Hello, and welcome to episode 178 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we look at actions by OFAC targeting a narco-terrorist network and expanding sanctions against a cartel, including a "narco-rapper," alongside an OFSI license extension for payments to sanctioned banks. We also address money laundering failures by Paxos, Poland's limited progress in anti-corruption efforts, and a whistleblower's revelations about UK government-sanctioned bribery in arms deals. Furthermore, the episode outlines fraud cases, including confiscation orders against investment fraudsters in the UK, a guilty plea in a New Zealand Ponzi scheme, and a FinCEN summit aimed at tackling fraud in the digital assets ecosystem.

A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 177 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we look at recent sanctions targeting Iran's UAV network and clarification of UK trade and Russian sanctions guidance. On money laundering, we look at AUSTRAC's AML/CTF overhaul in Australia, setting compliance deadlines for both existing and newly regulated entities, and on bribery and corruption, GRECO has assessments of anti-corruption efforts in Spain and Romania, and there is a Pacific mentoring initiative in the Solomon Islands. On fraud, we look at its evolution with AI-driven tactics, and consider recent FCA action for market abuse and mismanagement. Finally, in other financial crime news, a new report from Italy highlights the economic benefits of combating organised crime, and we end this episode looking at the continuing impact of a cyber-attack on the UK's legal aid sector.

A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 176 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I’m Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we look at developments in sanctions enforcement, including the US imposing sanctions on a Brazilian Supreme Court Justice, a vast Iranian shipping network, and Palestinian officials, alongside the UK Supreme Court upholding sanctions on British billionaire Eugene Shvidler. We also cover a substantial £300,000 penalty for a breach of UK Russia sanctions and recent amendments to the UK's Consolidated List. On the domestic front, the UK government has updated guidance on money laundering exemptions under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Fraud remains a prominent issue, with a massive alleged $500 million COVID-19 testing scheme in the US exposed and alleged internet fraudsters targeted in Nigeria. Furthermore, South Korea has launched a new Joint Response Team to combat stock market manipulation. Lastly, we'll unpack the UK's National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) 2024-2025 Annual Report, highlighting the persistent challenge of fraud—the most reported crime in England and Wales—and money laundering, while detailing the NECC's intelligence-led operations, public-private partnerships, and future focus on disrupting economic crime.

A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available by Monday at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 175 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I’m Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we look at sanctions, anti-money laundering, and regulatory enforcement. Highlights include major US sanctions against Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles for narco-terrorist activities, Ukraine’s alignment with EU sanction packages targeting Russian industry, and the EU’s renewal of its terrorism blacklist. The episode also explores increasing concerns around money laundering risks amid digital innovation, updates on enforcement actions from regulators across multiple jurisdictions, and key judicial decisions impacting the financial sector. 

A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available on Thursday at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 174 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I’m Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we look at US Treasury sanctions against a Houthi petroleum smuggling network and a clandestine North Korean IT worker network funding missile programmes. The UK’s OFSI warned of rising sanctions evasion in the crypto sector, noting under-reporting and exposure to designated Russian, North Korean, and Iranian entities, while HM Treasury consults on streamlining civil sanctions enforcement. On money laundering, the EU’s Cash Controls Regulation (EU) 2018/1672 was assessed as an efficient instrument against cross-border financial crime despite some challenges, and the Wolfsberg Group reaffirmed its commitment to a risk-based approach, emphasising proportionality and effectiveness. In bribery and corruption, a new UK-India trade deal includes comprehensive measures to combat bribery and promote transparency. For fraud, the SFO Director signalled a new era of aggressive corporate enforcement, leveraging new powers and technology for faster casework. Finally, the UK Government announced key research priorities to strengthen the fight against economic crime, and a major cybercrime forum administrator was arrested in Ukraine.

A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available by Monday at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 173 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast – midweek edition – I’m Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we outline significant global efforts to combat financial crime, particularly focusing on sanctions against Russia and new measures targeting money laundering and people-smuggling networks. The European Union has implemented its 18th sanctions package against Russia, substantially lowering the crude oil price cap and targeting energy, banking, and military sectors, with the UK also announcing new sanctions on Russia's "shadow fleet". Additionally, the UK has launched a pioneering sanctions regime to disrupt international people-smuggling operations and is reforming Money Laundering Regulations based on public consultation. Finally, the UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) successfully froze cryptocurrency assets for the first time, while the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) established unified priorities to strengthen the public-private response to economic crime.

A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available later on Thursday at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 172 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I’m Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we unpack a sweeping set of global enforcement actions and policy updates—from Interactive Brokers' $11.8 million sanctions settlement in the U.S. to OFAC's crackdown on Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua criminal network. We explore the EU’s sanctions against Russian hybrid threats and the UK's overhaul of its money laundering laws, including a revised criminal property threshold and its updated National Risk Assessment. Bribery and political influence come under scrutiny with new legislation targeting presidential library donations and concerns over cryptocurrency in UK political funding. Plus, we highlight HMRC’s £3.9 billion fraud recovery success, a strategic revamp at the UK Insolvency Service, and major reforms to the Senior Managers regime. The episode closes with updates on cybercrime—including the Co-op’s data breach and the launch of the NCSC’s vulnerability research initiative—rounding out a busy week in the world of financial integrity and corporate accountability.

A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available by Monday at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 171 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I’m Chris Kirkbride. This episode looks at the FCA’s £42 million penalty against Barclays for critical compliance failures, exposes the growing exploitation of UK youth in laundering schemes, and explores mounting international tensions around sanctions—highlighting controversial moves against Palestinian legal advocates and a unified crackdown on ISIS operatives in Africa. We also track cybersecurity crises, crypto clashes in Congress, enforcement efforts in Singapore, and reform of digital assets in the UK.

A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available on Thursday at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 170 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I’m Chris Kirkbride. This episode unpacks a wide range of developments—from targeted sanctions and regulatory refinements to emerging threats driven by AI and deepfake technologies. Highlights include UK and US moves against sanctioned individuals and groups, new OFSI guidance on debt payments and domicile, and evolving shadow banking tactics linked to Iran. The episode also explores FATF’s warnings on terrorist financing, the FCA’s updated PEP guidance, OECD’s integrity reports across Eastern Europe and South Africa, and regional efforts to bolster anti-corruption and AML capacity. With cyber-enabled fraud and AI-driven evasion pushing global enforcement systems to the brink, it’s a critical moment for compliance professionals and policymakers alike.

A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available by Monday at www.crimes.financial.

Hello, and welcome to episode 169 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I’m Chris Kirkbride. This episode covers a global sweep of the latest enforcement actions and regulatory developments, from US sanctions targeting Hizballah’s financial infrastructure and North Korean cyber operatives, to the UK’s record-breaking penalties for Russia sanctions breaches and a major money laundering fine in Singapore. The episode also highlights developments in cybercrime, bribery, and market abuse—featuring convictions, policy shifts, and international cooperation efforts that underscore the evolving landscape of financial crime compliance.

A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available on Thursday at www.crimes.financial.