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Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing

Over 20 years of articles and reference material

A page dedicated to global, regional, UK and US anti-money laundering developments and initiatives.

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Europol spearheads a global public-private crackdown on Tycoon 2FA, a phishing-as-a-service platform targeting multi-factor authentication, seizing 330+ domains to disrupt cyber-enabled financial fraud

March 4, 2026

The platform provided ready-made phishing kits, infrastructure, and support to thousands of users, enabling large-scale account takeovers and cyber-enabled financial fraud targeting banks, payment services, and online platforms. In the joint action, law-enforcement authorities and private-sector partners seized over 330 domains linked to the service’s infrastructure, disrupting a major tool used to facilitate global phishing campaigns and wider cyber-enabled financial crime…

Europol coordinates a global crackdown on LeakBase, a cybercrime forum with 142,000+ users trading stolen data and hacking tools, triggering around 100 enforcement actions to disrupt cyber-enabled FC

March 4, 2026

The platform, active since 2021 with more than 142,000 registered users, hosted leaked databases, compromised credentials, and hacking tools widely used for fraud, identity theft, and other cyber-enabled crimes. In coordinated actions on 3–4 March 2026, authorities across several countries carried out around 100 enforcement measures, including arrests, house searches, and suspect interviews, while seizing the forum’s domains and data to identify additional offenders and disrupt the wider cybercrime ecosystem…

CoLP Domestic Corruption Unit arrests the Chief Executive of the Police Federation of England & Wales and 2 senior officials on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position in a financial misconduct probe

March 4, 2026

Krishna, aged 46, was the first civilian to lead the PFEW, which represents over 140,000 rank-and-file police officers. He was taken into custody alongside two other senior figures linked to the federation in coordinated raids across multiple sites, including the PFEW headquarters in Leatherhead, Surrey. The investigation, described by authorities as complex and active, is examining multiple lines of inquiry. While details remain limited due to the ongoing nature of the probe, media reports highlight Krishna’s controversial tenure…

Europol helps dismantle a Europe–Latin America cocaine network linked to the Los Lobos cartel, with 16 arrests, 26 raids and 4+ tonnes seized, exposing a major transnational illicit-finance scheme

March 3, 2026

Authorities in Ecuador, Belgium and the Netherlands arrest 16 suspects, raid 26 properties and seize cash, firearms and vehicles while targeting a network that used fruit-export businesses to conceal cocaine shipments bound for European ports. The investigation also intercepts major consignments—including several tonnes of cocaine seized in Dutch and Belgian ports—and exposes cooperation between the Ecuadorian cartel and an Albanian trafficking network responsible for distributing the drugs across Europe…

OPBAS’s latest report warns that despite progress across 41,000+ firms, PBSs still fshow gaps in AML enforcement and intelligence sharing, urging sharper action as the FCA takes on direct supervision

March 3, 2026

OPBAS reports that while professional-body supervisors (PBSs) overseeing lawyers and accountants are generally more effective than at any point since 2018, weaknesses persist in areas such as enforcement action, supervisory consistency and intelligence-sharing. The watchdog also raises concerns that the dual role of some bodies as both membership organisations and AML supervisors may limit their willingness to take robust disciplinary action, as the UK prepares to transition to a simplified supervisory model in which the FCA…

U.S. Attorney’s Office files a civil forfeiture action to recover $327K in Tether cryptocurrency linked to a ML scheme from an online romance fraud targeting a Massachusetts resident

March 2, 2026

The scam involved the victim being lured through a dating app into sending funds under the guise of a cryptocurrency investment, which were then routed through multiple wallets and converted to USDT to conceal their origin. Authorities seized the cryptocurrency in August 2025, and the action is part of broader efforts to forfeit fraud-related crypto assets, return funds to victims, and combat cybercrime….

EPPO’s 2025 Annual Report warns that cross-border VAT and customs fraud are reshaping the EU criminal landscape, causing €45B in losses – triggering investigations, indictments, & asset freezes

March 2, 2026

Criminals exploit cross-border trade in legal goods to evade detection while generating massive illicit profits. EPPO’s activity has expanded significantly, managing 3 602 active cases (a 35 % increase from 2024), opening 2 030 new investigations, and securing a 34 % rise in indictments, with courts granting asset freezes exceeding €1.13 billion. The report highlights the urgent need for EU-wide coordination, stronger enforcement, and innovative investigative approaches to combat sophisticated VAT and customs fraud and protect…

HMT publishes guidance on Using Digital Identities with the MLRs, clarifying that regulated firms can use certified digital identities on the DVS Register to meet AML customer due diligence requirements

February 26, 2026

These digital identities—covering individuals and company directors—allow firms to verify identity securely without physical documents, while still requiring firms to apply risk assessments, enhanced due diligence where needed, and maintain full compliance and record-keeping responsibilities. Essentially, certified digital identities provide legal certainty and efficiency in AML checks but do not replace the broader obligations of regulated entities…

HMT’s Payments Forward Plan 2026 sets a 3-year roadmap to modernise payments with Open Banking, a potential Digital Pound, and stronger fraud safeguards, helping firms innovate while tackling FC

February 26, 2026

It aims to streamline regulation such as consolidating the Payment Systems Regulator into the FCA and updating the Payment Services and E‑Money Regulations while enhancing competition, transparency, and consumer protections. The Plan also prioritises fraud prevention, APP scam mitigation, digital verification, and alignment with AML frameworks, giving firms clarity and capacity to innovate, plan, and manage financial crime risks across the payments ecosystem…

U.S. DOJ confirms its D.C. Scam Center Strike Force has seized over $580M in cryptocurrency from Chinese transnational criminals running large online investment scams targeting U.S. victims

February 26, 2026

These criminal networks are primarily based in Southeast Asia, including Burma, Cambodia, and Laos, and use sophisticated online platforms to solicit investments and extract funds from unsuspecting individuals. The task force, active since November 2025 and comprising the FBI, Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and DOJ Criminal Division units, is working to pursue forfeiture of the stolen assets and return as much as possible to defrauded victims. This operation represents a coordinated federal effort to disrupt transnational…

UK GC Chief Executive warns at the BGC AGM 2026 that illegal gambling operators tied to organised crime are exploiting digital platforms and crypto payments to evade regulation, raising FC risks

February 26, 2026

He highlighted how unlicensed platforms exploit digital channels, affiliates, and social media to reach UK consumers, while using payment methods such as cryptoassets to evade regulatory oversight and anti-money laundering controls. Miller emphasised that tackling this illicit ecosystem requires collaboration not only with the gambling industry but also with technology companies, financial institutions, and government bodies through initiatives such as the Illegal Gambling Taskforce. At the same time, he argued that maintaining a competitive…

Eurojust and Europol trace a complex financial trail to dismantle a Camorra and ’Ndrangheta-linked cocaine and ML network, seizing over €5 M in assets, €600K in cryptocurrency, and €26K in cash

February 26, 2026

Working alongside national authorities and the Europol, investigators uncovered a sophisticated operation that trafficked cocaine from South America into Europe while laundering proceeds through shell companies, false invoicing, luxury assets and cryptocurrency. Coordinated raids across France, Italy, Belgium and Switzerland led to seven arrests, including a key suspect, and the seizure of luxury vehicles, real estate…

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