EU May Ban Crypto Payments Tied to Russia, Restrict Exports for Kyrgyzstan
The European Commission has proposed a blanket ban on cryptocurrency transactions linked to Russia and new trade restrictions on Kyrgyzstan in an effort to close loopholes used by Moscow to fund its war in Ukraine.
HSBC and Barclays Face $12bn Lawsuit Linked to Epstein and Jersey Trust
HSBC and Barclays are facing a $12-billion civil lawsuit involving a now-defunct Jersey trust that has been linked in proposed U.S. legislation to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, The Times reported.
U.S. Targets Hezbollah Ties to Gold Exchange and Financiers
The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on a Lebanon-based gold exchange company and a network of individuals behind a procurement and commodities shipping scheme purportedly tied to Hezbollah.
OFAC Lets U.S. Firms Supply Equipment and Tech for Venezuela Oil
The Trump administration on Tuesday authorized U.S. companies to supply Venezuela with equipment, technology, and other support for oil and gas production, issuing a new general license that expands what American firms can do in the country’s energy sector.
MONEYVAL Outlines Challenges in Curtailing Criminal Misuse of Crypto
The Council of Europe’s anti-money-laundering body on Tuesday published a new report on how criminals exploit crypto-assets to launder illicit proceeds, fund terrorism, and evade sanctions.
Stalled Corruption Case Ties El Salvador’s Leader to Suspect PDVSA Payments
El Salvador’s top prosecutor has effectively halted a money-laundering investigation into a Venezuela-financed oil venture whose funds flowed into bank accounts linked to President Nayib Bukele.
How AI is Helping Southeast Asian Crime Groups Fleece More Victims
Criminal syndicates operating scam centers in Southeast Asia are adopting inexpensive artificial-intelligence tools to widen their reach and keep operations running even as governments intensify crackdowns, senior Interpol officials told Bloomberg.
Two Wall Street Firms Continued to Work with Russian Oligarch Despite Sanctions
Two Wall Street firms continued to manage a trust held on behalf of Suleiman Kerimov even after the Russian oligarch was blacklisted under U.S. sanctions in 2018, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.
Colombia’s Top Prosecutor is Planning to Prosecute Ecopetrol President
Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office said Monday it will file corruption charges against Ecopetrol President Ricardo Roa, alleging misconduct tied to his role as finance manager for President Gustavo Petro’s 2022 campaign and to contracting decisions at the state-run oil company, the Associated Press said.
Bill Would Take on Criminals Seeking to Circumvent AML Laws
Two U.S. senators reintroduced a bipartisan bill that would subject informal-value transfers and blank checks to anti-financial crime laws and strengthen the hand of prosecutors pursuing money-laundering charges.