How Kazem Hamad Seized Control of Australia’s Black Market for Cigarettes
Crime boss Kazem Hamad has taken a major financial stake in the Manchester tobacco company in Dubai, cementing his cartel’s control over Australia’s illicit cigarette market from manufacturing and smuggling through to retail sales in suburban shops.
Two Associates of Ex-EU Commissioner Charged as Dirty-Money Probe Grows
Belgian prosecutors have charged two people close to former European Commissioner Didier Reynders as part of a money-laundering investigation that until now had focused on Reynders alone.
French Police Raid Arab World Institute in Tax Fraud Case Tied to Epstein
Police raided the Arab World Institute in Paris on Monday as prosecutors widened an investigation into former French culture minister Jack Lang and his daughter, Caroline, over suspected financial links to Jeffrey Epstein.
Ukraine’s Ex-Energy Minister Charged with Money Laundering after Flee Attempt
Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities on Monday accused former energy minister German Galushchenko of laundering millions of dollars in kickbacks in a high-profile corruption case that has shaken the wartime government.
Kuwait and Papua New Guinea Make FATF’s ‘Grey List’
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) added Kuwait and Papua New Guinea to its “grey list” of countries under closer monitoring, saying both have pledged to fix weaknesses in their safeguards against illicit money flows.
Louis Vuitton Pays €500,000 for AML Failings
Louis Vuitton’s Netherlands unit has agreed to pay a €500,000 settlement after Dutch authorities concluded the company failed to adequately vet customers who repeatedly made large cash purchases over a prolonged period.
Crypto’s Rising Role in Forced Labor, Sex Trafficking, and CSAM
Cryptocurrency flows to suspected human trafficking services surged 85% in 2025, reaching hundreds of millions of dollars across identified services.
Deutsche Bank’s Relationship with Epstein Ended Only After His Final Arrest
Deutsche Bank continued providing services to Jeffrey Epstein for months after telling the disgraced financier it would end its relationship with him in late 2018 and only moved to terminate all of his accounts following his final arrest in July 2019.
Paxful to Pay $4 Million for Helping Sex Traffickers and Money Launderers
Paxful Holdings Inc., a peer-to-peer virtual currency trading platform, was sentenced on Tuesday to pay a $4-million criminal penalty after pleading guilty to conspiracies tied to illegal prostitution, anti-money-laundering failures and transmitting criminal proceeds.
Council of Europe Ends Immunity for Former Leader Ahead of Epstein Probe
The Council of Europe has agreed to remove the diplomatic immunity granted to Thorbjoern Jagland, clearing the way for Norwegian police to investigate the former secretary general’s newly uncovered relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.