U.S. Formally Seeks Dismissal of Halkbank Sanctions Case
The U.S. Department of Justice formally asked a federal judge Wednesday to dismiss its criminal case against Halkbank, telling the court it has no intention of prosecuting the Turkish state-run lender.
Crime Groups Now Have Hands on Every Part of Global Gold Supply Chain
Criminal syndicates have embedded themselves so deeply in the global gold supply chain that the regulatory frameworks designed to contain them are fundamentally inadequate, according to a new report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC).
The Pentagon Gave a $620-Million Loan to Startup Linked to Donald Trump Jr.
A senior White House adviser personally directed the Pentagon to extend a $620 million loan to Vulcan Elements, a North Carolina rare-earth magnet startup partly owned by a venture firm tied to Donald Trump Jr.
Rubio Invokes New Cuba Sanctions Program for First Time
The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on a Cuban military-controlled conglomerate, one of its top executives, and a Cuban nickel-mining joint venture, in the first round of designations under a new executive order targeting the island-nation.
Trump Clears Way for Secondary Sanctions on Banks Dealing with Cuba
President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order authorizing penalties against foreign banks and other companies anywhere in the world that do business with the Cuban government.
U.S. Mint Bought Gold Mined by Blacklisted Drug Cartel
The United States Mint has for years purchased gold originating from illegal mines controlled by a Colombian drug cartel, violating a federal law requiring that its coins be made from newly mined American gold.
Congo to Restrict USD Transactions in Bid to Leave FATF Gray List
The Democratic Republic of Congo will begin restricting cash transactions in U.S. dollars from next April in an effort to curb money laundering, strengthen oversight of the financial system, and rebuild confidence in the Congolese franc.
ENRC Wants $168mn for Mishandled SFO Probe That Spanned a Decade
Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation is seeking more than $168 million in compensation from the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO), law firm Dechert, and former Dechert partner Neil Gerrard over losses it says arose from a decade-long criminal investigation.
OFAC Blacklists Nicaraguan Officials and Gold-Sector Companies
The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday imposed sanctions on Nicaraguan government officials, firms operating in Nicaragua’s gold sector, and individuals tied to the forcible seizure of a U.S.-owned mining asset.
Trump Administration Levies ‘Economic Fury’ Sanctions on Iran
The U.S. Treasury imposed a fresh round of Iran-related sanctions on Wednesday, targeting what it described as the illicit oil-shipping empire of Iranian magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani and a Hezbollah-linked oil-for-gold laundering network tied to Venezuela.