Financial Crime Weekly Podcast

Welcome to episode 226 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we cover a significant international enforcement push by INTERPOL, while the US Treasury targets a CJNG−linked timeshare fraud network. We also look at US sanctions imposed on Sudanese RSF commanders and MONEYVAL's praise for Latvia's significant AML/CFT progress. In legal developments, we cover the conviction of a Chinese national in a gift-card laundering scheme, and the Upper Tribunal's decision to uphold FCA penalties against company directors. Finally, we examine ESMA's new consultation to streamline market abuse disclosure rules. A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 225 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we look at the outcomes of the FATF Plenary, the UK government's call for evidence on sanctions ownership and control rules, and the FCA issuing a fine to the former Carillion CEO. In the US, the Treasury has launched a new confidential whistleblower portal, and FinCEN has warned of the rise of relationship-investment scams. Finally, we examine the World Economic Forum's analysis of strengthening financial crime defences in the Gulf States, and a major UK government study concerning cyber attacks.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 224 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US Treasury has sanctioned a Hizballah-linked gold and shipping network operating across the Middle East and Russia, alongside a $1.72 million OFAC fine against IMG Academy for tuition-related violations of Mexican counternarcotics sanctions. In the UK, the FCA's first-ever enforcement action against a global crypto exchange, HTX, for illegal UK promotions, while Transparency International warns that the UK's new Representation of the People Bill still allows "mega-donors" to exert outsized political influence. We also look at the UK SFO's conclusion that legacy e-discovery technical issues have not compromised past convictions, and the UK leads a 2,500-person multinational cyber-defence exercise in Singapore. Finally, we look at the alarming weaponisation of AI in cyber-espionage, highlighting a sophisticated campaign by state-sponsored hackers which marks an historic shift toward machine-speed autonomous attacks.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 223 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the major story is the stark warning from Transparency International's 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, which highlights a global decline in public sector integrity and significant backsliding in established democracies like the UK and US. In sanctions enforcement, the US has designated a network of 14 "shadow fleet" vessels and multiple entities involved in trading Iranian oil, while the EU prepares its 20th sanctions package. We also examine the UK's launch of a world-first framework to identify gaps in deepfake detection, alongside a warning from Google that state-sponsored hackers are increasingly targeting individual defence-sector employees via personalised phishing. Finally, we cover the federal indictment of a US Department of Defense employee for allegedly laundering millions for an overseas fraud network, the FCA's latest fines for insider dealing, and the launch of OFAC's new online portal to streamline voluntary self-disclosures.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 222 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we lead with a light flurry of UK sanctions activity, including the designation of six individuals under the Sudan regime and an update to general licensing following the merger of Bank FC Otkritie, while a new analysis explores how cryptocurrency is being leveraged to sustain Russia's war economy. In fraud developments, we cover a nationwide US marriage-fraud and bribery indictment and in the UK a warning regarding AI voice cloning used to hijack direct debits. We also examine a Home Office evaluation of the National Fraud Squad, and a MONEYVAL assessment of Serbia. Finally, the CCRC has referred five City-trader convictions back to the Court of Appeal, and a significant shift in US policy toward lighter-touch financial regulation and expanded leniency for cooperative corporations.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 221 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we lead with a coordinated international push against Iranian repression, while in the US the Treasury has opened a path for established firms to resume Venezuelan oil exports. In the UK, the Upper Tribunal has upheld FCA findings of a lack of integrity against Rangecourt SA and its former executives, and the FCA has also warned that modernising the UK's payment landscape must include enhanced protections and reimbursement schemes for victims of authorised push payment APP scams. Finally, we cover the federal conviction of an Ohio fraud and bribery conspiracy and a multi-year effort by the US and Indonesia to strengthen asset recovery.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 220 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we lead with a major escalation in international sanctions, as the EU targets 15 individuals and six entities in Iran for human rights abuses and military support for Russia, while the UK's OFSI announces a sweeping overhaul of its enforcement framework. In the fraud and money laundering sectors, the National Audit Office has criticised the Ministry of Defence for recovering just 48p for every £1 spent on counter-fraud efforts, and HMRC has published a list of hundreds of businesses fined for anti-money laundering breaches. Finally, we cover significant legal milestones in the U.S., including the first-ever $1m anti trust whistle-blower reward involving a car auction bid−rigging scheme and the federal seizure of over $400 million linked to the Helix darknet crypto mixer.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 219 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we lead with the UK government's proposal to establish a new National Police Service, dubbed a "British FBI." In sanctions news, the US Treasury has designated nine vessels linked to Iran's "shadow fleet," OFSI has fined Bank of Scotland for Russia-related breaches, and a UN expert has urged the US to lift sanctions against International Criminal Court officials. We also consider significant enforcement action, including an 18-year sentence for a fraud courier, a 46-month sentence of a Chinese national for money laundering, and bribery charges unsealed against a former NATO procurement official. Furthermore, we look at a £5.6 million confiscation order against a professional launderer tied to a massive Bitcoin fraud and a landmark report warning that fraud may soon constitute half of all crime in England and Wales. Finally, we cover the EU's progress on a new Anti-Corruption Directive and the FCA's warning to consumers regarding the risks of high-risk securities under the new public offers regime.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 218 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we look at decisive action from the US Treasury targeting a hidden Hamas support network using nonprofit fronts and a major Costa Rica-based cocaine trafficking and money laundering operation. In the UK, the City of London Police launched the "Report Fraud" service, and the SFO has charged two former executives following the collapse of the prepaid funeral provider. We also look at significant global compliance shifts, including a former TD Bank employee's guilty plea in a $26 million laundering scheme and MONEYVAL reports highlighting strengthened AML frameworks in Azerbaijan and Estonia. Finally, we look at the IMF's new governance diagnostic for Nepal and the transition to the UK Sanctions List as the sole authoritative source for domestic designations. A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 217 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we lead with the US Treasury sanctioning 21 entities and individuals involved in Houthi oil smuggling and weapons procurement, while the EU marks a historic structural shift as the European Banking Authority transfers all AML/CFT mandates to the new AMLA. We examine the SFO's conviction of three directors in a £70 million "ethical forestry" fraud and the FCA's £309,843 fine against a consultant for repeated insider dealing. Furthermore, we discuss South Africa's legislative push to close FATF gaps via its updated 2025 Amendment Bill, and a stern warning from a UK Treasury Select Committee that regulators are moving too slowly to address the systemic risks posed by the rapid integration of AI. Finally, we consider the industrialisation of cybercrime, the NCSC's warning regarding escalating pro-Russian DDoS attacks on UK infrastructure, and new research into how youth cybercrime often begins with everyday online risk-taking.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 216 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we lead with significant sanctions updates as the UK and EU lower the oil price cap on Russian crude to $44.10 per barrel, and the US Treasury targets Iranian shadow-banking networks and security officials linked to illicit financing. We also analyse major domestic and international enforcement, including the UK SFO's £300 million bribery and fraud probe into Home REIT, Spain's record €30 million AML penalty against CaixaBank, and the sentencing of a Massachusetts man to 15 years for international money laundering. Furthermore, we look at Transparency International's warning regarding the erosion of US anti-corruption leadership and the EU's decision to remove South Africa from its list of high-risk jurisdictions. Finally, we cover MONEYVAL's latest progress reports on a number of nations and a new transnational coalition of financial intelligence units meeting in Washington to disrupt global organised crime.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 215 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we lead with significant global sanctions updates, including a multilateral warning regarding North Korean cyber-enabled sanctions evasion and the US designation of several Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist organisations. We also look at major legal developments, such as the five-year money laundering sentence handed to Georgia's former Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili, and a landmark UK High Court ruling affirming the continued enforceability of the Guralp Systems DPA. Furthermore, we consider federal charges against a former New York City official for bribery and PPP fraud, as well as the US government's civil forfeiture action against cryptocurrency tied to a "pig-butchering" scam. Finally, we cover MONEYVAL's assessment of Poland's crypto-asset safeguards, a significant guilty plea in a multimillion-dollar insider trading scheme, and the FCA's successful confiscation order against the fraudster behind the collapsed platform Collateral (UK) Ltd.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 214 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we cover significant federal movements in the US, including the White House's launch of a new DOJ division for national fraud enforcement and a former TD Bank employee pleading guilty to a $2 million money laundering scheme. In the UK, the SFO has repatriated £400,000 to fraud victims, the FCA has fined former Carillion directors for misleading market announcements, and an ex-Jefferies banker has denied insider dealing charges. We also consider GRECO's warning to Belgium regarding stalled anti-corruption reforms and the arrest of 34 suspected "Black Axe" members in Spain for large-scale fraud and human trafficking. Finally, we look at the ICO's new memorandum of understanding with the UK government, and the latest Russia-related sanctions adjustments by OFAC. A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 213 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I'm Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the dramatic escalation in global sanctions enforcement, including the US targeting four entities linked to Venezuela's oil sector and a high-stakes naval engagement over a sanctioned tanker in the North Atlantic. We also analyse the UKFIU's 2024-25 annual report, while in the US, FinCEN has officially delayed its AML compliance deadline for investment advisers to 2028. Furthermore, we examine Nigeria's bold anti-corruption showcase at the UNCAC COSP11 conference and the UK's newly launched £210 million Cyber Action Plan aimed at hardening public-sector defences against evolving digital threats.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

This Financial Crime Weekly Special Episode examines the seismic regulatory and enforcement shifts that reshaped the crypto landscape in 2025. From the EU's “Fortress Europe” under MiCA and the UK's aggressive Financial Promotions regime, to U.S. legislative clarity on stablecoins and digital commodities, the episode highlights how the era of regulatory liminality has ended. With case studies ranging from prosecutions tied to human trafficking and elder abuse to the technical blind spots of chain‑hopping and DeFi “mathematical mixers,” the discussion captures both the moral and operational stakes. Looking ahead, it explores how automation and AI‑driven compliance will define survival in 2026.

This Financial Crime Weekly Special Episode looks ahead to 2026, a year defined by localisation and divergence in global financial crime regulation. From the EU's AMLA rollout and the US Corporate Transparency Act compliance cliff, to the UK's aggressive enforcement of the new “Failure to Prevent Fraud” offence, the episode explores how jurisdictions are reshaping rules to meet domestic priorities. With insights into sanctions reform, fraud liability shifts, capital markets changes, and the operational resilience demands of DORA, the UK's Critical Third Parties regime, and the EU AI Act, this horizon scan highlights the strategic risks and compliance imperatives that will shape the year ahead.

In this Financial Crime Weekly Review episode, we take stock of the key developments which shaped 2025 across enforcement, regulation, and corporate accountability. From landmark legislative changes and headline cases to evolving trends in cryptoassets, ESG‑related financial crime, and sanctions, the episode distills a year of complex activity into clear insights. With a focus on practical impact and strategic foresight, it offers listeners a concise yet comprehensive overview of the themes that will define compliance and risk management moving into 2026.

This special edition of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast unpacks the landmark “Failure to Prevent Fraud” offence introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Effective from 1 September 2025, the law reshapes corporate accountability by imposing strict liability on large organisations when associated parties commit fraud intended to benefit them. The episode explores why the reform was needed, the elements of the offence, its jurisdictional reach, penalties, and the statutory defence of “reasonable prevention procedures.” With practical insights into compliance expectations and cultural change, it's an essential listen for anyone navigating the new era of corporate fraud prevention.

Welcome to episode 212 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast with Chris Kirkbride. This week, we cover key global sanctions, including U.S. penalties for Iran violations and actions against fuel theft cartels and terrorist groups. In the UK, new Russia and Syria sanctions are announced, with Roman Abramovich given a final deadline over Chelsea sale funds. On fraud and money laundering, the response to the Tricolor Auto Group collapse, Bendigo Bank faces regulatory action, and Axiom's David Kennedy receives a confiscation order. Integrity issues include insider trading convictions and the OECD urging Colombia to reform its foreign bribery laws.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello and welcome to episode 211 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US seizes a crude oil tanker linked to an oil shipping network supporting Hizballah and Iran's IRGC-Qods Force, while the EU Council sanctioned nine shadow fleet enablers and twelve individuals and two entities involved in hybrid threats, cyberattacks, and foreign information manipulation against Ukraine and NATO allies. We also reflect on geopolitical shifts, as the US Treasury lifted Global Magnitsky sanctions against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes following political negotiations, and the UK designated four Sudanese RSF commanders for grave humanitarian law violations in Darfur. On other financial crime threats, the conviction of three City fund managers in a £11.4 million fraud targeting Libya's sovereign wealth fund, the FATF flagging serious effectiveness weaknesses in Belgium's fight against money laundering, and the US Treasury warning consumers about a surge in AI-enabled cyber scams during the holiday season. Finally, we look at regulatory action, as the UK's FCA launched a consultation to bring a market abuse regime and disclosure requirements to cryptoassets, and the ICO fined LastPass £1.2 million for a 2022 data breach impacting 1.6 million UK users.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello and welcome to episode 210 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions, the UK has sanctioned two China-based technology companies for conducting reckless cyberattacks, while the US Treasury imposed sanctions on shipping firms and insiders linked to the Maduro regime. We also cover critical anti-money laundering failures, highlighted by the FCA fining Nationwide Building Society £44.1m for pervasive weaknesses in its anti-financial crime controls between 2016 and 2021, and the FATF finding Malaysia weak on converting money laundering investigations into prosecutions. Furthermore, there are warnings from the UNODC that organised crime is heavily exploiting the mining sector across Latin America and the Caribbean, and look ahead to the global anti-corruption push at the UN's COSP11 conference.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello and welcome to episode 209 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the UK has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia's GRU following the conclusion of the Salisbury poisoning inquiry, and implements dual sanctions targeting both malicious cyber actors and entities destabilising Ukraine. Australia has launched a world-first autonomous sanctions framework against key Taliban leaders, while the US Treasury sanctioned a transnational network primarily composed of Colombian nationals for recruiting fighters for Sudan's Rapid Support Forces. On corruption, in the UK, the government unveiled its comprehensive Anti-Corruption Strategy 2025, and world anti-corruption day has been marked by a range of global agencies. Fraud concerns were highlighted by the US recovering nearly $1.7 million in cryptocurrency stolen through a sophisticated investment scam, and a UK report reveals that taxpayers lost £10.9 billion to Covid support scheme fraud and error. Finally, regulatory enforcement targeted the financial sector, as FinCEN imposed a $3.5 million penalty on Paxful for wilfully violating the Bank Secrecy Act.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello and welcome to episode 208 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we begin with significant global enforcement actions, including the landmark agreement by the EU to phase out Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, and the UK's expansion of sanctions with 12 new designations targeting individuals and entities under its Cyber and Russia regimes, alongside new counter-terrorism designations. In the US, the Treasury's OFAC imposed a substantial $7.1m penalty on Gracetown Inc for violating Russia-related sanctions involving an entity owned by sanctioned oligarch Oleg Deripaska, and sanctioned a Venezuelan entertainer and associates for supporting the terrorist cartel Tren de Aragua. We also look at major crime fighting successes, such as Europol and Eurojust dismantling a massive cryptocurrency fraud network responsible for laundering over €700 million, and the EU formally designating Russia as a high-risk jurisdiction for money laundering and terrorist financing. Finally, on domestic issues, the UK Gambling Commission fining Done Brothers £825,000 for serious anti-money laundering and social responsibility failings, and the launch of the new Report Fraud service by the City of London Police to replace Action Fraud.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello and welcome to episode 207 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. This episode covers a range of critical global financial crime developments, beginning with sanctions, where the UK government published statutory guidance detailing when trade licences under Russia sanctions may be granted, such as for humanitarian assistance or critical energy supply, while the US Treasury settled an $11.5 million sanctions case with IPI Partners for maintaining investments with sanctioned Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov. We also cover significant fraud and money laundering cases, including the European Public Prosecutor's Office uncovering a €40 million EU subsidy fraud scheme in Italy involving fictitious training courses, and the UK's Serious Fraud Office securing a conviction against the director of AOG Technics for selling aircraft engine parts with forged documentation. Additionally, we analyse integrity reforms, as the Council of Europe's GRECO confirmed the UK has made substantial progress in anti-corruption reforms within government and law enforcement, but still needs fully to implement sanctions for post-employment breaches and enhance lobbying transparency. We conclude with cybercrime, highlighting the NCSC's launch of its free Cyber Action Toolkit to help small businesses combat rising threats.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello and welcome to episode 206 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. This episode examines global financial crime, starting with sanctions evasion challenges: a report highlights 113 Russian 'shadow' vessels moving €4.7 billion in oil using false flags, then to a UK OFSI General Licence for Lukoil International Entities, while the EU considers using frozen Russian sovereign assets for Ukraine. UK enforcement updates include the FCA charging a former banker and associate in a £70,000 insider dealing case and arresting another for suspected market manipulation. HMRC also announced higher Economic Crime Levy rates from April 2026. Finally, we cover global efforts: the Council of Europe launched an anti-corruption/money laundering initiative, and INTERPOL adopted a Strategic Framework targeting transnational scam centres, though Transparency International warns UK Overseas Territories are lagging on corporate transparency reforms.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello and welcome to episode 205 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. This episode covers significant global enforcement actions, including the UK updating its Cyber Sanctions List to subject Russian national Andrei Valerevich Kozlov to an asset freeze for involvement in the cybercrime ecosystem, and the US Treasury's OFAC levying a statutory maximum $4.7 million penalty against a real estate investor for illegally dealing in property owned by a sanctioned Russian individual. We look at AML and governance failings, noting the £650,000 fine imposed on Videoslots Limited by the UK Gambling Commission for serious anti-money laundering and safer gambling deficiencies, while an IMF report highlights persistent governance weaknesses and widespread corruption vulnerabilities in Pakistan. Finally, we turn to broader crime fighting, covering the Chartered Trading Standards Institute's urgent call for funding to combat organised crime operating from "front" shops on UK high streets, and analysing Security Minister Dan Jarvis's warning about escalating cyber threats and the need for proactive societal resilience.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello and welcome to episode 204 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. This episode covers major global enforcement actions, including how the UK's NCA exposed a billion-dollar Russian money laundering network linked to a Kyrgyz bank purchase for the war effort. Concurrently, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Iran's shadow fleet financing its military and proxies, while Europol coordinated against sophisticated Russian sanctions evasion. Domestically, the UK's PSR highlighted the success of CoP and the mandatory APP reimbursement policy. The SFO also launched its first major crypto fraud probe into the $28 million Basis Markets collapse. Finally, we look at transnational crime fighting, including a Europol operation which dismantled a Balkan art trafficking network, seizing over 3,000 antiquities valued at more than €100 million.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello and welcome to episode 203 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. This episode covers major enforcement actions and global regulatory updates. Key topics include significant fraud cases, such as a former Qualcomm executive sentenced to four years for a $180m fraud and money laundering scheme, and a Miami influencer's conviction for fraudulently obtaining over $600,000 in COVID relief loans. We examine UK integrity challenges, with GRECO criticising the government over sanctions for post-employment rule breaches and lack of transparency regarding lobbyists' contact with special advisers, alongside the JMLSG's AML guidance consultation. Global market abuse is in focus, with charges against eight foreign nationals in a multi-million-dollar global insider trading network. Finally, we analyse devastating cybercrime events: Jaguar Land Rover's reported £485 million loss following a major cyber-attack which halted production, Europol tracing €47 million in crypto to disrupt digital piracy, and allegations of Chinese state-sponsored hackers using Anthropic's AI chatbot for cyber espionage.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello and welcome to episode 202 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. This episode covers significant sanctions news including the US Treasury targeting the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army for operating cyber scam centres in Burma, and the sanctioning of a global network supporting Iran's missile and UAV programmes across Iran, China, the UAE, and several other countries. The episode also covers transnational crime fighting efforts, such as FinCEN's proposed rule identifying Mexico-based gambling establishments as a primary concern due to their ties to Sinaloa Cartel money laundering, and the UK's alert exposing how global shadow fleets enable sanctions evasion. Additionally, the episode addresses major cyber developments, including Europol's Operation Endgame which dismantled significant cybercrime infrastructure, and the UK's announcement of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill aimed at protecting critical services and regulating managed service providers.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello and welcome to episode 201 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. This episode covers key sanctions updates, including the UN Security Council's Resolution 2799 (2025) delisting Syrian officials and the US suspending some Caesar Act sanctions to aid Syria's recovery, as well as the UN General Assembly criticising US sanctions on ICC officials. Enforcement highlights feature fraud charges against six ex-Glencore executives, the UK's National Crime Agency recovering over £20 million in assets via an Unexplained Wealth Order, and sentencing in a record-setting £5 billion Bitcoin seizure. Also discussed are federal charges against MLB pitchers for betting and money laundering, Europol's takedown of phishing-as-a-service networks like LabHost, and FCA alerts about clone scams targeting Northern Trust firms.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello and welcome to episode 200 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. This episode summarises significant global enforcement actions and regulatory updates. Highlights include HMRC's £1.16m settlement with a UK exporter over Russia sanctions violations, asset freezes related to suspected terrorism, and US measures against Hizballah funding activities. The episode covers notable anti-money laundering penalties: €45m by BaFin to JPMorgan's Frankfurt branch, and £650,000 by the UK Gambling Commission to NetBet. Policy updates feature HM Treasury consulting on FCA supervision of professional services for AML/CTF and findings from the UK's Economic Crime Survey 2024, showing that 27% of UK businesses faced fraud last year.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello and welcome to episode 199 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. This episode covers the UK government consolidating sanctions into the UK Sanctions List by January 2026, new guidance for the freight sector on Russian sanctions, and a centralised enforcement page. It also covers US Treasury sanctions against a North Korean cybercrime network, Chelsea FC's £150 million penalty buffer, a major intra-EU VAT fraud scheme ("Goliath"), and a €600 million cryptocurrency laundering ring. The SRA's 2024/25 AML report highlights increased legal sector enforcement and ongoing compliance gaps, and Napier's new AI tool to fight money laundering and Russian exploitation.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello and welcome to episode 198 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the UK has lifted its arms embargo on Armenia and Azerbaijan, shifting to Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. The US Treasury has sanctioned the Bhardwaj Human Smuggling Organisation, and OFSI designated Aliakbar Ansari for supporting hostile activity under the Iran sanctions. The FCA secured its first Data Protection Act conviction against a former Virgin Media O2 employee involved in a crypto scam. Also featured are global anti-financial crime efforts, such as EBA guidance shaping the future EU AMLA and an OSCE workshop in Uzbekistan focused on virtual asset money laundering. The episode concludes with a summary of the 2025 cyberattack on Marks & Spencer and its impact on competitor profits.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 197 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. This episode covers the U.S. imposing sanctions on Colombia's President Petro over alleged cartel links and updates to the UK's OFSI humanitarian license for Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon. The UK reported £629.3 million lost to fraud in early 2025, while Starling Bank introduced an AI tool to combat online purchase scams and Europol highlighted €850 million in annual losses from caller ID spoofing. The FATF Plenary advanced efforts on asset recovery and AI risk scanning, removing four African nations from its monitoring list. ESMA announced cyber resilience and ESG as top priorities for 2026. The episode also features Tom Hayes suing UBS after his conviction was overturned, and the UN Convention against Cybercrime launching in Hanoi with 72 countries signing the first global treaty on digital threats.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Welcome to episode 196 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I'm Chris Kirkbride. This episode highlights major sanctions, including US actions against Rosneft and Lukoil for war financing, and new UK sanctions on Balkan crime networks involved in people smuggling. We discuss regulatory changes in the form of the UK's Interim Necessities General Licence for listed Iranian entities, significant enforcement actions with FINTRAC's record fine on Cryptomus, and the UK Gambling Commission's penalty for Platinum Gaming. Also covered are the £1.9 billion Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack, the FCA's call to integrate finance into UK security strategy, EU AML oversight changes, and a large-scale subsidy fraud case in Greece.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 195 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. This episode covers notable sanctions actions, including US and UK asset freezes targeting Haitian gang leaders and others under migration and trafficking regulations, as well as an OFSI licence allowing business with subsidiaries of Rosneft. We cover the takedown of a $30 million fraud ring targeting American timeshare owners, Switzerland's proposed beneficial ownership register, and the UK's move to centralise AML/CTF supervision under the FCA. Also featured are OECD's review of Latvia's anti-bribery efforts, a major cross-border corruption case, FCA warnings on weak financial crime controls, Pacific nations teaming up against crypto abuse, plus key cyber security updates such as Europol dismantling SIMCARTEL, the global impact of an AWS outage, and NCSC's call for board-level cyber resilience.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 194 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the UK's most forceful sanctions package to date, which targets major Russian oil producers, shadow fleet tankers, and 90 entities linked to Kremlin energy revenues. Separately, OFSI has reported of a record £37 billion in frozen assets, and the extension of a General Trade Licence covering sectoral software and technology under Russia sanctions. On fraud, the FCA urges banks to strengthen defences against romance scams, and the Information Commissioner's Office has fined Capita following a 2023 cyberattack. Additionally, we explore international coordination efforts, including Transparency France spotlighting the Anti-Money Laundering Contact Board, and Eurojust addressing challenges in asset recovery, the rise of crypto-assets, and the use of professional laundering services.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 193 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, starting with sanctions, the UK Government is set to consolidate its designation framework, retiring the OFSI Consolidated List in January 2026, making the UK Sanctions List the sole official source for all designations. We also look at increasing threats, as risk advisory experts warn that banks are underprepared for the surge in AI-driven fraud and must rethink resilience with enterprise-wide assessments, while the UK's NCSC reports a dramatic rise in national cyber threats, prompting the government to urge business leaders to prioritise cyber resilience at the board level. Additionally, we look at global law enforcement efforts, covering the historic US and UK crackdown on the Cambodia-based Prince Group cybercrime network, and the case of "Bitcoin Jesus" Roger Ver, who admitted tax fraud and concealing offshore assets in a deal requiring him to pay $48 million in restitution.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 192 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions news, the United States has launched a sweeping campaign targeting Iranian energy and militia proxies. On money laundering, the European Banking Authority has reported that EU regulators have significantly improved supervision of banks ahead of the transition to the new EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority, as well as urging national supervisors to strengthen AML/CFT oversight of crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) due to financial crime risks. Meanwhile, the US Treasury's FinCEN issued updated guidance to streamline Suspicious Activity Reports. There is anti-corruption news from Sri Lanka, which has launched a digital Case-File Tracking System to modernise investigations, and in Somalia, the UNODC has trained officials in Corruption Risk Management. Finally, on Cybercrime, a global survey identifies increased cybersecurity spending.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 191 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the EU has extended sanctions on those responsible for Russian hybrid threats, including cyber-attacks and disinformation. In the UK, Daniel Pugh has been sentenced for operating a £1.3 million Ponzi scheme and the Metropolitan Police has secured convictions against the launderers of over £5.5 billion in Bitcoin. On financial integrity, anti-corruption training in Guinea-Bissau's health sector, and new UK guidance enabling anti-money laundering regulated firms to share customer data under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Finally, the expiration of the US Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act amid a government shutdown, and Europol's urgent call for lawful data access to counteract evolving criminal threats.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 190 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, significant coordinated sanctions action by the United States government against Iranian targets. In Australia, AUSTRAC has launched a nationwide awareness campaign to prepare Australian industry for sweeping Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing reforms. In Malaysia, a move to Deferred Prosecution Agreements to modernise enforcement and enhance asset recovery, while a study suggests D/NPAs, while offering economic safeguards, may increase the likelihood of companies reoffending. Finally, we cover the Council of Europe's project to strengthen AML and anti-corruption frameworks across 17 European states, and further discuss the recent cybercrime incident where hackers targeted the UK nursery chain Kido Schools.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 189 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions, the US Treasury has sanctioned five individuals and one entity tied to a DPRK arms network, the UK's OFSI has expanded sanctions on 71 entities and persons under the Iran (Nuclear) Sanctions Regulations, and imposed a £152,750 penalty on Colorcon Limited for breaching Russia sanctions. On money laundering, the European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against 11 Member States for delays in fully implementing the 6th Anti-Money Laundering Directive. In bribery and corruption, former MEP Nathan Gill pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery for accepting cash in exchange for making pro-Russian statements, while GRECO urged member states to strengthen access-to-information systems to improve transparency. On fraud, Charlie Javice has been sentenced, and a joint campaign has been launched in the UK by the National Crime Agency and The Law Society to combat payment diversion fraud in property sales. Finally, the cybercrime news highlights Interpol's "Operation Contender 3.0," which arrested 260 suspects across 14 African nations for romance scams and sextortion, and there has been a confirmed data breach at retailer Harrods affecting 430,000 customers.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 188 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, beginning with sanctions, where the UK government has published a comprehensive starter guide for businesses and imposed asset freezes on two entities, Embers of an Empire and Rampage Productions, for alleged links to terrorism through music. The US has also taken action, sanctioning Indian nationals and an online pharmacy for trafficking counterfeit fentanyl pills. In money laundering news, a joint effort by Eurojust and Europol dismantled a sophisticated network laundering at least €30 million through gold bar transactions across France and Italy, seizing nearly 100 kilos of gold and luxury assets. We cover significant fraud operations, including INTERPOL's Operation HAECHI VI, which recovered $439 million globally from various cyber-enabled financial crimes, and the situation surrounding global insurer Allianz, which is grappling with a surge in fraud detection in the UK while simultaneously facing a $16.8 million fine in Australia for misleading claims. Rounding out the episode, we look at the EU demanding that major tech platforms like Google and Apple disclose their anti-scam measures under the Digital Services Act and discuss the recent UK arrest connected to the cyber-attack on Collins Aerospace that disrupted European flights.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 187 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, geopolitical pressure intensifies as the EU proposes its 19th sanctions package against Russia, featuring a full transaction ban on Russian banks and targeting LNG imports by 2027 to cripple the war economy. Meanwhile, in the United States, FinCEN has proposed delaying the critical Investment Adviser AML Rule until January 2028, granting firms additional time to prepare for compliance aimed at closing vulnerabilities exploited by illicit actors funnelling dirty money into US assets. We also examine high-stakes global enforcement, including the $750,000 fine levied against ShapeShift AG by OFAC for sanctions violations involving digital assets related to countries like Cuba, Iran, Sudan, and Syria, and global successes like Eurojust cracking a sophisticated €100 million cryptocurrency investment fraud spanning 23 countries. Finally, we explore the growing role of technology, from the UK's new AI fraud-buster which recovered a record nearly £500 million in fraudulently claimed public funds, to mounting concerns raised by experts about how complex AI algorithms in high-frequency trading may contribute to market manipulation.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 186 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions, we look at action by the EU against Israel. The UK has reaffirmed financial sanctions against Chinese drone manufacturer Autel Robotics, and issued an advisory warning UK firms about using North Korean IT workers. On the regulatory and digital asset front, the Financial Conduct Authority outlined its strategy for combating financial crime, proposing new rules for crypto firms to enhance systems, controls, and operational resilience, and in Canada, the RCMP has announced the execution of the largest cryptocurrency seizure in its history. On fraud, we look at property fraud in England and Wales, and on cybercrime, we discuss the significant threat to critical infrastructure, and a survey revealing that cyber attacks, often traced to Russia and China, have cost the German economy nearly €300 billion over the past year.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 185 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions, the US Treasury's imposition of sanctions on Sudanese Islamist figures over Iran ties and a global network funding Iran's military and terrorist activities. We look at a $100 million pump-and-dump fraud scheme where Chinese tech executives allegedly defrauded US investors. On the cybercrime front, we cover the data breach at luxury group Kering, owner of Gucci, and the crippling cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover, which has compromised sensitive data, disrupted production, and is estimated to have cost £1 billion in lost production. Furthermore, we'll look at the commentary from the Royal United Services Institute arguing that the global anti-financial crime system is "fundamentally broken," despite over $200 billion spent annually on compliance, urging systemic reform and real-time data sharing. Finally, we'll touch on the UK's significant increase in asset recovery, the National Crime Agency taking the helm of the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group amid rising global threats, efforts to promote integrity in education in Moldova, and a warning from the Information Commissioner's Office about a surge in cyber attacks within UK schools, often caused by students themselves.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 184 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions news, OFSI has set a deadline for reporting frozen assets, delisted Ilya Brodskiy, and imposed new designations under the Russia Sanctions Regime, while the US Treasury executed its largest-ever sanctions action against the Houthi networks. We also look at the jailing of a London fraudster for misusing the Covid Bounce Back Loan scheme, MONEYVAL's new evaluation of Hungary's anti-money laundering framework, and a study highlighting whistleblowers' critical role in uncovering Ukrainian corruption. Furthermore, the podcast addresses the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) crackdown on "finfluencers" for illegal promotions, the FCA's call for a united front against financial crime, the UK's record return of nearly £50 million to crime victims, and the government's intensified fight against cybercrime and fraud.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 183 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we look at the US Treasury's actions against Palestinian NGOs and Southeast Asian cyber scam networks, alongside Vanquis Bank's censure for delayed counter-terrorism sanctions enforcement in the UK. International efforts to combat money laundering are examined through a joint handbook launched by FATF, INTERPOL, UNODC, and the Egmont Group, alongside investigations into Roman Abramovich. We look at the surge in US money mule cases and stablecoin abuse, new FinCEN guidance on cross-border information sharing, and the FCA's warnings about market abuse risks in corporate finance firms. Finally, we look at FinCEN's congressional scrutiny regarding surveillance and cartel crackdowns, the SFO's successful use of an Unexplained Wealth Order, and Transparency International UK's blueprint for ending offshore financial secrecy.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 182 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, OFAC settled a penalty with Fracht FWO Inc. for violations involving Venezuela and Iran, sanctioned a Chinese chemical firm and executives for trafficking synthetic opioids, and designated Palestinian human rights organizations over alleged targeting of Israel by the ICC. OFAC also reclassified Ecuadorian criminal groups as transnational terrorist organisations. Internationally, Australia imposed sanctions on Russian officials for civil society repression and Navalny's death, while the UK revoked a licence allowing Evraz North America to operate under sanctions and sanctioned Russian actors involved in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children. The UK government also launched a sanctions survey to inform future policy. On the money laundering front, the Financial Action Task Force warned countries to crack down on shell companies, and OSCE enhanced Turkmenistan's capacity to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. For bribery and corruption, GRECO urged Slovakia to accelerate anti-corruption reforms. Other financial crime topics included an IMF warning about tech-savvy criminals outpacing regulators and a proposed privacy-preserving compliance framework for stablecoins. Finally, cybercrime saw a major cyberattack halt Jaguar Land Rover production in the UK.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 181 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we look at US Treasury's action against an Iraqi-led network for smuggling Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi crude, and the UK and EU's decision to slash the Russian oil price cap to $47.60. In money laundering, updates on HM Treasury's approval of JMLSG guidance, FATF's new National Risk Assessment toolkit to help nations identify threats, and the Wolfsberg Group's latest framework for monitoring suspicious activity. Fraud saw major moves with a new U.S. Trade Fraud Task Force from the DOJ and DHS, and the UK enacting a landmark corporate offence for failure to prevent fraud. We'll look at Portugal's progress and areas for deeper reform in anti-corruption as noted by GRECO, insider trading convictions and repayments from the West brothers, and the SFO's review of rate-rigging convictions following a Supreme Court ruling. Finally, in cybercrime, we'll look at the statewide government shutdown in Nevada due to a ransomware attack, the alarming misuse of Anthropic AI by hackers in espionage and extortion schemes, a massive data breach fine for SK Telecom, and a new ISO/IEC standard targeting AI-driven morphing attacks in biometric ID fraud.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 180 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we bring you up to speed on the latest developments in financial crime, starting with major sanctions updates from the US and UK. We cover the indictment of Haitian gang leader 'Barbecue' for US sanctions violations, and significant US Treasury actions against Mexican cartels involved in timeshare fraud, drug trafficking, and agricultural extortion. We also delve into the sanctions against Garantex and Grinex for enabling cybercrime and sanctions evasion, the US Treasury's temporary authorisation for the US-Russia Alaska summit, and the UK OFSI's recent amendment concerning irregular migration. In money laundering news, we explore an innovative BIS proposal leveraging blockchain transparency for enhanced crypto anti-money laundering compliance, particularly relevant for stablecoins. We also examine a new report exposing deep-rooted corruption in the global arms trade and the City of London Police's use of an INTERPOL Silver Notice to pursue a fugitive fraudster's assets. This and much more in this week's episode.A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.