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EPPO targeted an alleged €33 million VAT carousel involving Chinese clothing imports into the EU

August 10, 2026

Italian authorities placed two suspects under house arrest and conducted searches and asset-seizure measures in an EPPO investigation into companies allegedly used to introduce clothing imported from China into Italy and subsequently sell it without paying the VAT due. Investigators estimate the missing-trader scheme caused more than €33.4 million in VAT losses and allege that numerous companies formally controlled by front persons were used as part of the criminal organisation.

Europol-backed crackdown dismantles major Western Mediterranean smuggling network, with 78 arrests and €5M in high-speed vessels seized in a drug, migrant and weapons trafficking operation

August 7, 2026

A Europol-supported operation led to 78 arrests in Spain against a network operating between Europe and Algeria and linked to criminal groups in France, Belgium, Portugal, Italy and Poland. Authorities seized cash and assets linked to money laundering, including a hawala ledger, alongside drugs, weapons and 18 high-speed vessels; Europol supported both the organised-crime and financial investigations…

AMLA launches survey for Electronic Money Institutions and Payment Service Providers to assess the Central Contact Point framework and identify AML/CFT implementation gaps – feedback by 15 Sept 2026

August 6, 2026

AMLA is inviting electronic-money institutions and payment-service providers to provide feedback on their experience of the existing Central Contact Point framework under the AML Directive and Delegated Regulation 2018/1108. The exercise will inform work on the arrangements through which cross-border financial firms maintain contact with national AML/CFT authorities…

AMLA’s Thematic Note exposes hidden money laundering risks in real estate linked to opaque ownership and complex deals

August 4, 2026

The note goes beyond the traditional risks of property-based laundering, highlighting emerging evidence that illicit and opaque wealth can influence property prices and housing markets. It calls for a more connected approach to beneficial ownership, related transactions and cross-border information to expose risks that may remain hidden when transactions are assessed individually…

EBA, EIOPA and ESMA call for stronger governance and consistent supervision as growing reliance on frontier AI models creates new systemic ICT risks across the financial sector

July 31, 2026

The European Supervisory Authorities warn that dependence on a small number of powerful external models could expose banks, insurers and investment firms to common vulnerabilities, service disruption and weaknesses that spread across sectors. They recommend a risk-based supervisory approach covering model governance, third-party dependencies, resilience testing and coordination between authorities, rather than allowing firms or sectors to manage frontier-model risks in isolation…

Europol releases Season 4 of The Europol Podcast, featuring expert insights into emerging cybercrime threats and key developments shaping the digital criminal landscape

July 31, 2026

The new season examines how cybercrime enablers support criminal operations, how offenders are exploiting new technologies in child sexual abuse material (CSAM), the evolution of ransomware attacks, and the growing threat of online fraud schemes. The series highlights the increasing sophistication of technology-enabled crime and the need for stronger cooperation, awareness and disruption efforts to tackle…

Spain proposes new National Authority for Financial Integrity (ANIFI) as its single AMLA contact point, centralising AML/CFT supervision, financial intelligence and sanctions enforcement

July 30, 2026

ANIFI would replace the current fragmented model by bringing together responsibilities from SEPBLAC and other bodies, while acting as Spain’s sole contact point with AMLA. The proposed reforms would also strengthen beneficial ownership transparency, expand obliged entities, enhance cash controls and introduce stricter fitness requirements for regulated firms. The authority is not yet established…

EC’s 37th PIF Report strengthens the EU’s anti-fraud framework through prevention, smarter data use and enhanced cooperation to tackle fraud, corruption and misuse of EU funds

July 28, 2026

The report highlights stronger fraud prevention measures, improved data sharing and risk-based controls, while identifying continued challenges in prosecution, asset recovery and coordination between EU and national authorities. In 2025, 13,010 irregularities involving €2.1 billion were recorded, including 986 suspected fraud cases amounting to €274.3 million…

EBA advances the reporting framework that will help determine which firms come under direct AMLA supervision

July 24, 2026

The EBA has published a draft data model and taxonomy for the 2027 exercise used to collect information on institutions potentially eligible for AMLA direct supervision. The framework forms part of the process for identifying significant cross-border financial institutions that will ultimately fall under the EU authority’s direct supervisory remit.

Europol-led action disrupts “The Com”, a nihilistic violent extremist online network, referring 4,340 URLs linked to violent propaganda, radicalisation and online exploitation

July 24, 2026

The network, made up of loosely connected online groups, has been associated with the grooming and radicalisation of young people through social media, messaging apps and gaming platforms, with some groups promoting self-harm, violent attacks, child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and other criminal activities. Europol’s action forms part of wider efforts under Project COMPASS to address emerging forms of…

AMLA finalises supervisory cooperation standards ahead of direct supervision in 2028, establishing a harmonised framework for selecting and supervising the bloc’s most significant cross-border FIs

July 22, 2026

The standards define the process for identifying supervised entities, outline data collection and risk assessment responsibilities, and require the transfer of firms’ full supervisory histories to ensure continuity. Developed in close cooperation with national supervisors, the framework is designed to minimise reporting burdens and support consistent, risk-based AML/CFT supervision across…

AMLA publishes FAQs on its reporting package for identifying provisionally eligible entities, clarifying the data requirements and process for selecting FIs that may fall under direct supervision from 2028