Daily financial-crime intelligence · Updated 28 Sep 2026, 23:02 UTC
Money laundering
Olamide Shanu, 35, a Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering after being extradited from Nigeria. He participated in cyber-enabled schemes affecting approximately 150 American victims and generating over $2.
Sanctions
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2828 (2026), extending the 1591 Sudan sanctions regime—including targeted sanctions and an arms embargo—for one month to allow continued negotiations on potential expansion.
Fraud & scams
The World Bank Group announced a 29-month debarment of African Consulting Surveyors (ACS) and its Managing Director Willem Jan Timmerman for fraudulent and collusive practices in the Mozambique Land Administration Project (Terra Segura).
Fraud & scams
Alex Beard, former head of oil at Glencore, pleaded not guilty to two corruption charges at London's Southwark Crown Court on September 10, 2026.
Other
The Geneva Tax Administration has initiated proceedings against Cameroon businessman Paul Kammogne Fokam for allegedly failing to declare substantial wealth during approximately a decade of residence in Switzerland.
Fraud & scams
Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) settled its $290 million compensation claim over an abandoned decade-long bribery prosecution with the UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and law firm Dechert.
Fraud & scams
Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation settled its £290 million ($290 million USD) compensation claim against the UK's Serious Fraud Office and law firm Dechert on September 2, 2026.
Money laundering
Oluwasegun Baiyewu, 40, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 95 months in prison for his role in a money laundering conspiracy involving millions of dollars tied to various fraud schemes—including business email compromise, romance, and unemployment insurance fraud scams—perpetrated against U.S.
Money laundering
A former Goldman Sachs investment banker, Asante Kwaku Berko, was convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn on August 6, 2026, on multiple charges related to bribery and money laundering.
Fraud & scams
According to the World Bank Group, United Aviation Services Limited (UNASEL), a transportation services company based in Nigeria, and its owner Air Vice Marshal Alkali Mamu have been debarred for 31 months for fraudulent practices.
Money laundering
The Civil Guard dismantled a criminal organization specialized in money laundering proceeds from fraud. The network conducted more than 9,200 transfers totalling over four million euros sent to Nigeria.
Sanctions
The European Union adopted its 21st sanctions package against Russia on 23 July 2026, which expands restrictive measures to target cryptocurrency platforms and payment services.
Other
The Insolvency Service announced on 23 July 2026 that Medrecruiter Limited (company number 15368407) was wound up in the public interest at the High Court on 16 July 2026 following its investigation.
Sanctions
On July 14, 2026, the UN Security Council Committee concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo approved additions to its sanctions list targeting individuals and groups involved in destabilizing activities.
Money laundering
Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, of Burnsville, Minnesota, was transferred to Minnesota on July 16, 2026, after surrendering in Somalia.
Sanctions
The U.K. announced sanctions targeting eleven individuals and entities suspected of being linked to financing, procurement and commercial networks supporting the RSF or SAF in Sudan's civil war.
Fraud & scams
Six suspected scammers targeting UK victims were arrested in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria, on 4 July 2026 by the Nigerian Police Force following joint working between the National Crime Agency, Nigerian Police Force and Meta.
The European Union Council strengthened the EU's restrictive measures concerning Sudan on July 13, 2026, by introducing a ban on the purchase, import or transfer of gold originating in Sudan, and banning the sale, supply, transfer or export of mercury and cyanide to Sudan.
Trafficking
Abdul Zahir Qadeer, also known as 'Haji Abdul Zahir,' a former general in Afghanistan's Border Force and First Deputy Speaker of Afghanistan's National Assembly's House of the People, was extradited from Kenya to the United States to face charges of conspiracy to import heroin and methamphetamine and weapons offenses.
Sanctions
The UN Security Council ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee amended the designation of Hamidah Nabaggala, a Ugandan national born February 23, 1989, currently residing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Money laundering
Samuel D. Marcus, 33, from Oreland, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering charges before U.S. District Judge Joel H. Slomsky.
Sanctions
France's Navy intercepted oil tanker Deliver near Sicily on June 23, 2026, marking the fifth Russian shadow fleet vessel seized by France in 2026. The Cameroon-flagged ship allegedly carried Russian crude destined for Singapore.
Money laundering
French authorities conducted new raids on the Franco-British petroleum company Perenco on June 16, 2026, as part of an expanding corruption investigation by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF).
Sanctions
Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officers boarded sanctioned vessel SMYRTOS (Cameroon flag) in English Channel on June 14, 2026 in first UK-led operation of its kind. Six-hour operation supported by Chinook, Merlin, Wildcat helicopters, RAF P-8, HMS Sutherland, HMS Ledbury.
UK Royal Marines boarded and detained the Russian shadow fleet tanker 'Smyrtos' (operating under Cameroon flag) in the English Channel following a six-hour operation. The vessel was used to transport Russian oil circumventing Western sanctions.
The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2821 (2026) on May 29, 2026, extending sanctions on South Sudan for one year until May 31, 2027.
Fraud & scams
Akinade Adedeji Raheem, 43, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Abayomi Quadri Eletu, 42, of UK and Nigeria, charged with conspiracy to claim fraudulent tax refunds using stolen identities of accountants and taxpayers.
Sanctions
Investigation reveals A7A5 stablecoin processed $119.7B, functions as purpose-built settlement rail for sanctioned Russian businesses. Backed by Promsvyazbank deposits (state-owned bank supporting military industrial base), majority-owned by convicted oligarch Ilan Shor.
Sanctions
The UN Security Council Committee concerning Sudan added four individuals to its sanctions list, all affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF): Gedo Hamdan Ahmed (Commander for North Darfur section), Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo (RSF Deputy Leader and brother of RSF head), Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris (Brigadier General), and Tijani Ibrahim Moussa Mohamed (Field Commander).
The corruption trial of Diezani Alison-Madueke, former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, began at Southwark Crown Court in London. The trial follows charges brought in 2023 after a National Crime Agency investigation into allegations of corruption and money laundering.
Money laundering
OFAC sanctioned four Kyrgyzstan companies (Mirdk Fyuels, Suprim Ef Iks, Sakhara Petroleum, Royal Sona) on December 9, 2024 for gold smuggling and money laundering. All registered March 30, 2023 at same address, curated by David Paul Crosby of Skorus Investments.
OFAC sanctioned Gasabo Gold Refinery LTD and three other mining entities, plus two individuals (Jean Malic Kalima and Bosco Kayobotsi), for facilitating the M23 rebel group's illicit gold smuggling from eastern DRC.
Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, was taken into custody in Mogadishu, Somalia on June 25, 2026, for his alleged role in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.
OFAC designated eight individuals and entities supporting both sides of Sudan's civil war, including Target Multiactivities Company Ltd. and Ports Engineering Company Ltd. for procuring explosives and military equipment for the Sudanese Armed Forces.
Money laundering
London jury acquitted former Nigerian Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke (65) of all charges, including five counts of accepting bribes and one conspiracy count, concluding a 13-year UK National Crime Agency investigation.
Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke found not guilty of six bribery charges by London jury at Southwark Crown Court after decade-long investigation.
OFAC designated 4 entities and 2 individuals involved in illicit conflict minerals trading networks in eastern DRC. Entities: Bugambira Mines Ltd (aka Multiserve Consults Ltd), Gasabo Gold Refinery Ltd, Rwinkwavu Mining Corporation Ltd, Wolfram Mining and Processing Ltd—all based in Kigali, Rwanda.
OFAC sanctioned Gustave Kubwayo (FDLR commander) and John Imani Nzenze (M23 commander and chief of intelligence) for leading armed groups that have committed serious human rights violations including killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement in eastern DRC.
The Serious Fraud Office has settled a decade-long investigation into Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC), a Kazakh mining company, over suspected bribery and corruption linked to mining assets in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
World Bank debarred Roger Bokandenga, a DRC national, for 21 months for corrupt practices in the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Development and Growth Project.
Frederick Kumi, a 31-year-old Ghanaian national, was extradited from Ghana to face charges involving the alleged defrauding of more than 80 elderly victims out of more than $8 million.
The Civil Guard dismantled a criminal organisation dedicated to money-laundering proceeds from fraud, with 20 detained and 11 under investigation in Miranda de Ebro (Burgos), Bilbao, Basauri and Santurtzi.
Samuel D. Marcus, 33, of Pennsylvania, entered a guilty plea to concealment money laundering, arising from his role as a money mule for Nigeria-based scammers in which he laundered millions of dollars in fraud proceeds, according to prosecutors.
The Nigerian Senate Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, commenced a special legislative oversight and public hearing on August 3, 2026, to examine Nigeria's extractive sector across the years 2021–2023.