Financial crime news: money laundering, fraud, sanctions, bribery and corruption

An alleged narco-terrorist leader and cocaine trafficker was extradited from Colombia to the United States.

A former bookkeeper was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for a $1.48 million embezzlement and tax fraud scheme.

A former U.S. soldier was sentenced for hacking and extortion that exposed sensitive government data.

A man pleaded guilty to bank fraud and money laundering charges linked to a failed bank.

A tech company CEO was found guilty of running a Ponzi scheme and fraudulently obtaining COVID relief loans.

A Colombian armed-group commander used social media to promote his criminal activities before his death in a raid.

Serial fraudster who posed as a doctor and lord jailed following investigation.

Report on human smuggling and trafficking trends in North Africa and the Sahel region.

Report on North Korean crypto heists surpassing $1 billion in 2026 after a Bitget attack.

Two Iraqi lawmakers were jailed and fined for illicit enrichment.

An analysis questions whether US drug certification decisions are based on law enforcement or politics.

A coalition of American governments sanctioned 24 criminal groups as part of regional security efforts.

Western punitive measures have forced Moscow into costly workaround efforts

US prosecutors charged a tech CEO and a Russian national over concealing Russian ownership of a forensic software company.

An Uzbek-American national was extradited to the US to face charges of providing material support to ISIS and another terrorist group.

A High Court ruling revealed gaps in the SRA's power to investigate misconduct by lawyers.

Seven linked companies closed after joint investigation uncovered similar misconduct concerns.

OFSI published FAQs offering guidance on UK financial sanctions.

A suspect was caught using stolen identities to fraudulently obtain EU Clean Air funds in Poland.

EPPO conducted searches into suspected corruption involving an EU-funded landfill remediation project in Italy.

Italian authorities searched premises in a fraud probe involving fake employee training courses.

Podcast discussing how environmental crimes are becoming increasingly interconnected with other threats.

Defense lawyers sought dismissal of narco-terrorism and money laundering charges against an accused drug kingpin in a US trial.

FT investigation shows the state oil group’s hard currency was at heart of Russia’s efforts to circumvent sanctions

UK Treasury issued guidance on licensing decisions for designated Iranian banks.

The SEC charged a Florida man and his company for allegedly defrauding investors through a fake investment scheme.

Analysis on Latin American organized crime groups expanding operations into Europe.

Europol supported an operation arresting six people involved in migrant smuggling, document fraud, and money laundering.

Azerbaijan pardoned a French citizen as the EU lifted sanctions on a Russian billionaire.

An opinion piece argues banks should be required to explain reasons for account closures.

EPPO arrested a suspect in a $79 million cross-border VAT fraud investigation.

A raid in Papua New Guinea uncovered trafficked workers linked to a suspected cyber scam operation.

A former relative of Ukraine's dismissed prosecutor general denied buying a Dubai villa amid leaked property records.

Alejandro Betancourt was previously wanted by authorities in Switzerland as part of a money-laundering investigation

Albania's intelligence chief was dismissed and placed under house arrest amid a probe into manipulated public contracts.

A senator allegedly used influence to secure contracts for donors before an FBI bribery probe was reportedly halted.

The SEC fined a broker-dealer for repeated compliance failures related to systems regulation.

A former Romanian presidential candidate is held in a €1.1 million fraud case.

Analysis argues enforcement has failed to dismantle structures enabling Cambodia's scam industry and related trafficking.

Report describes an FBI anti-corruption investigation into a senator that was allegedly obstructed by the administration.

Over 1200 people were charged in a Trans-Tasman drug trafficking and organised crime operation.

EPPO arrested another suspect and seized millions of euros in an ongoing fraud investigation.

FT finds thousands of Russian payments received by Standard Chartered, Citigroup and other international groups in vast leak from inside fintech A7

The High Court ruled against the SRA's investigative powers after a legal challenge.

A firm tied to a political donor was allowed to do business with a sanctioned Russian bank.

FinCEN is drafting new rules clarifying banks' beneficial ownership due diligence obligations.

Firms are increasingly closing money mule accounts but criminals still move illicit funds through multiple banks.

A former Romanian presidential candidate was detained on suspicion of fraud amid other criminal cases.

Four couriers were sentenced for attempting to import £13.8 million worth of cannabis into the UK.

The UAE residence visa of a sanctioned organised crime figure linked to a drug cartel was cancelled.