Why We Only Recover 0.5% of Illicit Funds Around the World with James Treacy
From BCG on Compliance by Boston Consulting Group
April 9, 2026 · 20 min · Season 4 · Episode 17
About this episode
James Treacy discusses the challenges of recovering illicit funds and the role of AML Intelligence in combating financial crime.
In this episode of BCG on Compliance, your host Hanjo Seibert talks to James Treacy to find out why we are still only recovering a small fraction of illicit funds around the world. James is the CEO and co-founder of AML Intelligence, an Irish-based publication focusing on highlighting the latest in anti-money laundering techniques around the world. In today’s episode he unpacks one of the biggest realities of financial crime: less than half a percent of illicit proceeds are seized globally. As we continue our innovation series, in today’s episode James shares which methods he would use to increase seizures and captures. He also takes us behind the curtain of AML Intelligence and shares the important work his publication is doing to help publicise money laundering practices across the world. About the Show: BCG on Compliance is a podcast from Boston Consulting Group that explores today’s most pressing criminal trends and how compliance experts are adapting to counter those threats. As financial crimes become increasingly sophisticated, compliance can no longer be just a checkbox. It’s emerged as a transformative force in every industry, reshaping practices in ethics, risk…
People in this episode
Host: Hanjo Seibert
Guest: James Treacy
Topics covered
- illicit funds
- anti-money laundering
- financial crime
- compliance
- seizures
- AML Intelligence
Keywords
- illicit funds
- money laundering
- financial crime
- AML Intelligence
- compliance
- seizures
- anti-money laundering
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: AML Intelligence, Boston Consulting Group
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