Daily financial-crime intelligence · Updated 29 Jul 2026, 23:01 UTC
Money laundering
French and German financial regulators (ACPR and BaFin) jointly warned banks to tighten due diligence checks before approving virtual International Bank Account Numbers (vIBANs) for payment service providers, citing high money laundering risk.
Fraud & scams
An international investigation supported by Europol and Eurojust has dismantled a criminal network operating several call centres in Tirana, Albania that caused at least €50 million in financial losses.
Trafficking
Ecuador's authorities arrested National Police officers for their involvement in a fuel trafficking scandal involving illicit diversion of subsidized fuel for black-market resale.
Money laundering
Yaniv Moalem, a fuel trader who fled the country during legal proceedings against him, has been extradited from Panama to Israel following an international manhunt lasting approximately two and a half years.
Bribery & corruption
An anti-corruption judge rejected the statute of limitations motion filed by former Bolivian President Luis Arce, requiring him to remain in preventive detention.
Money laundering
The UAE and European Union concluded the ninth structural dialogue on combating money laundering and terrorism financing on July 23, 2026. According to the EU statement, the UAE is described as a 'key security partner' in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing efforts.
Money laundering
According to Infobea, Colombia's General Prosecutor's Office argued at hearing that the Lili Pink retail chain, owned by Fast Moda S.A.S., functioned as a front for a transnational asset-laundering and textile-smuggling scheme spanning more than a decade, with alleged shell companies in Panama.
Other
Bellingcat and Jeune Afrique verified two drone strikes in Mali villages using geolocation, satellite imagery and expert analysis.
Money laundering
According to Infobea, a trial continues in Dominican Republic against former prosecutor general Jean Alain Rodríguez and others, charged with offences the prosecution describes as administrative corruption, bribery, embezzlement, fraud against the state and asset laundering, allegedly committed during his tenure (2016-2020).
Fraud & scams
An ICIJ investigation documented allegations that Social Discovery Group and its dating platforms AmoLatina, Dating.com, and DateMyAge systematically defrauded users.
Money laundering
According to Infobae, Brazil's Federal Police dismantled a drug trafficking and money-laundering network and arrested nine people.
Money laundering
The UAE and European Union concluded the ninth structural dialogue on combating money laundering and terrorist financing on July 23, 2026, held virtually.
According to the report, India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) Goa Zonal Office arrested Dubai-based Indian national Nihal V.N. under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and a Special PMLA Court in Goa remanded him to seven days' custody until July 28.
The Council of the European Union announced on 23 July 2026 that it had adopted a 21st package of restrictive measures against Russia, described by the Council as including the largest batch of individual listings in four years — 218 in total, comprising 48 individuals and 170 entities.
Sanctions
The European Union sanctioned participants in the A7 cryptocurrency network, which Russia allegedly uses to circumvent international restrictions. Sanctioned individuals include Leonid Shumakov (A7A5 project director) and Mikhail Dorofeyev (deputy chairman of Promsvyazbank).
Bloomberg reports that Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro denied fresh links to the Banco Master SA banking scandal after local outlet Metropoles reported that the law firm in which he is a partner received 500,000 reais (about $98,925) from an accountancy, Contabil Correa, citing an April 2025 invoice.
Money laundering
Police and Tax Authority investigators arrested three suspects in an alleged international money laundering operation involving approximately 500 million shekels.
Money laundering
Jesus Hernandez Ortiz, 38, of Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty in the District of Vermont to conspiracy to illegally bring aliens into the United States and to illegally bringing at least one alien into the country for private financial gain, in what the DOJ describes as a transnational human smuggling and money laundering scheme.
Fraud & scams
A federal grand jury in the District of New Hampshire indicted Jinbin Ren, 38, a Chinese national residing in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, on a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Money laundering
Colombian businessman and former Venezuelan minister Alex Saab pleaded 'not guilty', through his lawyers, to money laundering and conspiracy charges before a federal court in Miami.
Money laundering
According to Infobea, the High-Risk Court A sentenced Judith Celina Vargas Monroy to six years imprisonment for the crime of illicit association in the Odebrecht case.
Fraud & scams
Five defendants pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud in a $550,000 South Carolina Department of Corrections bribery scheme, according to prosecutors.
Fraud & scams
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime released a report revealing that victims of transnational online scams across East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand lost an estimated $88.3 billion to $114.
Other
According to reporting first published by Bloomberg and carried by Insurance Journal, federal prosecutors in Manhattan are investigating potential financial improprieties at two insurance companies linked to billionaire Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter — Delaware Life Insurance Co.
Fraud & scams
According to the report, the FIA Faisalabad arrested Mian Muhammad Idrees, owner of Stara Group, at Lahore airport while attempting to leave the country in connection with an alleged power procurement fraud case involving approximately 11.
Money laundering
Peru's Public Ministry seized US$142,756 and S/12,378 in virtual assets deposited on Binance and Bybit cryptocurrency platforms as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering.
Money laundering
In Operation Lobo, 14 individuals and companies face charges including bribery, racketeering, fraud against the state, and money laundering related to a corruption network that allegedly distributed approximately RD$108.
Money laundering
Italian authorities ordered the preventive seizure of assets on May 4, 2026, in a money laundering investigation linking Lebanon's IBL Bank to alleged Italian drug trafficker Giacomo Tamburello.
Money laundering
Nepal's Department of Money Laundering Investigation filed charges alleging that Jayabir Deuba, son of former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, received Rs26 million from businessman Deepak Bhatta's firm Himalayan Asset Management Private Limited into two companies he owns: Scholar International…
Fraud & scams
Dutch and Belgian authorities announced they dismantled an international fraud network operating approximately 20 call centers with over 700 employees posing as financial advisors, allegedly generating an estimated €100 million monthly at peak.
According to Bloomberg sources, Russia's wealthiest businesspeople, some with close ties to President Putin, have transferred billions of dollars out of the country over the past year, fearing asset seizure and increased state pressure to finance military operations.
Fraud & scams
Authorities issued warnings about a surge in fraud targeting UAE residents during summer.
Money laundering
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced enforcement actions for July 2026, including a Cease and Desist Order against United Texas Bank, Dallas, Texas, for deficiencies in its Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering (BSA/AML) compliance program, resulting in violations of law or regulation.
Money laundering
The Economic Criminal Court 1 authorized María Florencia M., a 49-year-old businesswoman investigated in an international money laundering case involving several companies and family members, to travel to Atlanta for the World Cup semifinal against England.
Other
The Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), the World Bank Group's internal accountability mechanism, found that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) violated its own environmental and social safeguard policies when financing microfinance lenders in Cambodia.
Fraud & scams
Dutch police, working with Belgian authorities and Europol, dismantled a major criminal organisation accused of operating a global investment fraud scheme through dozens of fraudulent call centres. The organisation generated more than €100 million monthly by targeting victims in multiple countries.
Money laundering
Brazilian authorities detained ten individuals in Operation Hawala against a network accused of laundering proceeds for three of the country's major criminal organizations (Terceiro Comando Puro, Comando Vermelho and Primeiro Comando da Capital).
Sanctions
Arash Einolghozati, a 37-year-old lawful permanent resident from Iran, pleaded guilty to violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations.
Fraud & scams
The European Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating a suspected VAT carousel fraud scheme involving companies established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, and Greece.
Money laundering
The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an indictment from December 2024 charging three Russian nationals and two companies with operating criminal cyber infrastructure. Alexander Alexandrovich Volosovik (43, St. Petersburg), Kirill Andreevich Zatolokin (34, St.
Fraud & scams
The European Public Prosecutor's Office conducted raids in Greece, exposing a sophisticated VAT carousel fraud scheme operating between 2021 and 2025. The criminal network operated across Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, and Greece, exploiting VAT exemptions on cross-border EU transactions.
Money laundering
French and Italian authorities, coordinated by Eurojust and Europol with Kosovar authorities, seized criminal assets worth €1 million in an ongoing investigation into a money laundering network that uses gold bars to launder drug trafficking profits.
Money laundering
India's Enforcement Directorate uncovered a transnational cyber fraud and money laundering syndicate that laundered over ₹303 crore through mule bank accounts, shell companies, and cryptocurrency, with intelligence indicating that nearly ₹641 crore had been routed through UAE-based fintech platform PYYPL using Indian-issued debit cards.
The EU Council imposed restrictive measures on nine Russian individuals and four entities forming part of Russia's cyber ecosystem, responsible for carrying out, enabling and facilitating cyber-attacks against the EU, its member states and international partners.
Money laundering
Transparency International US released a report titled 'Crypto's Dirty Money Problem: What Congress Must Fix' warning that proposed US cryptocurrency legislation, including the CLARITY Act, contains regulatory gaps that could allegedly enable scammers, drug cartels, terrorist financing, sanctions evasion, and corruption.
Fraud & scams
Kuwait's Interior Ministry apprehended an international criminal network engaged in large-scale financial fraud targeting citizens and expatriates. The primary perpetrator previously worked at a vehicle rental company, where he obtained signed blank documents and promissory notes from customers.
Money laundering
Abdullah Anwar, a 28-year-old Pakistani national, was arrested in Qatar and extradited to Texas to face federal charges. A federal grand jury indicted Anwar on charges including conspiracy to transport stolen property, mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.
Fraud & scams
Kuwait's Ministry of Interior dismantled an international criminal organization engaged in document forgery and fraudulent legal proceedings, according to official sources.
Other
Qatar's Ministry of Interior announced the extradition of an Asian national to US authorities on multiple charges related to transnational organised crime.
Trafficking
Rodolfo Junior Aguirre Covarrubias, a Mexican citizen born in June 1988, is accused by U.S. authorities of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute.
Bribery & corruption
Diego Marín Buitrago, alias 'Papá Pitufo', considered Colombia's 'smuggling czar', was formally accused in November 2025 of aggravated criminal conspiracy and bribery for offering or giving bribes.
Trafficking
OLAF coordinated an operation with Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, and Lithuanian authorities that dismantled two international organizations based in Spain involved in manufacturing, distributing, and trafficking counterfeit tobacco products.
Other
Transparency International France published an assessment of twelve years of activity of the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP), an institution responsible for overseeing the integrity of public officials in France.
Money laundering
Interpol announced on July 9, 2026 the results of operation 'First Light 2026', conducted from January to April 2026 in 97 countries, targeting online fraud and associated money laundering.
Other
The Financial Conduct Authority led an international enforcement operation targeting unlicensed individuals providing financial guidance online. The operation resulted in three arrests and 650 social media takedown requests.
Bribery & corruption
Spanish police, in coordination with Interpol, detained Karla Saud Calero at Madrid airport. Saud represented Progen, a company based in the United States, which obtained contracts during Ecuador's 2024 energy crisis for the acquisition of generators.
Other
Michael Sam Teekaye Jr., 22, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison plus lifetime supervised release for attempting to provide material support to ISIS.
Money laundering
Turkish authorities conducted an operation against six suspects accused of laundering approximately 784.7 million Turkish lira derived from human trafficking.
Other
An OpenLux investigation by OCCRP and Le Monde examines a network of companies spanning Luxembourg, Bahrain, and the Cayman Islands controlled by Lebanese political and business figures, including Bahaaeddine Hariri (identified as ultimate beneficial owner), former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, and businessman Fouad Makhzoumi.
Money laundering
The FCA reported securing 17 criminal convictions across fraud, insider dealing, money laundering, and Data Protection Act offences in the year under review. Two individuals received combined 11 years imprisonment for insider dealing and money laundering, and 12 individuals were fined £1.
Other
The U.S. Department of the Treasury rescinded a general license permitting Iranian oil sales following attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. officials, who characterized the maritime incidents as wholly unacceptable.
Other
The FBI and U.S. Department of Justice are conducting a preliminary investigation into the international financial operations of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), focusing on approximately 300 million dollars administered through TourProdEnter LLC, according to the article.
Trafficking
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, issued a decision establishing a specialized court in Abu Dhabi to hear human trafficking cases, according to the UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs.
Fraud & scams
U.S. government witness Luis Rivera testified about an alleged international fuel smuggling network operating between Texas and Mexico.
Fraud & scams
Former attorney general Jean Alain Rodríguez Sánchez faces charges for the alleged embezzlement of over 6 billion Dominican pesos between 2016-2020 through fraudulent processes and a corruption network within public administration, according to prosecutors.
Fraud & scams
Ruthia He, founder and CEO of Done Global Inc.
Other
Taiwanese authorities charged two executives, Li Hualun and Chen Mengsen, for violating the personal data protection act and other crimes after they allegedly obtained LINE messaging app accounts and leased them to Xiamen Empress Information Technology Co. Ltd.
Money laundering
Operation Global Chain, carried out from 8 to 12 June across 59 countries, led to 1,024 arrests and the identification of 2,070 victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation, forced labour, and coerced begging.
Fraud & scams
A Guatemalan appeals court annulled arrest orders against former anti-corruption prosecutors, including the former chief of CICIG (UN-backed anti-corruption commission) Iván Velásquez and former special prosecutor Juan Francisco Sandoval, according to the ruling.
Money laundering
Peter Weinzierl, an Austrian banker and former CEO of Meinl Bank, pleaded guilty to charges related to his role in facilitating financial transactions tied to the Odebrecht bribery and money laundering scheme.
Money laundering
French, Italian and Kosovar law enforcement, coordinated by Eurojust, seized assets valued at approximately one million euros in the context of an ongoing investigation into an international money laundering network linked to drug trafficking.
Bribery & corruption
Colombia loses approximately 5.2% of GDP annually to tax evasion, according to experts, with corporate income tax evasion accounting for 3.4% of GDP and VAT evasion 1.1%.
Sanctions
According to Chainalysis, cryptocurrency addresses linked to sanctioned entities received over $100 billion last year, representing an eightfold increase from the previous year.
According to Meduza, former head of Rosaviation Alexander Neradko has been charged with fraud in an especially large amount; Moscow's Khoroshyovsky Court detained him on 3 July 2026.
Money laundering
Turkey's 'Strategy Document for Increasing Effectiveness in Combating the Laundering of Crime Proceeds and Terrorism Financing and Confiscation Practices (2026-2030)' was published in the Official Gazette with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's signature.
Money laundering
Brazil's Federal Police conducted an operation to dismantle a criminal organization dedicated to money laundering from international drug trafficking.
Sanctions
A7A5, a Russia-backed ruble-pegged stablecoin designed to facilitate cross-border payments outside Western financial channels, claims it averages approximately $205 million in daily trading volume and processed $34.
Fraud & scams
El Salvador's Prosecutor's Office and National Civil Police dismantled a criminal network accused of fraudulently diverting $502,201.94 through illegal exchanges of promotional points.
Trafficking
Alias Palizada was arrested in Envigado, Colombia. He is accused of coordinating major international drug trafficking operations, moving approximately 12 tons of cocaine monthly from Colombia to the United States and Europe.
Money laundering
The Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at Qatar's Ministry of Justice organized a one-week training program titled 'Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Crimes in Qatari Law.'
Money laundering
Nine individuals were detained, including four French national team pétanque players—Dylan Rocher, Henri Lacroix (suspected as the operation's mastermind), and two additional international players—along with three experienced bettors and two of their spouses.
Fraud & scams
Three Colombian nationals were arrested in the Dominican Republic on allegations of operating a fraud scheme targeting merchants. The accused allegedly promised victims access to millionaire loans and business investments, then demanded upfront payments.
Other
The presidents of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi, and Chile, José Antonio Kast, reaffirmed on July 1, 2026 their commitment to work together against transnational organized crime and deepen economic integration in Latin America.
Two Metro Detroit women were sentenced in federal court for their roles in a scheme to steal approximately 100 properties across Wayne County, primarily in Detroit, valued at roughly $6.4 million.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies reports that Russia conducted surveillance operations on European nuclear facilities using drones launched from vessels belonging to the 'shadow fleet'—ships identified as Seasons 1 and Hav Dolphin operating outside normal international shipping channels.
UK Finance's Annual Fraud Report 2026, published on 2 July 2026, revealed that almost £1.3 billion was stolen through fraud in the UK in 2025, with nearly eight cases of fraud per minute.
Bribery & corruption
Guatemala's transparency score doubled from 2 to 4 points in the Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI 2026) during the administration of president Bernardo Arévalo, reversing a deterioration trend that extended since 2006, according to the report.
Money laundering
Giles Thomson of the UK took office as FATF President on 1 July 2026, announcing that the organization will develop an action plan by October to combat fraud, which costs $500 billion annually worldwide and represents the predominant predicate offense in 90% of FATF mutual evaluations.
Money laundering
Financial authorities in Mexico and the United States jointly targeted a network allegedly involved in fuel smuggling connected to the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel. The U.S.
Bribery & corruption
German authorities conducted nationwide raids on 1 July 2026 investigating alleged corruption linked to Euro 2024, with more than 150 officers from the criminal police conducting searches at the German Football Association headquarters in Frankfurt and city halls in several host cities.
Josh Wander, the co-founder of Miami investment firm 777 Partners charged with cheating lenders and investors out of almost $500 million, faces new allegations that he diverted most of a $20 million loan into his personal brokerage account and then ordered employees to create fake bank statements to cover it up.
Other
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that 77 cases of kidnapping, sequestration, extortion or attempted extortion linked to cryptocurrency holders have been recorded since January 2026, up from 45 cases in all of 2025.
Other
Yorgen Fenech, accused of ordering the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, has gone on trial in Valletta, Malta, after being arrested in 2019 on a yacht, according to ICIJ.
Fraud & scams
Aderinsola Oluwanifemi Adeleye, a Nigerian national, was arrested in Accra and charged with participation in a transnational cyber-enabled financial crime syndicate associated with compromised bank cards issued in the United States, following coordination among the Ghana Police Service, INTERPOL and the FBI.
Bribery & corruption
The Third Penal Chamber of the Court of Appeals in Santo Domingo dismissed a review hearing for the coercive measures against prosecutor Aurelio Valdez Alcántara, maintaining his preventive detention.
The UK officially began its presidency of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on June 30, 2026, launching a 2026-2028 Roadmap on Combatting Fraud.
Bribery & corruption
Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council announced the seizure of over $14 million from deputy oil minister Ali al-Bahadli, who was arrested as part of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's anti-corruption initiative, according to Arab News.
Sanctions
OFSI imposed a £1 million penalty on Sabre Global Technologies in June 2026 for continuing to provide services to JSC Ural Airlines after the airline became subject to UK sanctions.
Fraud & scams
Lorena Rosa Malú Canales Cerdán, a Peruvian bank operations analyst, faces investigation for allegedly transferring approximately S/ 6.5 million from institutional accounts to personal accounts over eight months.
Money laundering
The European Public Prosecutor's Office conducted searches in the Paris region on 25 June investigating a suspected VAT carousel fraud scheme involving 26 French companies. Six individuals were questioned in connection with suspected financial management and money laundering operations.
Fraud & scams
The European Public Prosecutor's Office arrested 11 suspects in Germany, Poland and Latvia in an investigation against a criminal organisation suspected of a large-scale VAT fraud scheme involving sales of diesel.
Fraud & scams
Iraqi security forces, including elite Counter-Terrorism Service units, arrested 47 officials including MPs and senior government figures in dawn raids across Baghdad's Green Zone.
Money laundering
Italian mafia boss Domenico Paviglianiti, approximately 65 years old and considered the 'boss of bosses' of the 'Ndrangheta organization, was arrested in Soria, Spain on June 26 following an international Interpol operation.
Fraud & scams
Iraqi authorities arrested 47 officials, mostly parliament members, in an anti-corruption campaign ordered by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. The arrests followed confessions by Adnan al-Jumaili, a deputy oil minister arrested last month on corruption charges.
The Berlin Regional Court sentenced Gerard Grischew to three years and ten months in prison on 10 June 2026 after he pleaded guilty to charges including document forgery and operating an unregistered banking system.
Money laundering
Federal Court 11 closed the investigation and sent 33 defendants to trial for alleged participation in a money laundering scheme benefiting the late former secretary of Néstor Kirchner, Daniel Muñoz.
Money laundering
The Libyan Public Prosecution is investigating an international network accused of fraud and money laundering through Libya, Germany, France and the United Arab Emirates.
Money laundering
Ingrid Paola Ávila Hernández, known as 'La Patrona' and sister of Clan del Golfo leader 'Chiquito Malo,' was captured at José María Córdova International Airport in Antioquia.
Money laundering
Law enforcement associations, anti-corruption advocates, and major banking groups warned that the proposed Clarity Act could create regulatory exemptions for certain decentralized and automated cryptocurrency services that criminals rely on to obfuscate fund flows.
Fraud & scams
Oman's Royal Oman Police uncovered an international fraud operation after officers became suspicious of a man climbing from a building window at 3 a.m. in Salalah.
Money laundering
Transparency International released new research on June 24, 2026, examining financial intelligence units (FIUs) across 20 countries.
Money laundering
Christopher Delgado, former CEO of Goliath Ventures, a Central Florida cryptocurrency investment company, agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, wire fraud and money laundering charges tied to a $250 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded over 1,000 investors.
Bribery & corruption
Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council announced the confiscation of over $85 million (totaling more than 98 billion dinars and $11 million) in a corruption case involving Adnan al-Jumaili, former deputy minister of oil for liquidation affairs. Al-Jumaili was arrested in Salah al-Din province.
Money laundering
Iraq appointed a new central bank governor as the country was placed on the Financial Action Task Force grey list in June 2026, referring to deficiencies in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing frameworks.
Money laundering
SFO announced investigation into Internet Mobile Communications Limited (IMC), collapsed UK technology company that ran international platform selling telecom services for over 12 years from Chelmsford, Essex.
Fraud & scams
International criminal organizations are recruiting legitimate e-commerce merchants to commit fraud schemes, according to analysis by LexisNexis Risk Solutions. The study found that legitimate traders accounted for 38.
Securities & markets
On June 11, 2026, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) approved the first admission of tokenized digital securities (referred to as bStocks) to its Official List.
Money laundering
Argentine federal authorities raided residences of model Jesica Cirio and her former partner Elías Piccirillo following release of videos showing Cirio displaying thousands of dollars in cash.
Money laundering
OjoPúblico investigation identifies approximately 60 companies suspected of laundering illegally mined gold in Peru.
Fraud & scams
Dubai Police arrested two suspects—one Indian national and one local resident—in connection with an international cybercrime operation targeting the Nandekar family in Mumbai.
Other
Dubai Police apprehended a criminal organization engaged in illegally intercepting and redistributing encrypted satellite television channels.
Other
Investigation details systematic illegal property confiscations by Ortega-Murillo regime: USD 250 million in documented seized properties. Constitutional reform February 2023 enabled seizure of assets from those declared 'traitors to homeland.'
Money laundering
FATF placed Iraq on its grey list for enhanced monitoring in June 2026, requiring the country to implement additional reforms in anti-money laundering and financial oversight.
Money laundering
FATF removed Algeria and Namibia from its grey list of countries with strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering efforts after they completed action plans. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iraq were added to the grey list. The blacklist remains unchanged with North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar.
Trafficking
Two foreign brothers (identified as the Pacheco brothers) were captured in Medellín's Laureles neighborhood, sought by the U.S. District Court for Southern Ohio for international drug trafficking crimes.
Money laundering
Iran's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and Anti-Money Laundering Center demanded comprehensive financial data from all Iranian companies including detailed statements, itemized breakdowns of material/goods purchases, and life insurance data.
Money laundering
Stephany Maryel Villarreal, Panamanian national, arrested in Spain through coordinated Interpol operation. Faces allegations of capital laundering connected to drug trafficking proceeds.
Money laundering
Five Eyes law enforcement agencies have dismantled 15 major international money laundering syndicates through coordinated investigations, according to an announcement made by the Australian Federal Police.
Other
During the night of June 13-14, 2026, a criminal operation occurred across multiple municipalities in Bouches-du-Rhône, where four men were arrested while holding two women hostage to extort cryptocurrencies from them.
Money laundering
UAE transferred three suspects to Belgian authorities who were sought via Interpol red notices. Individuals faced allegations involving money laundering, drug trafficking, and transnational organised crime activities.
Money laundering
Fifteen people were arrested and nearly €8 million seized in a coordinated France-Belgium operation dismantling a transnational money-laundering network linked to drug trafficking.
Money laundering
Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Vara) issued guidance requiring virtual asset service providers to strengthen their approach to financial-crime risk assessment.
Money laundering
U.S. Department of Justice investigating how Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei built global investment portfolio with exposure to Wall Street banks. Investigation part of broader examination into allegations connected to money laundering and corruption. (Full details behind paywall)
Money laundering
The UAE extradited three individuals to Belgium who were wanted on Interpol Red Notices for charges related to money laundering, drug trafficking, and links to transnational organized criminal groups. The extradition followed judicial rulings and the extradition treaty between the UAE and Belgium.
Fraud & scams
Alleged corruption investigation at Senasa (Dominican Republic's National Health Insurance) involves three main criminal structures. Authorities identified administrative and medical entities suspected of embezzling public funds through fraudulent schemes affecting cancer patients and the state.
Money laundering
Guatemala's Executive sanctioned Decree 15-2026, the Comprehensive Law for the Prevention and Repression of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing, on June 17, 2026, with implementation in three months.
Sanctions
OFSI imposed £1 million penalty on UK travel technology company Sabre Global Technologies for continuing to provide Russian carrier Ural Airlines access to its global distribution system for seven months after UK sanctions imposed in May 2022.
US District Judge Richard Berman ruled June 17, 2026 that Turkey's Halkbank had met conditions agreed with government for dismissing case under deferred prosecution deal signed in March.
Money laundering
Ronald Javier Macías Villamar, alias 'Javi,' brother of Los Choneros leader José Adolfo Macías Villamar (alias 'Fito'), was captured in Colombia through coordinated Ecuador-Colombia operation.
Money laundering
Javier Macías Villamar, known as 'Alias Javi,' brother of Los Choneros leader José Adolfo Macías Villamar ('Alias Fito'), captured in Colombia through joint Ecuador-Colombia operation. Held Colombian identity documents under assumed identity and has red Interpol notice.
Bribery & corruption
Former Inspector General of Police of Bangladesh Benazir Ahmed was arrested in Dubai by UAE authorities on June 12, 2026, with Interpol assistance following a red notice issued by Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission. The ACC investigation centers on Ahmed acquiring 613.
Sanctions
The UK imposed a record £1 million penalty on the UK unit of Sabre Global Technologies for breaching financial sanctions against Russia, marking the UK's largest penalty for a Russian sanctions breach since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Sanctions
UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) fined Sabre Global Technologies £1,000,920.59 for continuing to provide Russian carrier Ural Airlines access to its Global Distribution System for seven months after UK sanctions were imposed.
Money laundering
Brazilian authorities arrested an unnamed principal financial operator for the Tren de Aragua criminal organization at Rio de Janeiro's Galeão International Airport on June 16, 2026, during 'Operation Northern Route.'
Bribery & corruption
Speech by Therese Chambers, Joint Executive Director of Enforcement and Market Oversight at the FCA, delivered at the International Bar Association Anti-Corruption Conference. By June 1, 2026, the FCA already had 6 convictions and levied nearly £17m in financial penalties.
Britain introduced the first-ever global sanctions targeting Russian 'shadow fleet' vessels transporting liquefied natural gas, aiming to disrupt illicit energy commerce.
Money laundering
Fort Bend County jury found current County Judge KP George guilty on two charges of money laundering for illegally moving more than $46,000 of campaign funds into his personal accounts and tampering with finance reports.
Sanctions
UK sanctions designated Yandex Bank and Wildberries Bank, plus entities connected to the A7 cryptocurrency payment system created by Promsvyazbank and fugitive Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor for facilitating sanctions evasion.
Trafficking
On June 9, 2026, the Marseille Research Section dismantled an international criminal organization involved in arms, drug, and human trafficking following a JIRS-ordered judicial operation. Ten people were arrested in the Alpes-Maritimes, and approximately €1.
Money laundering
A 36-year-old police officer from Courbevoie police station was charged in June 2026 with organized money laundering, criminal association, and corruption.
Money laundering
The First Collegiate Court of the National District issued a historic sentence on June 16, 2026, in the Coral and Coral 5G operations, convicting 29 individuals including high-ranking military officials for corruption and money laundering in the Dominican Republic's military and police sectors.
Tax evasion
Amjad Ibrahim of Johns Creek, Georgia, was sentenced to one year and three months in prison following his conviction for evading nearly $1.5 million in federal income taxes over a four-year span. According to the IRS, Ibrahim willfully failed to file tax returns and pay taxes owed on his income.
Other
Héctor Rustherford Guerrero Flores, leader of the transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua, was killed during a U.S. Southern Command operation coordinated with Venezuela. The U.S.
Other
FIA Karachi Sea Port uncovered international hawala network and seized 3.8 million rupees. Arrested ship captain Abdul Salam and launch owner Mansur Baloch for allegedly transferring funds from smuggling operations through illegal hawala channels.
Fraud & scams
Sharjah Police participated in the Fraud & Financial Crime Asia forum in Singapore, demonstrating their anti-fraud expertise to an international audience from more than 20 countries. The event focused on financial crime prevention and detection methods.
Fraud & scams
Oleksii Oleksiyovych Lytvynenko, 44, a Ukrainian national extradited from Ireland, pleaded guilty on June 11 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with deploying Conti ransomware, which infected more than 1,000 computers and networks worldwide.
David Greenhalgh, 68, and Christos Farmakis, 48, were found guilty on June 11, 2026, of running a secretive international arms brokering operation at Southwark Crown Court. The two men were jointly found guilty of eight counts of illegal arms trafficking under the Export Control Order 2008.
Bribery & corruption
The Colombian Attorney General's Office requested a one-year extension of the detention measure against Carlos Ramón González, former director of the Presidential Administrative Department and close associate of President Gustavo Petro.
Bribery & corruption
Two Colombian nationals—Nerlin Pineda Paredes (alias 'Familia') and Alver Pineda Mosquera (alias 'Promesa')—were arrested in Quito on June 9, 2026, as part of Operation Gran Fénix 29.
Other
On June 11, 2026, FIA Karachi Sea Port team uncovered an alleged international Hundi Hawala network and recovered 38 lakh rupees. During inspection, the absence of ship captain Abdul Salam was noted, who was arrested while handing over money to launch owner Mansoor Baloch.
Money laundering
Demani Jawara Bosket of Saluda, South Carolina, and his niece, Tanya Lashawn Bosket of Charlotte, North Carolina, were convicted by a federal jury of one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a sophisticated transnational fraud ring that stole more than $25 million from victims across the country.
Money laundering
Authorities in Europe disrupted AudiA6, a cryptocurrency laundering service used by ransomware gangs and cybercriminal networks, estimated to have laundered more than €336 million since 2021.
Money laundering
The collapse of UK property lender Market Financial Solutions (MFS) in February 2026 has triggered investigations into the firm's auditors. MFS entered administration on February 25, 2026, amid fraud allegations including double-pledging assets as collateral to multiple lenders.
Money laundering
French and Belgian authorities dismantled an international money laundering network in a joint operation coordinated by Eurojust on June 6, 2026. Eight individuals were arrested, and over €8 million in cash, three luxury vehicles, and high-end watches were seized during 17 raids.
European Commission proposed 21st sanctions package against Russia targeting 90 Russian banks (largest package of financial sanctions against banks), bringing total sanctioned banks above 100, representing more than 50% of all Russian credit organizations conducting international transactions.
Money laundering
The Federal Investigation Agency established Financial Action Task Force (FATF) desks across all operational zones to strengthen compliance with international anti-money laundering standards ahead of Pakistan's 2027 evaluation.
Fraud & scams
The Paris Tribunal Correctionnel convicted Worldpay for complicity in illegal provision of payment services in an online currency investment fraud case. The international payment company received a fine of 200,000 € (two fines of 100,000 € for two separate proceedings).
Money laundering
Moroccan police arrested 11 individuals wanted by French, Belgian, and Dutch authorities for international drug trafficking, money laundering, and fraud in a coordinated operation spanning Tangier to Marrakech on June 8, 2026.
Money laundering
Kuwaiti authorities uncovered an international gambling and money laundering network that laundered 16 million Kuwaiti dinars.
Money laundering
EU's Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) held its first conference on June 9, 2026, at Alte Oper in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Conference brought together senior representatives from Europe's supervisory, financial intelligence, and regulatory communities alongside private sector leaders.
Money laundering
Italian authorities arrested Clarissa La Porta (41) in Turin around June 5-6, 2026, pursuant to a European Arrest Warrant from Luxembourg. She is accused of playing a leading role in a transnational criminal organisation that embezzled approximately €61.
Fraud & scams
A federal jury convicted four former leaders of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers in connection with a 15-year scheme involving no-show jobs, lavish travel, improper vacation payouts and an unauthorized $7 million loan to a union-affiliated bank.
Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX co-founder, formally applied for presidential pardon on June 8, 2026, more than two years after conviction over multi-billion dollar collapse of cryptocurrency empire. Bankman-Fried convicted of fraud and other crimes related to FTX collapse.
Money laundering
Armando.info investigation revealed international money laundering scheme connected to August 24, 2023 kidnapping in Loire Valley, France. Victim's son 'TeufeurS' (online gambling influencer from Malta) paid €1.7 million ransom in cryptocurrency.
Bribery & corruption
Transparency International Pakistan released a report stating that Pakistan's infrastructure sector faces high risks of corruption and governance failures despite a strong regulatory framework. The report gave Pakistan an overall score of 6.34 out of 10, classifying it as 'high ICRAT risk.'
Money laundering
Pakistan's NAB froze $4.5 million in Mauritius bank accounts allegedly owned by Bahria Town CEO Ahmed Ali Riaz and wife Mubashra Ali Malik.
Russian citizen Tatyana Kurashkevich detained at Tbilisi airport at FBI request for circumventing international sanctions and organizing supply of aircraft spare parts (Airbus components) to Russia after Ukraine invasion.
Fraud & scams
Francisco Cosenza, a former Honduran official, received a probationary sentence after pleading guilty to accepting approximately $200,000 in bribes in exchange for police uniform contracts.
Fraud & scams
Cybercriminals are launching a sophisticated fraud campaign targeting World Cup fans through approximately 4,300 fake domains impersonating FIFA.
Sanctions
DOJ charged Jamshid Ghomi, 63-year-old Iranian-American technology executive in California, for conspiracy to violate International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Sanctions
Bellingcat investigation reveals multiple technical connections between Viory, a UAE-based video news agency operating across the Global South, and Ruptly, a subsidiary of sanctioned Russian state media outlet Russia Today.
Sanctions
FBI agents arrested Jamshid Ghomi, 63-year-old dual Iranian-American citizen, on June 3, 2026. Charged with conspiracy to violate International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) for sanctions evasion related to transactions with Iran.
Fraud & scams
Honduras Public Ministry filed charges against 11 current and former Central Bank employees for reckless embezzlement related to illegal withdrawal of over 88 million lempiras ($3.31 million USD). Four arrested in San Pedro Sula, one in Choluteca.
Civil Guard arrested in Tenerife one of the main leaders of OmegaPro pyramid scheme wanted by FBI.
Fraud & scams
The First Criminal Court of Santa Tecla sentenced Mauricio Alonso Alvarado Ayala to 10 years in prison for defrauding two victims by making them believe he could facilitate US work visas through contacts at the US embassy.
Fraud & scams
Dominican Supreme Court's Second Criminal Chamber upheld three-month preventive detention for prosecutor Aurelio Valdez Alcántara, accused of demanding and receiving $10,000 in bribes from a witness in the Senasa fraud case. He has been held at Najayo prison since March 2026.
Money laundering
Guatemala's Congress passed comprehensive anti-money laundering legislation with 147 votes. Decree 15-2026 represents significant update to country's legal framework for combating financial crimes.
Money laundering
Kuwaiti court imposed seven-year prison sentences on three individuals convicted of operating an online gambling scheme involving money laundering, with combined fines of KD16.839 million.
Money laundering
Guatemala's Congress approved with 150 votes new 'Law Against Money Laundering of Assets and Financing of Terrorism' strengthening anti-money laundering enforcement.
Money laundering
Chile hosted a summit in early June 2026 with Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia to establish joint measures against organized crime and violence.
Money laundering
Colombia's Attorney General's office announced charges against eight individuals allegedly connected to an international smuggling network dealing in women's clothing and accessories under the Lili Pink brand.
Fraud & scams
DOJ Scam Center Strike Force 'Disruption Week' (May 18-21, 2026) resulted in disruption of millions of social media, email, and internet accounts used by transnational organized crime actors in Southeast Asia to defraud Americans. Private sector voluntarily froze over $3.
Money laundering
Puquan Huang, 50, a Chinese national residing in Buford, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Money laundering
Kuwait's Court of Appeal sentenced a Syrian national and two Egyptian nationals to seven years imprisonment each for allegedly operating an international electronic betting operation and money laundering derived from illegal gambling activities, according to the court.
Money laundering
Tamin Haidar, 34, a former Union City bank employee, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after admitting to embezzling more than $800,000. According to prosecutors, Haidar pleaded guilty to embezzlement by a bank employee and money laundering in November of last year.
Guatemala's Congress approved on June 2 with 147 votes Decree 15-2026, Comprehensive Law for the Prevention and Repression of Money Laundering or Other Assets and Financing of Terrorism.
Money laundering
Security and justice ministers from all Mercosur member states and associated countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia) signed the 'Asunción Commitment 2026 against Corruption and Organized Crime' at the 55th Meeting of Interior Ministers and 63rd Meeting of Justice Ministers (May 26-29) in Asunción.
Bribery & corruption
Transparency International France reports that corruption offenses in France increased by more than 35%, with corruption involving elected officials rising by 88% between 2016-2020 and 2021-2025.
Sanctions
Proyekt investigation revealed that former FSB chief Nikolai Patrushev, oligarchs Roman Abramovich and Vladimir Yevtushenkov were beneficiaries of the A7 cross-border payment network evading sanctions.
Money laundering
Belgian prosecutors are investigating Wise Europe over alleged anti-money laundering control failures after Wise accounts featured in hundreds of cross-border criminal investigation requests from 30+ countries, involving transactions totaling half a billion euros linked to suspected fraud, corruption, and drug trafficking.
Money laundering
French authorities detained a Russian shadow fleet tanker. The network of Mohammad Hussein Shamhani includes shell companies that launder billions of dollars in profits from Iranian and Russian crude oil, with Iran having extensive experience in evading international sanctions.
Money laundering
Belgian prosecutors opened investigation into Wise Europe over allegations accounts were used to launder proceeds from fraud, corruption and drug trafficking.
French naval forces intercepted the oil tanker Tagor in the Atlantic Ocean on May 31, 2026. The vessel was under sanctions from the US, EU, UK, and Ukraine since February 2026.
Terrorist financing
Iran International obtained exclusive documents showing Chinese company, coordinated with Beijing through intermediaries in Turkey and UAE, supplies chemical materials (sodium chlorate, sodium perchlorate) for ballistic missile production to IRGC—sufficient quantities for approximately 2,500 ballistic missiles, valued at $43 million.
Money laundering
Operation Chameleón concluded its preliminary stage in late May 2026, investigating a corruption and money laundering network within the National Institute of Traffic and Land Transportation (Intrant), involving former director Hugo Beras and businessman José Ángel Gómez Canaán. The SeNaSa 2.
Terrorist financing
US Department of State designated Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV), Brazil's two largest criminal organizations, as Specially Designated Global Terrorists on May 28, 2026, with Foreign Terrorist Organization designations effective June 5, 2026.
Bribery & corruption
Saudi Arabia's Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha), represented by president Mazin Al-Kahmous, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Syria's Central Commission for Control and Inspection, chaired by Amer Al-Ali, to strengthen joint efforts against corruption and cross-border financial crimes.
Other
Transparency International France filed complaints with lobbying oversight authorities against TotalEnergies SE and TotalEnergies Marketing France for lobbying activities conducted in 2021 and 2024 allegedly violating legal obligation of transparency/sincerity (obligation de sincérité).
The U.S. Department of State designated Comando Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) effective immediately, and announced intentions to designate both groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) effective June 5, 2026.
Money laundering
Francia Sofía Medina was found guilty of multiple offenses related to corruption and money laundering in Honduras. The case became one of the most significant proceedings regarding alleged acts of corruption within the Honduran judicial system, due to the magnitude of money allegedly stolen.
Money laundering
Colombian Technical Investigation Corps arrested Chinese citizen Haibo Zhang (alias Chokan) who allegedly directed extensive international money laundering operation. Operated from Bogotá and Valle del Cauca, established organization's central infrastructure.
Sanctions
UK sanctioned 18 entities May 26, 2026 including HTX (formerly Huobi) exchange and A7A5 ruble-pegged stablecoin for helping Russia evade sanctions. Global Ledger report claimed HTX processed $21 billion in 'high-risk' crypto flows 2021-May 2026, with at least $7.
Sanctions
UK imposed major sanctions package on May 26, 2026 targeting cryptocurrency exchanges and illicit finance networks used by Russia. First application of correspondent banking and payment processing restrictions to crypto exchanges.
Sanctions
UK sanctioned 18 entities and individuals comprising the Kremlin-backed 'A7 Network' which moved over $90 billion in 2025—equivalent to roughly half Russia's yearly military expenditure. Targets include HTX (formerly Huobi), a major global cryptocurrency exchange suspected of channeling over $1.
Trafficking
André Oliveira Macedo (alias 'André do Rap'), one of the main leaders of Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), one of Brazil's largest criminal organizations, was arrested in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.
Sanctions
The UK sanctioned 18 cryptocurrency exchanges, payment providers, and individuals for helping Russia bypass international trade blockades using digital assets. Major targets include HTX (formerly Huobi Global S.A.), which is suspected of channeling over $1.
Money laundering
Greg Lindberg, 56, Tampa, Florida, sentenced to 12 years for orchestrating multibillion-dollar insurance fraud and bribery scheme (2016-2019).
Money laundering
Global Remit Currency Services, an international money transfer company, faces police investigation for suspected serious violations of Israel's anti-money laundering law.
Fraud & scams
Main suspect in multi-billion-rupee housing fraud case arrested in UAE following Interpol-coordinated operation with support from UAE Ministry of Justice. Case involves alleged fraud of over Rs1.
Fraud & scams
Colombia's 2026 presidential elections could increase risks of bribery and corruption in public contracting and campaign financing, according to NYCE.
Money laundering
Police detained Leoncio Ramón Mareco, alleged leader of international structure dedicated to money laundering and drug trafficking to United States, arrested in central Asunción.
Money laundering
A firm detected in Managua, Nicaragua, dedicated itself to managing investment funds in virtual assets, tokenization and cryptocurrency exchange platforms, allegedly connected to international drug trafficking networks. The case took ten years to fully develop.
Money laundering
UAE Federal Prosecution participated in five-day BRICS international anti-money laundering program.
Money laundering
DOJ unsealed an indictment charging Ruhuan Zhen and Hongce Wu, both Chinese nationals, with conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with transnational criminal organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG.
Money laundering
A Georgian citizen was sentenced to 37 months in prison for laundering more than $1.1 million in illicit health care fraud proceeds to his co-conspirators located abroad.
Bribery & corruption
Dominican Public Prosecutor's Office (PEPCA) requested preventive detention for migration inspector Albert Isaac Pérez Ferreras who allegedly demanded $200 USD from Spanish nationals at Las Américas International Airport on May 17.
Money laundering
Swiss regulator FINMA launched consultation (until June 9, 2026) on partially revised AML Ordinance addressing beneficial ownership transparency, Embargo Act compliance to prevent sanctions breaches, and FATF recommendations implementation.
Money laundering
Investigation reveals Zarrinqalam family-based financial network suspected of laundering funds for IRGC operates from London using shell companies in China and UAE.
Ziyue Zhao (aka Chris Zhao) has a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 23, 2026, after pleading guilty in a $65 million fraud and money laundering scheme targeting elderly victims across the United States.
Money laundering
Guatemala's Special Verification Office (IVE) reported Q2,751.5 million accumulated in money laundering and terrorism financing reports as of April 2026. 110 total reports (January-April), 27 in April. 660 individuals under investigation as of April 30.
Money laundering
Iran International investigation revealed eight members of the Zarrinqalam family, who own multiple currency exchange businesses, established a money laundering network to assist the IRGC in circumventing international sanctions.
Swiss Federal Police (Fedpol) Annual Report 2025 disclosed investigation into Russian funds held by sanctioned Russian oligarch, described as 'one of largest cases involving money laundering for purpose of evading sanctions'.
Fraud & scams
Interpol Operation Rameses (October 2025 - February 2026) dismantled cybercrime infrastructure across 13 Arab countries including Gulf states. Police identified approximately 3,867 victims and arrested 201 suspects, with 382 additional individuals identified as connected to cyber fraud.
Fraud & scams
INTERPOL's Operation Ramz, running from October 2025 to February 28, 2026, led to the arrest of 201 individuals, with a further 382 suspects identified, across thirteen countries in the Middle East and North Africa including UAE, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar.
Money laundering
Costa Rica's OIJ dismantled on May 18 a money laundering network linked to drug trafficking in operation 'Caso Lusso', with 17 searches and 8 detained (including a leader with surname Alfaro, approximately 50 years old).
Tax evasion
Ricardo Magro, head of the Refit Group and fuel sector tycoon, has been placed on Interpol's Red Notice list by the Brazilian Supreme Court, framed as the largest tax evader in Brazil's history.
Fraud & scams
Olena Oblamska (aka Lola Ferrari), a Ukrainian national accused of being one of four founders of cryptocurrency platform Forsage, was extradited from Thailand to face charges in a $340 million global cryptocurrency fraud scheme.
Sanctions
A7A5 ruble-pegged stablecoin processed over $110 billion cumulative onchain transactions, capturing 43% of global non-USD stablecoin market.
Trafficking
U.S. indictment reveals Turkey served as critical operational and financial hub for Iranian weapons trafficking to Sudan. Turkish exchange houses and banks facilitated fund transfers; defendants advised using Turkish exchanges in smaller amounts to avoid detection.
Other
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency Corporate Crime Circle Karachi arrested Faisal Abu Bakar and Ali Raza during a targeted raid at XPO Maritime Logistics on Shahrah-e-Faisal. Authorities seized Rs5.45 million Pakistani currency, US$44,140, and 45,155 UAE dirhams.
Money laundering
Abu Dhabi Global Market published the 2026 update of its money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessment related to legal persons and legal arrangements, a comprehensive review of their first assessment from March 2024.
Iran relies on hawala networks operating through exchange houses and brokers in Dubai, Kuwait, and Gulf Arab states, with entire Telegram channels tracking daily 'hawala (Emirati) dirhams' rates between Dubai and Iran and Omani rials into Iranian accounts.
Bank of Israel disconnected Global Remit Currency Services from payment systems following the Capital Market Authority's immediate suspension of the company's license due to suspected serious money laundering law violations.
Other
France has become the global epicenter of crypto-related kidnappings, accounting for 70% of worldwide cases with 41 kidnappings in less than 5 months of 2026 (averaging one every 2.5 days). 88 individuals have been charged across 12 cases.
Money laundering
Hundreds of intercepted Sky ECC encrypted messages expose the inner workings of an international drug trafficking organization allegedly led by Albanian national Dritan Gjika.
Money laundering
OCCRP and 12 partners gained access to over 3,800 files of evidence, police reports, chat logs from French investigation into Sky Global, company behind Sky ECC encrypted phones.
Money laundering
Coordinated operation by authorities in 9 countries (Germany, US, Canada, Singapore, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, UK) resulted in 18 arrests and searches at 60 locations. Networks defrauded 4.3 million cardholders across 193 countries of at least €300M (2016-2021).
Other
The Dubai Financial Services Authority imposed a fine of $139,722 (Dh513,129) on Wael Abdelmohsen Abdellatif Mohamed Emara (also known as Mohsen) and prohibited him from working in financial services in the Dubai International Financial Centre, according to the DFSA.
Fraud & scams
A Dubai civil court ordered two women convicted in a fake online trading scam to pay Dh700,000 in compensation to a man who lost his savings after being lured into investing through a bogus global markets platform.
Money laundering
Kuwaiti authorities secured the return of an Indian fugitive convicted in a money laundering case involving more than KD433,000, linked to a criminal network trading in alcoholic beverages.
Money laundering
Kuwait, with support from Interpol and UAE authorities, has extradited a man convicted in a money laundering case. The man, of Indian nationality, had been sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour, followed by deportation.
Other
UAE authorities arrested fugitive who held position as legal advisor and general delegate at Kuwaiti cooperative society, convicted of embezzling public funds and forging official documents from 2012-2018.
Fraud & scams
Two US tax advisers, Matthew S. and Jerôme L., were sentenced in Belgium to two years in prison and ordered to pay €13.3 million in damages in the CumEx scandal.
Money laundering
Following OCCRP's Dubai Unlocked investigation (70+ media outlets, published May 2026), FATF pledged experts will examine findings and consider them in assessing UAE's AML efforts.
Monaco's Autorité Monégasque de Sécurité Financière fined UBS Monaco €6 million (USD $7 million) for Anti-Money Laundering failures. AMSF found UBS Monaco breached Monaco's AML obligations from 2018 to 2023, including deficiencies in Customer Due Diligence and ongoing monitoring.
FATF and APG published mutual evaluation report (based on July 2025 on-site visit) affirming Singapore has robust, effective AML/CFT/CPF framework. Singapore placed on Regular Follow-up status (for members performing well), improved from 2016 assessment.
The SEC charged 21 individuals for their alleged involvement in a decade-long insider trading scheme that used information misappropriated from multiple global law firms and resulted in millions of dollars in illicit profits.
Money laundering
Colombian prosecutors issued nine arrest warrants in international smuggling and money laundering network linked to Lili Pink condom distribution chain.
Canada introduced Bill C-29 on April 27, 2026 to establish Canada's first-ever federal law enforcement agency dedicated to investigating sophisticated financial crimes (fraud, money laundering) and recovering illicit proceeds. Funding: C$352.7M over 5 years (starting 2026-27), C$82.
Thirty defendants charged in decade-long insider trading scheme that netted tens of millions of dollars.
FINTRAC issued a $24,750 administrative monetary penalty to RE/MAX Twin City Realty Inc., a real estate brokerage with locations across southwestern Ontario. The company failed to properly assess and document risks related to money laundering and terrorist financing offences.
Money laundering
William R., a Colombian citizen, was detained in Ipiales (Nariño) for leading a criminal organization dedicated to laundering drug trafficking assets through shell companies. He faces charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and criminal association.
Sanctions
Reuters investigation found that brothers Ali and Mohammad Kharrazi (using surname Aghamir) turned Nobitex into Iran's dominant cryptocurrency provider managing ~70% of Iran's crypto transactions.
Sanctions
Russian oligarchs allegedly use A7 payments company for sanctions evasion via ruble-backed cryptocurrency A7A5. Founded 2024 by Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor.
Fraud & scams
Dubai Police Operation 'Tri-Force Sentinel' dismantled international fraud network in cooperation with FBI and Chinese Police. Arrested 276 individuals (mostly Southeast Asian) operating 9 fraud centers engaged in High-Yield Investment Scams (HYIS) and cryptocurrency fraud.
Money laundering
CHP Istanbul Deputy Fethi Açıkel submitted 11 questions regarding allegations that the Treasury and Finance Ministry is preparing a new asset reconciliation.
Sanctions
U.S. Treasury sanctioned 35 entities and individuals involved in Iran's shadow banking operations under 'Economic Wrath' campaign. Network allegedly moved tens of billions of dollars linked to sanctions evasion.
An investigation by Proekt alleges that billionaires Roman Abramovich and Viktor Kharitonin may be connected to A7, a payment platform established in 2024 to facilitate cross-border money transfers circumventing Western sanctions.
Money laundering
Dubai Police, in coordination with FBI and Chinese Ministry of Public Security under UAE Ministry of Interior, dismantled nine scam centers and arrested 276 individuals involved in cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes including 'pig butchering' scams, high-yield investment fraud, and virtual currency fraud.
Fraud & scams
Dubai Police collaborated with the FBI and Chinese authorities in Operation Tri-Force Sentinel to dismantle an international fraud ring, resulting in 276 arrests predominantly from Southeast Asian nations.
Dubai Police led Operation Tri-Force Sentinel, coordinating with the FBI, Chinese Police, and Royal Thai Police to arrest 276 individuals from predominantly Southeast Asian countries.
Sanctions
The EU unveiled its 20th Russia sanctions package in late April 2026, imposing a total ban on the country's crypto providers and platforms and blocking the central bank's digital ruble and the RUBx stablecoin.
Money laundering
France's ACPR Sanctions Commission issued Decision No. 2024-06 on 19 March 2026, imposing a formal reprimand and a financial penalty of €1.
Other
National prosecutor for organized crime (PNACO) Vanessa Perrée released report April 24, 2026 on cryptocurrency-related kidnappings: 88 people charged including 10+ minors across 12 ongoing judicial investigations; 75 in pre-trial detention.
Other
FCA secured guilty plea from Aaron Chalmers (Geordie Shore personality) for illegal financial promotions on social media. Part of week-long international operation (April 20-26) with 17 regulators targeting illegal finfluencers. FCA commenced criminal proceedings against 2 additional individuals.
Other
DIFC Courts recorded 396 cases in Q1 2026, up 22% from 325 in Q1 2025. Average case value was 13.3 million AED. Primary Court handled 50 cases averaging 91.8 million AED each, totaling 3 billion AED. Three new experienced judges sworn in.
Money laundering
Bahrain's Shura Council approved amendments to Central Bank Law authorizing imprisonment and/or fines up to BD1 million for unlicensed financial services and unauthorized use of banking/insurance terminology. Reforms aim to combat money laundering and terrorist financing per FATF standards.
Money laundering
Congolese singer Gims (real name Gandhi Djuna) was formally charged on March 27, 2026 by Paris's financial prosecutor for aggravated money laundering and organized money laundering. The investigation involves an international criminal network allegedly headquartered in Morocco.
Money laundering
Saudi Cabinet approved amendments to anti-money laundering law on April 17, 2026. New provisions impose travel bans on Saudi nationals sentenced to prison for money laundering for period equal to their prison term.
Sanctions
Russia-linked cryptocurrency exchange Grinex suspended operations on April 16, 2026, after cyberattack resulting in loss of 1 billion rubles ($13.7 million).
Money laundering
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates issued updated guidelines for combating money laundering and terrorist financing in line with international best practices.
Money laundering
The Central Bank of the UAE rolled out fresh anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing guidelines, tightening expectations for banks and money transfer operators, with clearer supervisory expectations across customer verification, trade finance monitoring and correspondent banking.
Sanctions
On April 13, 2026, the Paris tribunal convicted Lafarge SA and several former executives for terrorism financing and violations of international sanctions related to maintaining a Syrian cement factory in a zone controlled by jihadist groups.
Fraud & scams
DOJ announced the beginning of a remission compensation process to provide recovery for victims of the OneCoin international investment scheme. More than $40 million in forfeited assets are currently available for victim compensation.
Other
Dubai Police and UAE Ministry of Interior arrested a leading member of Scotland's Lyons crime family at Dubai International Airport following an Interpol Red Notice. The coordinated international operation resulted in fourteen arrests across four countries targeting organized crime networks.
Bribery & corruption
Almost 800 Hungarian government email addresses and associated passwords found circulating online, affecting 12 out of 13 ministries. Ministry for National Economy suffered 99 breaches, Ministry of Finance (merged 2025) suffered 145 breaches.
Federal grand juries indicted ten executives and employees of four cryptocurrency financial services firms (Gotbit, Vortex, Antier, and Contrarian) for orchestrating fraud schemes to artificially inflate trading volume and price of cryptocurrencies through 'wash trading.'
Fraud & scams
Prosecutor Aurelio Valdez Alcántara was detained on March 27, 2026 when he allegedly received USD $10,000 from a person under investigation, in a judicially authorized operation.
Money laundering
UK's Financial Conduct Authority issued decision March 13, 2026 banning Kasım Garipoğlu from financial activities.
Money laundering
French-language rapper GIMS formally charged March 27, 2026 with aggravated money laundering following arrest March 25, 2026 upon arrival at Paris airport.
FINTRAC imposed a penalty of CAD$91,162.50 on Northern Isga Foundation for multiple AML compliance failures including failure to develop and apply written compliance policies, assess and document risks, maintain ongoing compliance training programs, and institute a compliance program review plan.
On March 10, 2026, Luc Pastorel, CEO of SOS Oxygène group, was sentenced by the Paris court to twenty months suspended prison sentence and a €1.5 million fine for organized tax fraud.
Fraud & scams
The former Chief Executive Officer of Nodus International Bank pleaded guilty for leading a scheme to fraudulently obtain at least $24.9 million from Nodus Bank and conspiring to evade U.S. sanctions against Venezuela. The scheme involved efforts to evade U.S.
Money laundering
The Singapore Police and Monetary Authority of Singapore conducted joint enforcement operations against Capital Asia Investments Pte Ltd and its directors for suspected money laundering and regulatory violations. The Police seized more than S$160 million of assets, with two directors arrested.
UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation imposed £390,000 penalty on Apple Distribution International Limited (Irish subsidiary) for making two payments totaling £635,618.
Money laundering
The ACPR Sanctions Commission issued a reprimand and a pecuniary sanction of €1.3 million to MoneyGram International SA on 19 March 2026.
Money laundering
The federal government of Pakistan approved measures targeting informal money transfer systems in a high-level meeting co-chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Other
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced formation of Joint Working Group comprising Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to combat illegal currency movements.
Money laundering
High-level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb decided on comprehensive crackdown against hundi-hawala mafia and money laundering. Joint Working Group formed between FIA and State Bank of Pakistan to monitor illegal cross-border fund transfers.
Money laundering
Pakistani government decided to launch comprehensive enforcement operation targeting illegal money transfers and underground hawala-hundi banking networks.
Fraud & scams
INTERPOL released 2026 Global Financial Fraud Threat Assessment and launched Operation Shadow Storm, UK-funded international task force to dismantle scam centers. Report warns AI-enhanced fraud is 4.
Fraud & scams
INTERPOL's 2026 Global Financial Fraud Threat Assessment warns fraud is now central to organized crime, intersecting with human trafficking and cybercrime. AI-enhanced fraud 4.5 times more profitable than traditional methods. Agentic AI systems can autonomously execute complete fraud campaigns.
Bribery & corruption
In March 2026, Hong Kong's SFC and ICAC conducted a joint operation codenamed 'Fuse' on March 10-11 targeting insider dealing involving corruption. The operation searched 14 locations across Hong Kong, including two brokerages and a hedge fund, resulting in the arrest of eight people.
Bribery & corruption
An appeal hearing for former French President Nicolas Sarkozy's Libya corruption case ran from March 16 to June 2, 2026, where Transparency International France challenged the dismissal of corruption charges.
The Insider investigation analyzed Russian companies' foreign trade data for 2024-2025 and identified over 6,000 foreign firms (including ~4,000 Chinese and Hong Kong, ~300 Turkish, 120 UAE, and 60 Indian companies) directly or indirectly supplying the Russian military-industrial complex while ignoring international sanctions.
Sanctions
Investigation analyzing 2024-2025 foreign trade data identified over 6,000 companies trading with sanctioned Russian enterprises and defense contractors, including approximately 4,000 Chinese firms (Henan New Silk Road International delivered 100+ turbojet engines worth $3M to sanctioned Chipdevice…
Money laundering
The 2026 US National Money Laundering Risk Report identifies Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) as the two main transnational organized crime threats, capable of infiltrating banks, remittance companies, exchange houses, and law firms to recycle billions.
Money laundering
Bellingcat investigation revealed Daniel and Christy Kinahan, leaders of €1.5 billion Kinahan cartel, photographed at Dubai MMA event in June 2025, marking most recent sighting since U.S. government placed multi-million dollar bounties on them.
A major MENA cybercrime operation (Operation Ramz) led to the arrest of 201 individuals, with a further 382 suspects identified. Investigators also identified 3,867 victims, seized 53 servers, and shared nearly 8,000 pieces of actionable intelligence between participating countries.
Money laundering
Luxembourg police raided EFG International, one of Switzerland's largest private banks, on 24 February 2026 as part of a probe into suspected money laundering, terrorist financing and alleged breaches of reporting obligations.
Money laundering
Christopher Alexander Delgado, 34, Apopka, Florida, charged with operating Goliath Ventures (formerly Gen-Z Venture Firm) cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme (January 2023-January 2026).
Fraud & scams
INTERPOL-coordinated Operation Red Card 2.0 (December 8, 2025 - January 30, 2026) led law enforcement from 16 African countries to arrest 651 individuals and recover more than USD $4.3 million.
Fraud & scams
French authorities convicted organizers in fraud case involving Neuchâtel-based Fondation Elysium used to conceal €65 million from French tax authorities. In France, fraudsters have paid and trial of organizers concluded with convictions.
Money laundering
The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) designated Kuwait to its grey list during a plenary meeting in Mexico, subjecting the Gulf nation to heightened international monitoring for money-laundering and terrorist-financing risks.
FATF added Kuwait and Papua New Guinea to jurisdictions under increased monitoring (grey list) at February 11-13, 2026 plenary. Both made high-level political commitments to strengthen AML/CFT regimes.
Bribery & corruption
Transparency International released its Corruption Perceptions Index 2025, showing the global CPI average dropped for the first time in more than a decade to just 42 out of 100. 122 out of 182 countries score under 50, signaling widespread public sector corruption.
Money laundering
Daren Li, 42 (dual national of China and St. Kitts and Nevis), sentenced in absentia to 20 years for conspiracy to launder $73.6 million obtained through cryptocurrency scams. Operations run from scam centers in Cambodia. Li laundered $59.8 million through U.S. shell companies.
Money laundering
Kuwait's Interior Ministry arrested 9 individuals of Arab nationalities as part of an international gang that laundered over 100 million Kuwaiti dinars (approximately 327 million dollars) since the establishment of shell companies in 2023.
Money laundering
Kuwait's Interior Minister oversaw the arrest of an organized international criminal group of Arab nationalities suspected of involvement in electronic fraud, money laundering, bank forgery, and unauthorized money transfers.
Money laundering
Kuwait's Ministry of Interior dismantled an international criminal operation involved in cyberfraud, bank forgery and hawala smuggling. Nine individuals including a Jordanian ringleader were arrested.
Money laundering
Renat Abramov, 36, Bank of America relationship manager in Brooklyn, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering for participating in scheme to launder $8+ million in fraudulently obtained Medicare reimbursements.
EU officially announced Russia's inclusion on anti-money laundering blacklist (list of countries with high risk of money laundering and terrorism financing), effective January 29, 2026.
Money laundering
On February 18, 2026, a federal jury in Pennsylvania found Charles Hunter Hobson — a former U.S.-based coal company executive — guilty of violating the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other federal criminal laws.
Terrorist financing
Federal grand jury in Nebraska charged 31 additional individuals for roles in large conspiracy to deploy malware and steal millions from ATMs. Total of 87 defendants charged (with 6 more added in February, bringing total to 93).
Abu Dhabi Global Market's Financial Services Regulatory Authority published enforcement outcome against Wealthface Limited through enforceable undertaking, details of violations not publicly specified in regulatory actions table.
MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) implemented new anti-money laundering declaration requirements effective January 1, 2026.
Sanctions
On April 13, 2026, the Paris Criminal Court convicted Lafarge and four former senior executives of financing terrorism and violating international sanctions. The cement maker was found guilty of financing terrorist groups - notably the Islamic State - totaling €5.
Money laundering
EU's Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) launched consultations in February 2026 on three draft regulatory technical standards: (1) customer due diligence, (2) criteria for identifying business relationships, occasional transactions, and linked transactions, and (3) financial sanctions, administrative measures, and periodic penalty payments.
Money laundering
On December 18, 2025, authorities conducted searches at the residences of Rachida Dati in Paris, as well as at the Paris 7th arrondissement city hall and the Culture Ministry.
Bribery & corruption
UK convening Illicit Finance Summit originally scheduled June 23-24, 2026, rescheduled to December 2026 to enable broader participation and stronger commitments. Summit brings together financial hubs/jurisdictions to accelerate fight against corruption, dirty money.
Money laundering
Chen Zhi, founder and chairman of Prince Holding Group, charged with wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy for directing forced-labor scam compounds across Cambodia engaged in 'pig butchering' cryptocurrency fraud.
Bribery & corruption
United Kingdom convening Illicit Finance Summit in London June 23-24, 2026 (subsequently rescheduled to December 2026), bringing together financial hubs and jurisdictions to 'accelerate the fight against corruption and dirty money.'
Money laundering
Transparency International - Russia published investigation about Garantex crypto exchange, which the US called the largest Russian platform for money laundering and evading international sanctions.
Other
The Abu Dhabi Global Market Registration Authority imposed a total fine of $37,500 on Half Moon Investments Limited (HMIL) and its three directors—Shaukat Murad, Zia Murad, and Manuel Mateos—for repeatedly failing to submit financial statements on time.
Sanctions
UK designated cryptocurrency exchange Huobi Global (HTX), which channeled over $1.5 billion to Russia, along with 3 Georgian crypto exchanges and the A7 network that moved $9.3 billion through A7A5 ruble-backed stablecoin in four months.
Money laundering
Central Bank of UAE imposed Dh3 million penalty on UAE-based bank for violations of anti-money laundering regulations, part of intensified AML enforcement in preparation for June 2026 FATF Mutual Evaluation.
Money laundering
DOJ charged Michael Shannon Sims and Juan Carlos Reynoso with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering for operating OmegaPro, a multi-level marketing scheme that defrauded victims of over $650 million through false promises of 300% returns via foreign exchange trading.
Decree Law No. 76 for 2025 was issued amending certain provisions of Law No.
Money laundering
FBI arrested Russian crypto company founder in New York on allegations of laundering $500 million and evading sanctions imposed on Russia. Individual accused of conducting illicit financial operations to circumvent international restrictions through cryptocurrency platforms.
Tax evasion
The ADGM's Financial Services Regulatory Authority imposed penalties totaling AED 610,000 across 23 entities for violations of CRS and FATCA regulations.
According to Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau investigation, M/s Bahria Town Pvt Ltd. allegedly utilized an illicit Hawala/Hundi network within Pakistan to launder crime proceeds out of the country.
Other
Abu Dhabi Global Market's Financial Services Regulatory Authority fined the Hayvn Group USD 8.85 million (total penalties USD 12.
Money laundering
Transparency International published 'Connecting the Dots' on June 24, 2026, examining how corrupt money rarely moves in plain sight and is often hidden behind complex transactions, shell companies and intermediaries, then moved quickly across borders.
Money laundering
Kuwaiti authorities expanded an investigation into a suspected fraud network that allegedly manipulated raffle draws. An Egyptian woman was arrested at Kuwait International Airport as she allegedly attempted to flee.
Money laundering
DOJ, German, and Finnish authorities coordinated seizure of Garantex cryptocurrency exchange domains and servers, freezing over $26 million in illicit funds.
U.S. Treasury took sweeping action targeting Russia's primary revenue source with sanctions against major oil producers including Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, more than 180 vessels—many part of the shadow fleet—along with opaque traders of Russian oil, Russia-based oilfield service providers,…
Dubai security authorities disrupted two international money laundering networks worth 641 million dirhams. First network involved 461 million dirhams with 25 suspects including an Emirati and British nationals.
Money laundering
UAE authorities dismantled two international networks involved in unlawful possession of funds and money laundering valued at 641 million dirhams.
US and UK announced exposure of TGR Group and Smart international network that helped Russian elites use cryptocurrency to bypass sanctions and launder money. Through TGR Group, Russian elites used digital assets, particularly dollar-backed stablecoins, to bypass US and international sanctions.
Money laundering
NCA Operation Destabilise exposed two Russian-speaking networks, Smart (led by Ekaterina Zhdanova) and TGR (led by George Rossi/Maksakov), laundering billions for Russian elites, cybercriminals, drug gangs, and firearms smugglers.
US and UK uncovered international money laundering network (Smart and TGR companies) operating in 30 countries, coordinated from Moscow, London, and Dubai. Networks helped Russian elites evade sanctions and laundered billions for drug traffickers, financial criminals, and foreign spies.
OFAC designated five individuals and four entities tied to TGR Group money laundering operation.
Money laundering
Financial Action Task Force (FATF) reported that Kuwait has appropriate legal and regulatory framework for anti-money laundering but noted serious deficiencies preventing effective results in combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
Money laundering
On February 18, 2026, a federal jury in Pennsylvania found Charles Hunter Hobson — a former U.S.-based coal company executive — guilty of violating the FCPA and other federal criminal laws for alleged bribes paid through a third party to secure lucrative contracts with a state-run company overseas.
Abu Dhabi Global Market's Financial Services Regulatory Authority imposed a $360,000 fine on Wise Nuqud Ltd, a licensed money service provider, for failing to establish adequate anti-money laundering systems and controls.
Fraud & scams
World Bank updated its listing of debarred firms and individuals on May 5, 2026. As of March 31, 2026, the World Bank Debarment list includes 1,386 firms and individuals barred by World Bank Group from receiving Bank-financed contracts due to fraud, corruption or collusion.
Sanctions
The UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation imposed a monetary penalty of £1,000,920.
Fraud & scams
Bahrain participated in INTERPOL's Operation First Light 2026, a global fraud crackdown involving 97 countries that ran from January to April 2026, resulting in 5,811 arrests and the interception of $293 million in illicit assets, with authorities in Oman and other Gulf countries blocking a $6.
Other
In March 2026, Bahrain proposed a decree-law introducing tougher penalties—including possible jail terms and fines of up to BD1 million—for violations of regulations governing financial activities supervised by the Central Bank of Bahrain.
Money laundering
Bahrain is participating in an international anti-fraud operation coordinated by INTERPOL called Operation First Light 2026. The operation, which ran from January 15 to April 30, 2026, focused on combating social engineering scams and associated money laundering activities.
.jpg)
Other
Bahrain's parliament has backed a decree-law proposing stricter penalties—including imprisonment and fines up to BD1 million—for operating unlicensed financial services.
Money laundering
International law enforcement dismantled the AudiA6 cryptocurrency laundering service that processed over €336 million ($389 million) in criminal funds between 2022 and 2025.
Romania has taken steps to enhance its anti-money laundering and terrorist financing measures but still needs to tackle some shortcomings, according to MONEYVAL's report released on 6 July 2026.
OFAC designated network generating revenue for Hezbollah through hawala exploiting Lebanon's cash-based economy. Proceeds from Iranian oil sales routed through exchange shops (sarrafs) in Dubai and transferred to Hezbollah in Lebanon using hawala.
OFAC sanctioned a Russia-China-Kyrgyzstan payment scheme facilitating cross-border payments for sensitive goods through regional clearing platforms (RCPs).
Royal Marine commandos and National Crime Agency officers conducted the UK's first-ever seizure of a sanctioned vessel on 14 June 2026 in a six-hour operation, boarding the oil tanker Smyrtos in international waters in the English Channel.
Money laundering
French and Romanian authorities arrested 13 people suspected of laundering at least €306 million ($364 million) in proceeds from drug trafficking and other crimes.
The FATF indicated that if Myanmar makes no further progress by June 2026, it will consider countermeasures related to anti-money laundering deficiencies.
At G7 summit, UK designated 11 individuals and 32 entities under Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, plus specified 27 ships including 20 oil tankers in Russia's shadow fleet.
Fraud & scams
The UK announced sanctions targeting individuals and entities linked to Cambodia's Prince Group, widely alleged to have operated a network of scam centers built on forced labor and human trafficking.
Securities & markets
On June 25, 2026, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission obtained a worldwide freezing order against Lo Kai Bong and Major Success Group Limited in enforcement proceedings.
Trafficking
An OCCRP investigation found that two companies awarded security contracts at Mexico City International Airport—SERPROSEP SA de CV and Armour King SA de CV—have connections to individuals suspected of firearms trafficking to drug cartels.
Other
Gerard Grischew was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison on June 10 in Berlin Regional Court for moving 33 million euros in illicit funds through the international financial system.
Money laundering
The Swiss government announced intentions to strengthen its anti-money laundering laws in a bill that, if passed, would bring its financial due diligence measures closer in line with international standards. The proposal includes enhanced transparency requirements and AML obligations for advisors.
Ruslan Igorevich Tkachuk (37) and Alexander Vladimirovich Ledenev (25), both from Batumi, Georgia, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and sting money laundering for allegedly operating AudiA6, a cryptocurrency money laundering service that laundered over $389 million in Bitcoin since 2021.
Sanctions
Russian Ambassador Alexey Borodavkin stated that despite international sanctions pressure, Kazakhstan-Russia trade is projected to exceed $30 billion in 2026.
Money laundering
French and Italian authorities, coordinated by Eurojust and Europol together with Kosovar authorities, seized criminal assets worth EUR 1 million in an investigation into an international money laundering network that uses gold bars to launder drug trafficking profits.
FATF updated list of high-risk jurisdictions with significant strategic deficiencies in regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and financing of proliferation. Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Iran continue on high-risk list.
FATF updated list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring for strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering, countering terrorist financing, and proliferation financing regimes. FATF now identifies Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iraq as newly-added jurisdictions under increased monitoring.
Fraud & scams
The Royal Oman Police arrested members of an international criminal organization operating in Dhofar's region that was executing online fraud schemes.
The FATF held its June plenary meeting, taking action to strengthen supervision of global finance and approving evaluations for Canada and Türkiye.
A vast international money laundering network linked to fake cryptocurrency investment fraud was dismantled in late October 2025, as announced by the Paris prosecutor's office in November 2025. Nearly $700 million were laundered online through this vast network.
Money laundering
INTERPOL announced results of Operation First Light 2026, which led to 5,811 arrests and the interception of USD 293 million in illicit assets across 97 countries.
Bahrain introduced prison sentences in addition to fines up to 1 million Bahraini dinars for operating financial services, insurance, or brokerage without Central Bank of Bahrain license.
Money laundering
Abdullah Anwar, 28, reportedly of Pakistani origin with ties to Karachi and a resident of Garland, Texas, was arrested in Qatar on July 10, 2026, and extradited to the United States.
FBI seized 13 domains used by suspected Chinese intelligence services to target current/former U.S. security clearance holders with fake consulting jobs since November 2023.
On March 5, 2026, the CSSF imposed an administrative fine of EUR 56,000 on Stonehage Fleming Luxembourg S.A. for non-compliance with anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism obligations, representing approximately 2% of the company's total annual turnover as of March 31, 2022.
The UK Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) fined Gabbitas Robins £11,008 for AML file review failures and fined Macmillans Solicitors LLP £1,852 for AML framework failures. India's Reserve Bank (RBI) fined Pahal Financial Services Private Limited ₹3.1 Lakh for KYC shortcomings.
Chase Harris, 36, of Keller, Texas, pled guilty on June 22, 2026 to conspiracy to commit money laundering for his role in laundering proceeds from international technology-support fraud scheme targeting elderly victims. Scheme resulted in theft of more than $1.
Israel faces potential inclusion on FATF's (Financial Action Task Force) gray list for inadequate anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing oversight.
Money laundering
Vietnamese national and permanent U.S. resident Le Van Hung pleaded guilty before a New York court to conspiracy to commit identity theft as part of a transnational scheme to launder $67 million using data stolen from U.S. citizens.
Bribery & corruption
Iraq abruptly canceled a $764 million contract to overhaul Baghdad International Airport amid mounting corruption allegations involving the bidding process and contract terms.
The U.S. Treasury Department designated three individuals and six entities across Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa for facilitating financial transactions on behalf of ISIS.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) added Kuwait to its grey list (jurisdictions under increased monitoring) in February 2026, following the conclusion of its plenary meeting on February 11-13, 2026, according to AML Watcher.
The member states of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC) — co-chaired by the United States and Saudi Arabia, with representatives from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE — announced joint designations targeting five entities and 16 individuals linked to Hezbollah's financial infrastructure.
According to Al Tamol, Oman's Royal Police executed a major operation in Sohar, dismantling an alleged international fraud ring operating across 33 locations. Over 380 suspects from five Asian nationalities were reportedly arrested.
The FBI announced that victims of the OneCoin international cryptocurrency investment scheme have until a June 30 deadline to apply for compensation through a special Department of Justice program.
EU unveiled 21st sanctions package on June 9, 2026, targeting energy, financial services, cryptocurrencies, trade, and fisheries. Asset freezes on close to 90 banks and transaction bans on over 30 banks in Russia and third countries.
The Financial Action Task Force officially launched its 2026-2028 Roadmap on Combatting Fraud on the first day of the United Kingdom's FATF Presidency.
FinCEN recognized seven cases that effectively used Bank Secrecy Act data to support criminal prosecutions, including the TD Bank case that resulted in almost $3.1 billion in penalties (the largest BSA penalty in U.S. history), a Backpage.
Royal Oman Police General Directorate of Investigation and Criminal Investigation thwarted an attempt to channel 6.6 million dollars from international electronic fraud into the local banking system.
The African Development Bank announced the debarment of Martin Obiero Achieng for 24 months with conditional release, taking effect from January 28, 2026.
Lawsuit filed by ZAKA board member alleges tens of millions of shekels donated through international ZAKA chapters (mainly US and France) since October 7 have disappeared.
Ministers from across the globe reiterated commitment to tackling illicit finance through multilateral coordinated action, agreeing to focus on the growing threat of fraud and strengthening risk-based implementation of FATF Standards.
Fraud & scams
Iraqi authorities seized approximately $107 million connected to massive embezzlement operation within Oil Ministry. Recovery included funds buried underground requiring heavy machinery to excavate.
Weidong 'Bill' Guan, 63, the former chief financial officer of The Epoch Times, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in transactions involving criminal proceeds in a $67 million fraud scheme.
Bribery & corruption
Ekrem İmamoğlu, former Istanbul mayor and opposition leader, appeared in court facing 142 charges alongside 402+ co-defendants, primarily officials and associates of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
Kuwait's Ministry of Finance and Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen financial crime prevention.
FinCEN issued guidance urging banks to identify suspicious activity involving unlawful employment schemes, including identity theft, payroll fraud, and connections to transnational criminal organizations. Financial institutions reported over $2.
OFAC designated over 30 individuals and entities tied to Iranian brothers Mansour, Nasser, and Fazlolah Zarringhalam who collectively laundered billions of dollars through Iran's shadow banking system via exchange houses and front companies in Hong Kong and UAE.
Money laundering
Iraqi authorities seized over $10 million hidden in a rainwater drainage pit during an ongoing corruption investigation into former Deputy Minister of Oil Adnan al-Jumaili. The total value of assets seized during the probe reached 127 billion Iraqi dinars (approximately $96.
US announced sanctions targeting Iranian networks allegedly smuggling hundreds of millions of dollars of liquified petroleum gas to South and East Asia using UAE and China front companies and shadow fleet vessels.
Money laundering
OCCRP published an investigation revealing that a Warsaw-based company ultimately owned by Turkish gambling mogul Fedlan Kılıçaslan promoted online betting sites in Poland despite having no Polish license to do so.
OFAC designated Hizballah-aligned Lebanese officials and members of a Hizballah-associated business network overseen by Alaa Hassan Hamieh. The Lebanese officials designated have used their influence to obstruct Lebanon's peace process and delay the disarmament of Hizballah.
FATF added Iraq and Bosnia and Herzegovina to its global 'Gray List' on June 19, 2026, at the end of its latest triannual summit in Strasbourg, France. During the summit, Mali, Tanzania and Croatia exited the gray list after making significant progress against identified AML/CFT shortcomings.
The ACPR's Sanctions Commission issued a decision on March 19, 2026, against MoneyGram International SA for violations related to combating money laundering and terrorism financing.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control took action against Dubai-based Iranian businessman Ali Ansari, who allegedly oversees a sprawling global network of assets benefitting Iran's leader Mojtaba Khamenei and other regime elites, according to Treasury.
Money laundering
An international anti-fraud operation coordinated by Interpol resulted in 5,811 arrests and the interception of $293 million in illicit assets across 97 countries between January 15 and April 30, 2026.
Fraud & scams
Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) report reveals three-quarters of European adults encountered scams in the past year, with criminal networks causing victims an estimated $57 billion in losses.
OFAC designated the Chone Killers, an Ecuadorian transnational terrorist group, under counter-terrorism authorities. The group was added to the Specially Designated Nationals list.
OFAC designated 35 entities and individuals facilitating Iran's shadow banking network processing tens of billions of dollars in sanctions evasion and terrorism financing.
Fraud & scams
Nomma Zarubina, 35, sentenced to 14 months in prison for lying to FBI about ties to Russia's FSB intelligence agency and naturalization fraud related to interstate prostitution trafficking. FSB handlers assigned her codename 'Alyssa' and directed her to attend 2021 St.
International law enforcement operation dismantled AudiA6, a cryptocurrency laundering service that processed more than €336 million (~$389 million) since 2021, primarily for ransomware operations and cryptocurrency theft schemes.
On June 21, 2026, Elshan Askerov was transferred to Azerbaijan from the UAE by representatives of the Ministry of Justice's Main Department of International Cooperation and the Penitentiary Service.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) published its seventh Targeted Update on Implementation of the FATF Standards on Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers, warning that organised crime groups are exploiting regulatory gaps to move billions in illicit proceeds through the crypto sector.
Money laundering
OCCRP reported on 24 July 2026 that Britain's National Crime Agency has frozen 16 luxury apartments in central London, worth at least $30 million, owned by Xu Haika, described as a Chinese, Cambodian and Vanuatu national who is under investigation as a suspect in Singapore's largest ever money laundering case.
According to Dawn, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) stopped Sitara Chemical Industries Limited owner Mian Muhammad Idrees at Lahore airport after his name was placed on a no-fly list in connection with an alleged Rs11.
FATF published a 'Targeted Report on Regulatory Challenges from Decentralised Finance' highlighting how DeFi's unique features are being increasingly exploited by illicit actors, including fraudsters, ransomware operators, professional money laundering networks and proliferation financing actors.
The Financial Action Task Force published a report stating that decentralised finance (DeFi) is being increasingly exploited by fraudsters, ransomware operators, professional money laundering networks, and proliferation financing actors, according to FATF.
The Financial Action Task Force published a report highlighting the urgent need for authorities and the private sector to work together to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing amid increased digitalization and complex cross-border transactions, according to FATF.
Ireland's Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris, along with Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan, launched Ireland's National Risk Assessment on Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Proliferation Financing together with a new 30-Point Action Plan.
FINTRAC imposed a $212,025 administrative penalty on Atlantic Lottery on May 29, 2026, after finding compliance violations including failure to submit a suspicious transaction report, failure to keep written compliance policies up to date, and failure to assess and document financial crime risks, according to FINTRAC.