Wide open plains of Central Asia

The 19th century saw imperial rivalry create the “Great Game”, when Russia and the British Empire vied for hegemony in the region which, after the Bolshevik revolution, became known as Soviet Central Asia. The old Great Game was tied to control of India, and to gems and gold. Today, says Mark Rowe, a new version, involving oil and terrorism, mean that the same territory is, increasingly, the focus of international anti-money laundering efforts.

The new gold is the from the Caspian region, which by 2015 is expected to have attained a production capacity of six million barrels a day. A prevailing climate of corruption, misuse of funds and loans, would appear to offer inviting opportunities for siphoning off and laundering contract payments.