US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives seizes over 36,000 illegal firearms and 2.3M rounds of ammunition, including shipments to Mexico, targeting cartel-linked gun-trafficking networks

by | Feb 18, 2026

US ATF in coordination with federal and international partners, executed a targeted operation that resulted in the seizure of thousands of unlicensed and illicit firearms intended to arm Mexican criminal organisations. The action underscores ongoing efforts to enforce...

EU Commission announces its 20th Sanctions package against Russia, tightening the grip on its economy through oil bans, bank and crypto restrictions, trade curbs, and anti‑circumvention measures

by | Feb 6, 2026

The measures include a full ban on maritime services for Russian crude oil, the addition of 43 vessels to the so-called “shadow fleet” list, and further restrictions on tankers and LNG shipments. Sanctions also extend to 20 more Russian regional banks, cryptocurrency...

OECD’s 2025 Policy Brief on Illicit Gold Flows warns that bulk maritime shipments of unrefined gold face high risks of ML and illegal trade due to weak tracking, mis-invoicing, and blending with other metals

by | Dec 9, 2025

The 2025 OECD report finds that gold concentrates — often exported as raw ore or “precious-metals concentrate” under HS code 261690 — present attractive opportunities for trade-based money laundering and gold laundering because they are seldom tracked, easily...

Europol launches the EU’s Digital Entry/Exit System, replacing passport stamps with biometric checks to strengthen security, curb cross-border crime and support AML efforts – full rollout by Apr 2026

by | Oct 12, 2025

The system aims to detect visa overstays, prevent identity and document fraud, and strengthen border security while enabling faster, automated crossings. During its six-month rollout, both passport stamping and digital registration will operate in parallel, with full...