation, the disconnect between compliance and business operations, and the limitations of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) evaluations.

    Oonagh advocates for a shift from rule-based to data-first, dynamic, and tech-enabled frameworks that can adapt to evolving criminal behaviours. She stresses the importance of compliance officers developing skills in data analytics, technology, and business understanding rather than focusing solely on regulatory knowledge Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn · The Shepherds of Inequality · Beyond Play
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    41 mins
  • A lifestyle audit is just a piece of paper. Why bother?

    A lifestyle audit is just a piece of paper. Why bother?
    Dec 18 2025
    Lifestyle audits are symbolically unsubstantial.

    Lifestyle audits can be extremely valuable, especially considering the high level of crime within the public sector, and South Africa is a notable example.

    Many public departments treat audits as mere self-reporting exercises without verification. There is poor follow-through on findings, a lack of mandatory referral to criminal procedures, complications with offshore assets, and political interference.

    Pretorius concludes that lifestyle audits in South Africa remain largely symbolic rather than substantive, exposing corruption without deterring it. She argues that for lifestyle audits to be effective, they must be backed by law, enforced independently, and result in asset seizure and confiscation.

    Imagine what could change? Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn · The Shepherds of Inequality · Beyond Play
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    21 mins
  • Are we fighting crime or feeding the system? | Pieter Rossouw

    Are we fighting crime or feeding the system? | Pieter Rossouw
    Nov 17 2025
    Rethinking the RBA, AML effectiveness, and UBO failures.

    In this hard-hitting episode, Dawn Pretorius is joined by seasoned financial-crime expert Pieter Rossouw to unpack whether our global AML systems are truly fighting illicit finance — or unintentionally fuelling it. From the misuse of the risk-based approach, to the startling ineffectiveness of the global AML regime, to South Africa’s still-fragile UBO framework, this conversation asks the uncomfortable question: are we solving the problem, or sustaining it? Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn · The Shepherds of Inequality · Beyond Play
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    52 mins
  • The Compliance Crunch: Tech, Risk & Regulation | Jonnie Davis

    The Compliance Crunch: Tech, Risk & Regulation | Jonnie Davis
    Nov 17 2025
    Where technology, crime, and compliance collide.

    A sharp, investigative podcast that exposes how technology is reshaping the global fight against money laundering. Hosted by Dawn Pretorius, The Laundromat tackles the fast-evolving world of AML through expert conversations, real-world cases, and bold questions about regulation, innovation, and the launderers who always seem one step ahead. Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn · The Shepherds of Inequality · Beyond Play
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    44 mins
  • Grey list, global scams, and AML realities | Bela Carvalho-Olivier

    Grey list, global scams, and AML realities | Bela Carvalho-Olivier
    Oct 3 2025
    A candid, insider view of AML’s wins, failures and future.

    ✅ South Africa’s greylisting journey — are we really out of the woods?
    ✅ The rise of scams as a global, multi-billion-dollar industry.
    ✅ The real challenges faced by AML professionals on the ground.
    ✅ Whether SMEs and non-financial businesses can realistically keep up with compliance.
    ✅ Public perceptions of AML — does it matter to ordinary people?
    ✅ And if Bela were in charge of the FIC or FATF, what would she change? Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn · The Shepherds of Inequality · Beyond Play
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    32 mins
  • Hawala: The Invisible Artery of Illicit Finance

    Hawala: The Invisible Artery of Illicit Finance
    Oct 1 2025
    Hawala is more than a remittance tool - it's a silent counter-economy.

    Rooted in ancient trust-based systems, the hawala system allows funds to travel across borders without ever entering the formal financial system.

    For financial criminals, hawala is an off-the-books express lane. For AML professionals, it's the ultimate blind spot. But for foreigners sending money home, it's cheap, fast, and trustworthy. Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn · The Shepherds of Inequality · Beyond Play
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    13 mins