DOJ Quietly Drops Claim Maduro-Led ‘Terrorist’ Group Exists
Amid all of the spectacle that has come with the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, federal prosecutors have quietly amended a key claim they leveled against the South American leader last year. They no longer assert that the drug-trafficking organization he allegedly led—“Cartel de los Soles”—really exists.
Botswana Weighs ‘Golden Passport’ Program as Diamond Sales Fall
Botswana is weighing a “golden passport” program that would grant citizenship to foreigners making a one-off investment of up to about $100,000, as the country searches for fresh revenue streams.
Japan’s ‘Dementia Money’ Becomes Increasing Target of Elder Fraud
Japan’s rapidly aging population is creating a sprawling new target for financial abuse, with older people experiencing cognitive decline controlling assets worth almost half the country’s GDP.
Iran Offers to Sell Weapons for Crypto
Iran is offering to sell ballistic missiles, drones, warships, and other advanced weapons systems to foreign governments in exchange for payment in cryptocurrency, the Financial Times reported.
UK Law Firms Brace for Tougher AML Regime Under FCA Oversight
UK law firms are preparing for more stringent oversight of their anti-money laundering (AML) programs after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) was designated as the compliance supervisor for the legal sector, The Guardian reported.
OFAC Issues New Sanctions Aimed at Venezuela’s Oil Sector
The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday imposed new sanctions on four companies it said were operating in Venezuela’s oil sector, along with associated oil tankers.
How the Trump Administration Upended White-Collar Prosecutions in 2025
Donald Trump’s return to the presidency has marked a stark shift in white-collar crime enforcement, with federal prosecutors and investigators stepping back from complex foreign-bribery, money-laundering, and corruption cases, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Nigeria’s Ex-Justice Minister Malami Faces 16 Counts of Money Laundering
Abubakar Malami, Nigeria’s former attorney general and minister of justice, has been charged with 16 counts of money laundering and conspiracy involving billions of naira, Reuters reported.
Malaysia’s Ex-Leader Razak Sentenced to 15 Years in Sprawling 1MDB Case
Malaysia’s High Court sentenced ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak to 15 years in prison after convicting him on 25 charges of money laundering and abuse of power linked to the looting of the 1MDB sovereign-wealth fund, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The “Com”: The Growing Cybercrime Network that Recruits Minors
A loose ecosystem of young cybercriminals known as “the Com” is increasingly being linked to a widening range of online and real-world offenses, from ransomware-style corporate attacks to the hacking of Pornhub users’ data, according to The Guardian.