Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is the transfer and export of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons, their means of delivery and related materials.
Proliferation financing is the act of providing funds or financial services which are used, in whole or in part, for the manufacture, acquisition, possession, development, export, transhipment, brokering, transport, transfer, stockpiling or use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery and related materials (including both technologies and dual-use goods used for non-legitimate purposes), in contravention of national laws or, where applicable, international obligations.
Proliferation finance is difficult to detect, and even among the most effectively governed jurisdictions, whose financial institutions are among the largest, most well-resourced, and most focused on combating financial crimes, it is very difficult to track proliferation financing activity.
Counter Proliferation Financing efforts obstruct and interdict financial flows from proliferators and complicate their procurement of illicit goods and the technology needed for the development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) capabilities and related delivery mechanisms.
| Source | Law/Guidance |
| FATF | FATF Guidance on Counter Proliferation Financing |
| UN Security Council Resolutions | UNSCR 1540: All States shall refrain from providing any form of support to non-State actors that attempt to develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery, in particular for terrorist purposes. The resolution requires all States to adopt and enforce appropriate laws to this effect as well as other effective measures to prevent the proliferation of these weapons and their means of delivery to non-State actors, in particular for terrorist purposes |
| Resolutions involving Iran and DPRK | |
| OFAC | OFAC Non-Proliferation Sanctions |
| The National Counterproliferation Center | <span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: body-text, " arial="" narrow",="" arial,="" "roboto="" condensed",="" "open="" sans="" sans-serif;="" background-color:="" rgb(255,="" 255,="" 255);"="">NCPC advances the broader objectives of the US counterproliferation mission. Mission includes focusing on the WMD and Terrorism Nexus |
Reports and Reference Resources
Global Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction: A Case Study on the Aum Shinrikyo (Senate PSI 1995)
WMD Commission Report (2005)
AQ Khan Nuclear smuggling Network (Journal of strategic studies)
Nonproliferation: The Pakistan Network (CFR 2005)