On December 7, 2022, the Legislative Council of Hong Kong passed an amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO) that introduces a licensing regime for virtual asset service providers (VASPs). According to the Secretary for Financial Services […]
Without a doubt, the biggest story of 2022 centered around Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As a result, record global sanctions made headlines, with the UN becoming sidelined as a major sanctions power. Away from the war, we saw a number […]
On December 7, 2022, the US Senate voted not to include the Establishing New Authorities for Businesses Laundering and Enabling Risks to Security (ENABLERS) Act in the 2023 defense budget. Initially introduced by a group of bipartisan lawmakers following the […]
On December 14, 2022, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) published the country’s inaugural national proliferation financing risk assessment. Aimed at strengthening national and global efforts to combat this criminal activity, the risk assessment combines knowledge from multiple […]
Eva Kaili, one of the European Parliament’s 14 vice presidents, was among five arrested on bribery and corruption allegations during a probe by Belgian authorities. Investigations have uncovered a web including Kaili’s partner, former politicians, and NGO decision-makers. Nineteen or […]
On December 7, 2022, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) commenced civil penalty proceedings against major Australian casino operator SkyCity Adelaide for alleged “serious and systemic non-compliance” with Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) regulations. Its enforcement […]
On December 5, 2022, Europol announced the arrest of 2,469 money mules in its eighth edition of the European Money Mule Action (EMMA8). Supported by Eurojust, INTERPOL, and the European Banking Federation (EBF), the latest operational phase began in September […]
On November 30, 2022, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) issued its inaugural report on money laundering from fentanyl and synthetic opioids. Co-led by the US and Canada, the report includes recommendations for prosecutors and law enforcement authorities on countering […]
On November 28, 2022, Europol reported that a “super cartel” of drugs traffickers controlling around one third of Europe’s cocaine trade had been busted in a series of coordinated raids. Codenamed Operation Desert Light, 49 suspects were arrested, including six […]
On November 21, 2022, Delaware drug trafficker, Omar Morales Colon, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and multiple other drug and money laundering offenses. Described by the court as […]
INTERPOL’s latest police operation to tackle online fraud has seen 975 arrests and the seizure of virtual assets worth almost $130 million. Codenamed Operation HAECHI-III, the 5-month-long joint task force targeted a specific range of cyber-enabled financial crimes, including voice […]
The Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes at the US Treasury, Elizabeth Rosenberg, has addressed the need for additional regulatory clarity and more public-private engagement between the government and the virtual assets industry. Rosenberg’s remarks follow the end […]
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