News and Blogs

HSBC and the Salameh Affair: Alarm bells ignored for a decade

Read here: https://www.publiceye.ch/en/media-corner/press-releases/detail/hsbc-und-die-salameh-saga-ein-jahrzehnt-ignorierter-warnungen

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Fugitive Alleged Romance Scammer Found Living Large in Dubai

Read here: https://www.occrp.org/en/news/exclusive-fugitive-nigerian-romance-scammer-found-living-large-in-dubai

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Parliament continues laissez-faire towards Switzerland’s commodities sector

Read here: https://www.publiceye.ch/en/media-corner/press-releases/detail/parliament-continues-laissez-faire-towards-switzerlands-commodities-sector

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‘Several people’ arrested in EU bribery investigation linked to Huawei

Read here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/13/several-people-arrested-in-eu-bribery-investigation-linked-to-huawei

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Switzerland fines former Credit Suisse executive over Mozambique case

Read here: https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/SWISS-BANKS-COMPLIANCE-48bacf4e-2dda-4ddc-8677-3115c88f8f6b

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Of kingdoms and crooks: The rise of geocriminality

Read here: https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/the-rise-of-geocriminality/

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No action against ex-Tory worker in £1m VAT scam

Read here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8e7je7001lo

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Spanish Authorities Bust €1.3M Fraud Scheme

Read here: https://www.occrp.org/en/news/spanish-authorities-bust-eur13m-fraud-scheme

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U.S. Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against Aircraft Used by Nicolás Maduro Moros in Violation of U.S. Sanctions and Export Control Laws

Read here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-files-civil-forfeiture-complaint-against-aircraft-used-nicolas-maduro-moros-violation-us

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Salameh Affair: A major Geneva bank ignores all the money-laundering red flags

Read here: https://www.publiceye.ch/en/topics/corruption/banks-property-and-lawyer-the-riad-salameh-affair-and-its-swiss-connections/salameh-affair-what-happens-when-a-major-geneva-bank-ignores-all-the-money-laundering-red-flags

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What’s in their (digital) wallets? The scammers loading up phones with stolen cards

Read here: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/mar/17/whats-in-their-digital-wallets-the-scammers-loading-up-phones-with-stolen-cards

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Footage shows UN judge claimed ‘immunity’ before being convicted of forcing woman to work as slave

Read here: https://news.sky.com/story/lydia-mugambe-footage-shows-un-judge-claimed-immunity-before-being-convicted-of-forcing-woman-to-work-as-slave-13327897

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Documents Unearthed After Assad’s Fall Show Syrian Spy Agency Reacting to Israel’s Pager Attack on Hezbollah

Read here: https://www.occrp.org/en/feature/documents-unearthed-after-assads-fall-show-syrian-spy-agency-reacting-to-israels-pager-attack-on-hezbollah

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Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorises charges against NCA officer

Read here: https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/cps-authorises-charges-against-nca-officer

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Bulgaria: EPPO charges entrepreneur with subsidy fraud involving heating systems

Read here: https://www.eppo.europa.eu/en/media/news/bulgaria-eppo-charges-entrepreneur-subsidy-fraud-involving-heating-systems

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Cryptocurrency Founder And CEO Convicted Of Wire Fraud And Money Laundering In Connection With Marketing And Sale Of AML Bitcoin

Read here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/cryptocurrency-founder-and-ceo-convicted-wire-fraud-and-money-laundering-connection

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Will Arrest of Guatemala’s Most Wanted Fugitive Rattle Drug Underworld?

Read here: https://insightcrime.org/news/will-arrest-guatemala-most-wanted-fugitive-rattle-drug-underworld/

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Romania: EPPO conducts searches in investigation into €850,000 fraud involving irrigation systems

Read here: https://www.eppo.europa.eu/en/media/news/romania-eppo-conducts-searches-investigation-eu850-000-fraud-involving-irrigation

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The End of Londongrad? Ownership transparency and Offshore Investment in Real Estate

Read here: https://www.taxobservatory.eu/publication/the-end-of-londongrad-ownership-transparency-and-offshore-investment-in-real-estate/  

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California Man Sentenced for Using Bitcoin To Launder Dark Web MDMA Profits

Read here: https://decrypt.co/309986/california-man-sentenced-for-using-bitcoin-to-launder-dark-web-mdma-profits

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From Rumors to Ugly Reality: Georgians Stunned by Scam Call Center’s Cruelty

Read here: https://www.occrp.org/en/project/scam-empire/from-rumors-to-ugly-reality-georgians-stunned-by-scam-call-centers-cruelty

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Georgia Freezes Assets of Top Scammers in Massive Call Center Fraud

Read here: https://www.occrp.org/en/news/georgia-freezes-assets-of-top-scammers-in-massive-call-center-fraud

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SARs Reporter Booklet: March 2025

Read here: https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/who-we-are/publications/742-sars-reporter-booklet-march-2025/file

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Slowing Migrant Flows in Colombia Dry Up Smuggling Profits

Read here: https://insightcrime.org/news/slowing-migrant-flows-colombia-dry-up-smuggling-profits/

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Large cocaine bust in Ecuador: 36 arrested after 73 tonnes of drugs seized

Read here: https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/large-cocaine-bust-in-ecuador-36-arrested-after-73-tonnes-of-drugs-seized

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Former Venezuelan Spy Chief Argues He Has ‘Immunity’ From U.S. Drug Charges

Read here: https://www.occrp.org/en/news/former-venezuelan-spy-chief-argues-he-has-immunity-from-us-drug-charges

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3 Key Findings on Synthetic Drugs in Latin America and the Caribbean From the INCB

Read here: https://insightcrime.org/news/3-key-findings-synthetic-drugs-latin-america-caribbean-from-the-incb/

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France to auction superyacht seized in money-laundering case

Read here: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250325-france-to-auction-superyacht-seized-in-money-laundering-case

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UK Art Businesses Fined for Money Laundering Compliance Failures

Read here: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/uk-art-businesses-fined-money-laundering-compliance-aml-1234736548/

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Brazil’s ‘Anti-Oruam’ Bill Won’t Stop Crime Crooners

Read here: https://insightcrime.org/news/brazil-anti-crime-bill-red-command-falls-short/

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UK Begins Enforcing Law Against Online Scams, Child Sex Abuse

Read here: https://www.occrp.org/en/news/uk-begins-enforcing-law-against-online-scams-child-sex-abuse

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Penalty issued against subsidiary of major law (Herbert Smith Freehills CIS LLP) firm for breaches of sanctions linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Read here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/penalty-issued-against-subsidiary-of-major-law-firm-for-breaches-of-sanctions-linked-to-russias-invasion-of-ukraine Link to penalty notice: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67dae19a1a60f79643028472/200325_HSF_PENALTY_NOTICE.pdf

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How to stop the UK being abused as a global cash laundromat?

Read here: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/783/business-and-trade-subcommittee-on-economic-security-arms-and-export-controls/news/205877/how-to-stop-the-uk-being-abused-as-a-global-cash-laundromat/

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Loopholes in EU legislation fuel a free-for-all to trade Latin America’s wildlife

Read here: https://www.ifaw.org/international/press-releases/loopholes-eu-legislation-wildlife-trade-latin-america

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FCA launches 5-year strategy to support growth, improve lives and fighting financial crime

Read here: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-launches-5-year-strategy-support-growth-and-improve-lives

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Australia publishes guidance on Tipping Off reforms

Read here: https://www.austrac.gov.au/about-us/amlctf-reform/tipping-reforms

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Officials investigate bribery and corruption after 59 dead in North Macedonian nightclub fire

Read here: https://www.itv.com/news/2025-03-16/at-least-51-dead-and-dozens-injured-in-north-macedonian-nightclub-fire

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2025 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report

Read here: https://www.state.gov/2025-international-narcotics-control-strategy-report

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CFTC and FINRA Issue Investor Bulletin: 10 Things to Ask Before Buying Physical Gold, Silver or Other Metals

Read here: https://www.finra.org/investors/insights/buying-physical-gold-or-other-metals

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Southeast Asia’s ‘Scamdemic’ Is a Wake Up Call for the Region

Read here: https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/southeast-asias-scamdemic-is-a-wake-up-call-for-the-region/

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