I have been honored with an invitation to testify before the "Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing" of the House Financial Services Committee.  The hearing was originally scheduled for January 26.  However, because of the snow that has blanketed Washington, D.C. it looks like the hearing will be postponed a week.  More information about the hearing, witnesses, and why the Task Force is concerned about trade-based money laundering can be found here:
http://financialservices.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=400192

I have been increasingly concerned about Chinese underground finance sometimes known as "fei-chien" or "flying money."  There is a lack of information about the subject.  I have tried to further awareness of the problem by including a chapter on the subject in my new book Trade-Based Money Laundering because I think it is a growing international threat. Similar to hawala, fei-chien is linked to trade-based money laundering and value transfer.  I was recently contacted by an Australian journalist who is doing some research about massive Chinese purchases of real estate and gems in Australia.   Chinese investments in pricey real estate are occurring elsewhere - including the United States, Canada, the U.K., etc.  This is occurring even though Chinese are limited to taking $50,000 a year out of the country.  Could underground finance be involved?   See the attached article that contains a few quotes:  
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-outflows-china-idUSKCN0UZ2T5 

I do occasional seminars on "flying money."   If anybody would like to forward information about the underground system including case examples or simply chat I would be very appreciative. 

Thanks!
John