Daily financial-crime intelligence · Updated 28 Sep 2026, 23:02 UTC
Money laundering
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested suspects in separate operations targeting illegal currency exchange, hawala-hundi networks and fraudulent visa processing on September 19, 2026.
Fraud & scams
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested five individuals alleged to be involved in hawala-hundi and illegal currency exchange operations. The FIA recovered Rs107 million from the suspects' possession, along with mobile phones and other evidence linked to hawala-hundi transactions.
Money laundering
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) launched a fresh investigation into an alleged Rs172 billion fraud and money laundering case involving call centres suspected of deceiving victims and transferring illicit funds through multiple financial channels.
Fraud & scams
The Federal Investigation Agency apprehended two suspects in Faisalabad accused of orchestrating an investment scam affecting approximately 4,000 people. Authorities recovered Rs.
Other
The Federal Investigation Agency apprehended a suspect named Masim engaged in illegal financial activities, with authorities recovering Rs 38,500 in Pakistani currency, mobile phones, and other evidence related to hawala (informal money transfer) and illegal currency exchange.
Money laundering
Pakistan's Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) amended its anti-money laundering regulations, establishing a new framework to tighten oversight of designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs) including jewelers, dealers in precious metals and stones, and currency exchange operators.
Money laundering
Pakistan's Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) implemented stricter oversight against money laundering and terrorist financing through amendments to the DNFBP Regulations 2020.
Other
The Federal Investigation Agency's Lahore Zone arrested three individuals in separate enforcement operations on September 8, 2026.
Other
The Federal Investigation Agency's Lahore Zone conducted operations resulting in three arrests for financial crimes. Muhammad Amjad and Muhammad Ahmad were charged with violations of the Copyright Act after authorities recovered counterfeit merchandise from their possession.
Bribery & corruption
U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis rejected the Justice Department's renewed request to dismiss remaining bribery and obstruction of justice charges against five defendants in the Gautam Adani case, finding that Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter's justification lacked adequate factual…
Other
The Federal Investigation Agency's Currency Banking Circle in Islamabad registered a case against four individuals operating an illegal hawala-hundi network disguised as legitimate university fee transfers. Muhammad Mubashir was arrested.
Other
On September 1, 2026, the FIA Commercial Banking Circle Lahore team conducted a raid against an illegal hawala/hundi operation and arrested Hafiz Usman Ali, who was operating the illegal setup under the cover of a jewelry shop at Shah Alam Market, Lahore.
Other
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a case against four individuals accused of operating an illegal hawala-hundi network disguised as a university fee transfer service. The suspects allegedly received Rs5.
India's Securities and Exchange Board (SEBI) banned a Mauritius-based unit of JPMorgan Chase & Co., Copthall Mauritius Investment Ltd., and local brokerage firm Mansi Share and Stock Broking Ltd.
Bribery & corruption
According to an ICIJ investigation, Kazakhstan claims in confidential arbitration at the Permanent Court of Arbitration that major oil companies awarded approximately $10.7 billion in contracts at the Kashagan oil field involving alleged self-dealing, unjustified cost increases, or bribery.
Bribery & corruption
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency Anti-Corruption Circle arrested three Pakistan Customs officials for alleged involvement in a bribery and extortion scheme. Prosecutors allege the officials harassed and threatened an individual while demanding a Rs5 million bribe (later negotiated to Rs2.
Money laundering
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Anti-Money Laundering Circle in Lahore arrested a suspect named Akbar Jan on August 7, 2026, in connection with extensive hawala and currency smuggling operations involving billions of rupees. FIR No.
Money laundering
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif alleged that individuals connected to politics and real estate have established businesses in Portugal through which money laundering services from Pakistan are allegedly being provided, and documentation assistance for obtaining Portuguese citizenship is offered.
Money laundering
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) established a cryptocurrency investigation unit housed in its newly operational National Command and Control Centre (NC3) to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing through virtual currency transactions.
Fraud & scams
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency, in a joint operation with other law enforcement agencies, arrested four suspects on July 22, 2026, for allegedly facilitating illegal issuance of Pakistani identity documents to Afghan nationals: NADRA Assistant Director Inamul Haq, Deputy Assistant Director Fayyaz Ahmed, watchman Junaid Ahmed, and private agent Mohammad Umar Shah.
Bribery & corruption
Farrukh Jamal, Director of the Protector Office in Peshawar, was arrested on July 22, 2026, on allegations of leading an organized corruption network collecting payments from citizens seeking overseas employment. According to FIA investigators, the alleged scheme generated around Rs 1.
Other
The Federal Investigation Agency and Pakistan State Oil conducted a joint operation near Sihala that dismantled an organized theft network.
Fraud & scams
The Karachi Development Authority launched an inquiry into alleged fraud involving eight high-value commercial and residential plots worth over Rs1 billion, following reports of forged land documents and fake allotment files.
Fraud & scams
The European Public Prosecutor's Office in Katowice carried out investigative measures in a probe into alleged fraudulent importation of Russian birch plywood disguised as Kazakhstani goods between October 2023 and April 2025.
Fraud & scams
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency arrested a 10-person inter-provincial gang accused of impersonating overseas relatives and deceiving citizens into transferring money through fraudulent emergency requests.
Fraud & scams
The Punjab Auqaf department has issued recovery notices totaling millions of rupees against eight officials, including Tahir Maqsood, Sheikh Jameel Ahmad, Hafiz Javed Shaukat, Shafqat Abbas, Zawar Hussain, Amir Sattar, Zahid Iqbal, and Tariq Mahmood Najmi, for alleged embezzlement of donations and financial irregularities at religious shrines.
Money laundering
An Islamabad court convicted three individuals for illegally transferring funds abroad for Bahria Town development projects through hawala channels.
Fraud & scams
A special Federal Investigation Agency court convicted three former bank employees for embezzling over Rs976 million from 39 account holders.
Bribery & corruption
DOJ adviser Trent McCotter argued that the charges against Gautam Adani should never have been brought and do not align with the DOJ's new foreign bribery priorities. The DOJ's motion to dismiss its Foreign Corrupt Practices Act case against Adani remains pending before the U.S.
Money laundering
Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau seized control of Karachi's Bahria Icon Tower, valued at approximately Rs100 billion and regarded as the country's tallest building.
Money laundering
Nepal's Special Court granted authorities a six-day custody extension for former Finance Minister and CPN-UML vice-chair Bishnu Paudel in a money laundering investigation.
Other
Investigation reveals Pakistan's human smuggling industry generates approximately $300 million annually, with financial flows increasingly utilizing cryptocurrency alongside traditional hawala networks.
Money laundering
Opinion piece highlights that foreign investors withdrew $736 million during the fiscal year, with 80% linked to investors in the US, UK, and Sweden, noting IMF directives for stricter anti-money laundering measures.
Fraud & scams
Punjab accounts for a disproportionate share of digital crimes in Pakistan, with 63% of the country's 380,000 complaints in 2024 related to WhatsApp, Facebook, financial fraud and online deception originating from the province, according to official records cited in the report.
Fraud & scams
Investigation uncovered fraud worth 6 billion Pakistani rupees involving tax and petroleum levy evasion by a private oil marketing company. Seven individuals including CEO and terminal CEO have been charged.
Money laundering
A special narcotics court in Lahore rejected bail applications for three women—Naziah Khawaja Mukhtar, Maria Asim, and Rimsha Asim—arrested in a money laundering case linked to drug trafficking.
Sanctions
UK designated 11 individuals and 32 entities, and specified 27 ships under Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
Money laundering
Pakistan's UN envoy described Afghanistan's illicit economy involving 'complex web of money laundering and terror financing networks, including hundi and hawala networks.'
Sanctions
OFAC and the SEC are investigating Freedom Holding, a Nasdaq-listed bank headquartered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, founded by Russian-born billionaire Timur Turlov. The joint investigation focuses on alleged sanctions breaches.
Other
Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested college lecturer Pooja from Haridwar, Uttarakhand for alleged involvement in an ISI-linked hawala network suspected of channeling funds for anti-national activities.
Indian authorities investigating former billionaire Anil Ambani over allegations that 20.5 billion rupees ($214 million) in corporate loans from Reliance Communications Ltd., Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd., and Reliance Home Finance Ltd. were misused.
Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau (NAB) returned Rs6 billion in recovered assets to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in the first phase of one of Pakistan's largest financial fraud cases.
Other
FIA Commercial Banking Circle Karachi conducted raid in Soldier Bazaar Karachi East and arrested suspect Kabir involved in hundi-hawala network. Authorities recovered various foreign currencies and digital evidence related to transferring money abroad through hundi-hawala system. Case FIR No.
Other
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Commercial Banking Circle Lahore arrested Asim Mehmood during a targeted raid on McLeod Road for alleged involvement in hawala-hundi and unauthorized currency exchange activities.
Other
FIA Commercial Banking Circle exposed illegal hundi hawala network in Soldier Bazaar Karachi. Suspect Kabir arrested with various foreign currencies and digital evidence recovered.
Other
FIA arrested bank manager Mohammad Saquib who was posted at private microfinance bank in Badar Commercial Area DHA Karachi for involvement in running hawala hundi network.
Fraud & scams
Trump administration moved to dismiss criminal fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani in case where he was accused of bribing Indian officials for as much as $265m to secure contracts and lying to U.S. investors for solar energy project.
Indian billionaire Gautam Adani agreed to pay a $6 million penalty, while his nephew Sagar Adani agreed to pay $12 million, totaling $18 million to settle civil fraud allegations with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Other
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency Commercial Banking Circle arrested Ali Raza, an advertising company director, in connection with FIR No. 10/2026.
Other
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency conducted what officials describe as the largest hawala/hundi crackdown in the history of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Money laundering
FIA conducted largest hawala-hundi crackdown in KP history with major raid near Chakdara Toll Plaza in Malakand district. Two suspects Muhammad Imran and Usman arrested, with authorities recovering over 250 million rupees from their possession.
Other
FIA arrested three suspects (Ashfaq Ahmed, Anas Ashfaq, and Shariq) in KMCHS Society, Karachi East for operating hawala/hundi network. Authorities recovered Rs 5,652,920 in cash, six mobile phones, and ledger records documenting transactions. FIR No.
Money laundering
Special Central Court granted interim bail until May 7 to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's daughter and son-in-law in a money laundering case filed by FIA. The case involves allegations of money laundering against the PM's family members.
Money laundering
PM Shehbaz Sharif ordered immediate legal action against Rs120 billion solar panel over-invoicing money laundering scheme running 2017-2022. Solar panels worth Rs120 billion imported at inflated prices, sold locally for Rs85 billion through fictitious transactions.
Money laundering
Major scandal uncovered involving 120 billion rupees money laundering through solar panel over-invoicing from 2017 to 2022.
Sanctions
EU introduced sanctions against entities, including from Kyrgyzstan, for helping Russia evade sanctions. The EU's 20th sanctions package placed 120 individuals and legal entities under blocking restrictions.
Money laundering
FIA Lahore arrested wanted suspect Amjad Khan (affiliated with Khyber Agency) on charges of hawala remittance and trade-based money laundering totaling approximately 74.60 crore rupees (746 million PKR). Cases registered under Foreign Exchange Regulation Act and Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Money laundering
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed strict action against those involved in billions of rupees of money laundering through under-invoicing between 2017-2022. Government implementing preventive measures including centralized price verification portal and strengthening Financial Monitoring Unit.
Money laundering
Special court in Islamabad extended Dr. Fazila Abbasi's interim bail until April 20, 2026 in money laundering case while directing her to participate in FIA investigations. FIA had sealed joint account held by Dr. Abbasi and Hamza Ali Abbasi as part of investigation.
Money laundering
Pakistani government announced major crackdown against money laundering and hawala-hundi operations in meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. Joint working group comprising State Bank of Pakistan and FIA formed to monitor progress.
Money laundering
Accountability Court convicted Bahria Town COO for laundering 1.7 billion rupees through hawala/hundi informal money transfer systems, causing damage to Pakistan's financial system.
Pakistani authorities conducted a massive crackdown on money-laundering and hawala/hundi networks. Interior and Finance Ministers announced formation of a joint working group comprising State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials to regularly review progress.
Money laundering
Multiple major Pakistani charities and NGOs allegedly using bank accounts to launder black money and illegally transfer billions of rupees domestically and abroad.
Money laundering
Pakistani customs audit (Dec 2024-Mar 2025) examined 13,140 goods declarations, finding 2,530 with discrepancies involving trade-based money laundering (TBML) risks. Importers drastically undervalued goods (e.g.
Money laundering
IMF Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment reported Pakistan failed to effectively prevent money laundering schemes, identifying significant deficiencies in beneficial ownership system with no evidence of data sharing between institutions.
Other
FIA raided Lahore's Dharampura area, arresting Sulaiman Ali Subhani and Bahadur Ali for illegal currency exchange activities. Recovered Rs2.4 million in cash, hawala-related receipts, and digital evidence. Part of nationwide campaign against hawala-hundi operations.
Money laundering
Federal Investigation Agency discovered evidence of Rs1.12 billion in money laundering by Malik Riaz and Bahria Town. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced documents showing evidence of Rs1.12 billion money laundering were seized during raids.
Money laundering
FIA registered money laundering case against Armughan who allegedly established company in America with his father for hawala-hundi operations. Suspect reportedly earned $300,000-400,000 monthly through cryptocurrency and hawala operations connecting Pakistan and US.
Other
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency arrested seven individuals in Lahore DHA area operating hawala-hundi network. Seized Rs11 million plus foreign currencies (USD, AED, GBP, CAD, CNY, QAR, OMR, ZAR), hawala receipts, mobile phones, and other evidence.
Money laundering
Nepal's Special Court ordered former Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel into judicial custody for seven days following his arrest in a money laundering investigation.
On June 14, 2026, British Royal Marines commandos and National Crime Agency officers boarded and detained the tanker SMYRTOS in the English Channel, marking the first UK-led operation of its kind against Russia's shadow fleet.
Trafficking
Federal Investigation Agency conducted operations across different areas of Nawabshah, apprehending six suspects involved in drug smuggling and illegal money transfer (hawala-hundi). Among those arrested was a junior clerk from SSP Sanghar's office.
Fraud & scams
Financial irregularities and alleged fraud exceeding 182.15 million Pakistani rupees have been uncovered at Gomal University in Dera Ismail Khan.
Money laundering
IMF expressed serious concerns about Pakistan's anti-money laundering framework: extremely low suspicious transaction reports from real estate sector, growing trade-based money laundering cases, and insufficient beneficial ownership transparency.
Money laundering
Nepal Police arrested businessman Deepak Bhatta, chairman of Infinity Holdings, on money laundering charges. Nepal's central bank flagged a NPR 450 million ($3.02 million) transfer from Jagadamba Steel to Bhatta's personal account.
Money laundering
The National Accountability Bureau seized Bahria Icon Towers in Karachi, valued at approximately 100 billion Pakistani rupees, under the Money Laundering Act 2010. Accountability Court No.
Money laundering
Digital fraud and money laundering of 172 billion rupees through call centres in Islamabad was uncovered. The FIA formed a 9-member Joint Investigation Team. Investigation revealed that 172 billion rupees obtained through forgery were laundered through various bank and microfinance accounts.
Sanctions
Russian security personnel with military and private military company backgrounds are being covertly stationed on sanctioned oil tankers as 'watchmen' to monitor foreign captains and prevent cooperation with Western authorities.
Money laundering
The FIA's Anti-Money Laundering Circle in Karachi apprehended two individuals, Muhammad Saleem Jokheyo and Fayaz Ahmad, in connection with a Rs 10 million fraud case.
Royal Marine Commandos from 42 Commando boarded the sanctioned shadow fleet oil tanker Smyrtos on 14 June 2026 in a six-hour mission in the English Channel, 25 miles south of the Isle of Wight.
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency established a cryptocurrency investigation unit housed in its National Command and Control Centre to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing through virtual currency transactions.
Fraud & scams
The FIA apprehended two key members of an online financial fraud ring operating in Faisalabad. During a raid on Satiana Road, authorities recovered 3.5 million rupees in cash, debit cards from various banks, and mobile phones.
Fraud & scams
Pakistan National Accountability Bureau uncovered massive fraud at Islamabad Cooperative Housing Society: approximately 42,000 plot files sold despite land capacity for only 6,000 plots, creating 36,000 illegal files. Financial irregularities exceed 16 billion rupees.
Roshan Shah, age 22, a citizen of India attending college in Canada on a student visa, was sentenced by United States District Judge Brett Ludwig to 48 months' imprisonment for conspiracy to commit money laundering.
On June 23, 2026, a Notice of Uncontested Sanctions Proceedings was issued in Sanctions Case No. 809 involving Beximco Computers Limited, following an earlier Notice of Sanctions Proceedings issued on March 12, 2026 by the World Bank's Chief Suspension and Debarment Officer.
Money laundering
Former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi's lawyer filed a petition in Lahore's Special Central Court seeking exemption from a court appearance in a money laundering case. The petition claims Elahi is unwell and has been advised by doctors to rest.
Money laundering
According to Daily Jang reporting, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched a technology-based operation against terrorist financing, cryptocurrency-related crimes and money laundering.
Joseph Stewart of Miami pleaded guilty to tax evasion involving millions in unreported income. Between 2013 and 2018, Stewart earned over $4.
Sanctions
As part of implementation of the EU's 21st Russia sanctions package (adopted 23 July 2026), transaction bans on crypto-asset service providers took effect on 25 August 2026. The prohibition on Russian nationals sitting on boards was extended to any crypto-asset services business.
Trafficking
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi directed a decisive crackdown on hawala-hundi (illegal money transfer) operations and human trafficking networks.