Interview with Anar Qasem, Vice President – MENA, Cleareye.ai
Host: Robin Amlot, IBS Intelligence

Introduction

Robin Amlot (IBS Intelligence):
I’m Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence. You’re listening to the IBSiViews podcast. Today, our topic is trade-based money laundering, TBML, the hidden thread in trade finance operations that’s costing banks billions.

It’s a topic that doesn’t get enough attention. TBML sits at the intersection of global commerce, criminal networks, and regulatory risk, and the landscape is evolving fast. With me to discuss the subject is Anar Qasem, Vice President of MENA at Cleareye.ai. With over 23 years of experience in banking and financial technology across diverse markets, Anar now partners with banks across the Middle East and North Africa to help them combat trade-based money laundering through the use of AI-driven solutions.

Cleareye.ai’s flagship platform, ClearTrade®, leverages advanced artificial intelligence to automate the analysis of complex trade documents, detect pricing anomalies, and identify high-risk transactions in real time. Beyond compliance, the platform transforms trade finance operations by reducing manual document review, accelerating processing times, and enabling straight-through processing.

Anar, welcome.

Anar Qasem:
Well, Robin, thank you for having me today. It’s great to be here with you.

Why Bank CEOs Should Be Paying Attention

Robin Amlot:
Why should bank CEOs be paying attention to trade-based money laundering right now?

Anar Qasem:
I would like to be very direct, and I think it’s important to be direct and transparent. There’s a perfect storm building up in the trade finance industry, and most banks are not seeing it coming.

In maritime terms, a perfect storm forms when separate weather systems, each dangerous on their own, suddenly converge together, all at the same time, in the same place. That is exactly what’s happening in trade finance right now. There are three forces colliding at the same time.

The first force is regulators are done being nice. According to trade compliance reports, banks have been fined billions of dollars for missing money laundering. That’s not a slap on the wrist. That’s a hole in the hull that sinks the ship.

Right here in our region, in MENA, regulators have imposed heavy fines and prison sentences for TBML failures. The message is very clear: fix the problem, or we will fine you until you do.

The second force is criminals are winning, and they’re winning big. Estimates suggest TBML moves between hundreds of billions to trillions of dollars every year. Banks are catching almost none of it. Trade is the perfect hiding place for complex paperwork, multiple parties, and cross-border transactions.

The third force is banks are still using paper and people. Banks spend tens of millions every year processing transactions manually, and they’re still sailing blind. The old tools simply won’t work against modern trade-based money laundering schemes.

Ships with radar survive. Ships relying on paper maps don’t.

What’s Broken in TBML Detection

Robin Amlot:
You mentioned banks sailing blind. What’s actually broken in how banks detect TBML today?

Anar Qasem:
Banks are fighting sophisticated trade-based money laundering schemes with old tools. That’s as simple as it gets.

A large trade finance bank processes millions of transactions every year. Thousands of people are reading documents, checking names, looking for suspicious activity. It costs tens of millions of dollars.

But here’s the real problem. Around 80% of global trade happens with almost no paperwork. Banks focus heavily on the 20% they can see, while criminals operate freely in the remaining 80%. You can’t beat organised crime with paper and people.

What Is Trade-Based Money Laundering?

Robin Amlot:
Let’s spell it out. What exactly is trade-based money laundering?

Anar Qasem:
Trade-based money laundering means criminals using normal-looking trade to move dirty money across borders.

They buy goods from fake suppliers. The invoices look real, the paperwork looks real, but the goods are fake, overpriced, underpriced, or shipped in circles. Common tricks include fake invoices, duplicate shipments, and manipulated pricing.

Each participant sees only part of the map. Banks, shipping companies, customs agents, and freight forwarders all see fragments. Criminals are the only ones who see the full picture.

If prices look normal, traditional systems struggle. That’s where artificial intelligence becomes critical.

Why This Moment Is Critical

Robin Amlot:
What’s changed? Why is this moment so critical?

Anar Qasem:
Three things have changed. Trade is becoming more fragmented. Artificial intelligence is no longer theoretical, It’s here. And regulators have seen the damage.

If banks are not upgrading their TBML detection capabilities right now, they are already drifting into dangerous waters.

What Modern TBML Detection Looks Like

Robin Amlot:
So what does modern TBML detection actually look like?

Anar Qasem:
Think of it as a navigation upgrade with three layers.

The first layer is automated document intelligence. AI processes documents automatically and flags anomalies in seconds.

The second layer is real-time risk scoring. Transactions are analysed before money moves.

The third layer is network analysis. Criminals operate across multiple transactions, companies, and countries. AI can see those connections across the entire network.

Humans can’t do that at scale. AI can.

Cost, Value, and ROI

Robin Amlot:
This sounds expensive. How do banks justify it?

Anar Qasem:
The cost of sailing unprepared is far higher than the cost of upgrading. Banks already spend millions and still miss criminals.

One regulatory fine can sink the ship. Most banks see returns within 9 to 12 months through efficiency gains and reduced false positives. Better TBML detection also means banks can safely grow their trade business.

Smaller Banks and Implementation

Robin Amlot:
What about smaller regional banks? Do they need this level of detection?

Anar Qasem:
Smaller banks are even more vulnerable. A regulatory fine for a smaller bank can be catastrophic.

Modern cloud-based solutions don’t require rebuilding systems. You upgrade the ship you already have.

Final Advice to Bank CEOs

Robin Amlot:
If a bank CEO is listening, what should they do tomorrow morning?

Anar Qasem:
First, understand visibility. Ask what percentage of trade transactions you actually see. The answer will likely be terrifying.

Second, calculate the cost of a shipwreck by estimating potential exposure and regulatory penalties.

Third, talk to peers who have already deployed AI-powered TBML systems. Learn what worked and how fast they upgraded.

Ships with radar will make it through the storm. Paper maps won’t.

Closing

Robin Amlot:
Thank you, Anar Qasem, Vice President of MENA at Cleareye.ai.

Anar Qasem:
Thank you.

Learn More

To learn more about how AI is helping banks strengthen trade-based money laundering detection and trade finance operations, visit https://cleareye.ai/.