Welcome to episode 280 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions, the UK has introduced expanded statutory controls targeting Iranian economic sectors, while the US Department of the Treasury designates procurement networks supporting Kata'ib Hizballah and Lebanese Hizballah. On money laundering and corruption enforcement, HMRC released its list of non-compliant businesses penalised for AML supervision failures, and a third Puerto Rico Treasury employee has pleaded guilty in a $6.77 million tax bribery scheme. On fraud, FinCEN reports $17.5 billion in suspicious activity linked to U.S. healthcare fraud, while the US DOJ Scam Centre Strike Force seized illicit Telegram infrastructure and cryptocurrency. Finally, on market abuse, the SEC has secured a final judgment in an insider trading scheme, and ESMA has highlighted market integrity risks in prediction markets.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 279 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions, the US has expanded measures targeting Cuban elites, a Turkish financial network, and Iran's commercial aviation sector, while the UK has enacted new designations against West Bank human rights abuses, Hizballah financial entity Al-Qard Al-Hasan, and a compound settlement has been agreed for sanctions breaches. On money laundering, there are indictments in the US, a joint Italian-German operation disrupts a sports association scheme, and AUSTRAC deregisters 45 remittance and crypto providers. Finally, Ukraine's Prosecutor General resigns amid bribery allegations, and in the UK there is a Fraud Strategy from the Ministry of Justice, and annual reports from the City of London Police and the NECC.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 278 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions, the UK makes several administrative corrections, and there is a term of imprisonment in the US for an individual who smuggled semiconductors to Russia. On money laundering, there is a prison sentence for a money laundering conspiracy, and on bribery and corruption, the UK SFO settles the ENRC civil litigation. On fraud, there are convictions for a Danish researcher, and sentences for three Ethical Forestry Limited directors. On market abuse and regulatory enforcement, charges are brought in a pre-IPO scheme, and in the UK the FCA has proposed a ban and fine against a financial adviser. Finally, on cybercrime, an international public-private coalition has disrupted the two-decade-old Sality peer-to-peer botnet.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 277 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US expands "Operation Economic Outcast", and the UK issues a joint flash alert on the Russian "A7" sanctions evasion network. On money laundering, a prison sentence is handed to a Nigerian money launderer in the US, and the UK Gambling Commission takes enforcement action against two companies. On fraud, there are federal charges in an alleged long-running fraud scheme, and the Five Eyes alliance endorses international measures against global scam networks. On market abuse, a White House teleprompter operator is ordered to pay $172,000 for prediction market insider trading, and on cyber, the UK warns of the targeting of internet-exposed operational technology, and a cyberattack compromises the data of 8.7 million airport customers.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 276 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, OFAC has issued new counter-terrorism designations and updated Russia-related diamond import licences. In the UK, the FCDO has made corrections to UK sanctions, and OTSI has published its first annual review. On money laundering, the UK NCA has forfeited funds from a company over suspected money laundering and sanctions evasion. On fraud enforcement, in the US, there are indictments for an alleged benefit fraud scheme, sentencing of three in a fraud conspiracy, and federal indictment for coordinated deed theft and vehicle title fraud schemes. Finally, the UK FCA has fined and banned former senior executives for operating an artificial £35.5 million investor visa circumvention scheme.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 275 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions, US has lifted Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, and launched a range of secondary sanctions targeting Iran. On fraud, in the US, there is a Social Security and pension fraud sentencing, as well as one for an ATM jackpotting conspiracy. There is the conviction in relation to a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme and, finally, the US DoJ has launched the National Fraud Detection Centre to eliminate silos in federal benefit oversight. In the UK, a director has been disqualified for nine years for pre-insolvency asset transfers, and INTERPOL has announced early outcomes from a coordinated operation against cyber-fraud.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 274 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the UK has issued a sanctions alignment following amendments by the UN, and the US has issued sanctions against Cuban officials and a Turkish-led Hizballah cash-smuggling network. Finally, the International Criminal Court has responded to the US sanctions imposed on two of its members. On enforcement news, the UK Gambling Commission has settled anti-money laundering and terrorist financing compliance failures against a gambling company, and the US has indicted a senior executive for alleged insider trading. Finally, the FCA has brought enforcement action against two individuals, APRA has published its 2026–27 Corporate Plan, and collaborative guidance has been proposed by the UKFIU to streamline reporting and reduce duplicative SARs filings for fraud victims.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 273 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions, the UK Foreign Office updates counter-terrorism designations, and the US government sanctions members of the ICC. On money laundering, there is a 15-year sentence for a Chinese money launderer. Moving to fraud and bribery, there is the arrest of a public official over alleged pandemic relief fraud, the conviction of a former New Mexico State Representative and her associate for bribery and money laundering, and charges in an alleged subprime auto loan securitisation fraud. Finally, the Maldives ICO has a new five-year strategic plan, the UK FCA issues permanent bans and fines against former asset management executives for fabricating a €200 million bond portfolio, and there is a cyberattack on the French tax agency.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 272 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions developments, a US manufacturer has settled an apparent Iran sanctions violation with OFAC, while the UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has amended and extended its Lukoil General Licences. On money laundering enforcement, the US Treasury Department has repealed the beneficial ownership reporting rule for domestic businesses, while on market abuse the SEC has brought charges in respect of an affinity fraud targeting Orthodox Jewish communities. On cybercrime, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) reprimanded the ACRO Criminal Records Office over system vulnerabilities which exposed sensitive personal data, while Taiwan has disclosed an automated, AI-driven hacking campaign against state targets. Finally, the US government has authorised vetted private sector firms to engage in offensive digital operations under federal supervision.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 271 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on money laundering, we look at the English Court of Appeal’s decision in R v Osmond concerning the tipping-off offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. On bribery and corruption, we look at the agreement between the DoJ and Veloxis Pharmaceuticals. On market abuse, the US Securities and Exchange Commission brings charges against Adit Ventures Management LLC, and some associated with it. Finally, a new book exploring the ethical failures at the Post Office in the UK has been published.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 270 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the UK amends its Russia sanctions list with administrative variations and corrections for three individuals, while OFAC designates individuals and entities associated with Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood financial networks. Concurrently, the European Union adopted its 21st sanctions package against Russia, expanding them across all fronts. Finally, in economic crime developments, a University of Manchester study published in the Journal of Economic Criminology examines the National Economic Crime Centre, highlighting how systemic tensions, digital infrastructure gaps, and multi-agency resource constraints continue to hamper the UK's coordinated response to financial crime.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 269 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, there are major global developments across sanctions, money laundering, fraud, regulatory enforcement, and cyber security. In sanctions developments, OFAC clarified deposit requirements for Venezuelan earthquake relief, OFSI has updated its basic needs licensing guidance, and the EU has designated Russia's ABS Electro Group. On money laundering, the FATF has issued a targeted update warning of criminal exploitation of virtual assets, while on fraud, a businesswoman has been sentenced for pandemic loan fraud, and a major overhaul of the UK’s fraud prosecution system is urged. In Europe, BaFin has fined TeamViewer SE €240,000 for delayed cyberattack disclosure, and the European Commission published its seventh annual Rule of Law Report. The Serious Fraud Office in the UK has released its 2025-26 annual accounts highlighting operational and asset recovery milestones, and the Prudential Regulation Authority has fined HDI Global SE £4,165,000 for inaccurate data reporting. Finally, the BIS has warned of the asymmetric cyber threats posed by autonomous frontier AI models to the global financial system.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 268 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the United Nations Security Council has blacklisted two entities and six armed group commanders operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while the US Treasury designated over 50 targets and shipping vessels linked to the multi-jurisdictional oil network of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani. Money laundering enforcement saw the US Department of Justice prosecute a $43 million Chinese "pig butchering" scam network and sentence two former TD Bank insiders for taking bribes to open fraudulent accounts, as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) released a report warning of sophisticated criminal exploitation of virtual assets, decentralised finance (DeFi), and proprietary stablecoins. In fraud developments, US federal courts sentenced individuals across three unrelated government contracting, scrap metal, and COVID-19 tax credit schemes, while the UK's National Crime Agency secured convictions in a pandemic nitrile glove procurement fraud and collaborated with Nigerian authorities to arrest six celebrity-impersonating scammers. Finally, United Nations agencies are supporting anti-corruption programmes in Haiti and Kyrgyzstan through school integrity clubs and digital public sector solutions, as global authorities deploy coordinated indictments and prison terms, including cyberattack sentences for members of the "Scattered Spider" collective, to disrupt resilient cybercrime infrastructure and state-backed networks.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 267 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, there is significant global enforcement actions, regulatory updates, and compliance developments. In sanctions enforcement, the US has targeted Iranian financial networks, blocked state-owned Cuban entities, and made cyber designations. Concurrently, the UK expanded its sanctions to target Russian GRU officers, cybercriminals operating the "Lumma Stealer" malware, and staff of the Rybar media company, while also freezing Iranian-linked groups, and modifying sanctions for those with Russian ties. The UK has also extended the operation of a licence for sanctioned brokerages, while a study examines Russian fossil fuel exports. In other news from the UK, the three financial regulators have initiated joint supervisory oversight of major cloud infrastructure providers. In the US, there is the conviction of a Massachusetts man for illegally exporting sensitive dual-use microelectronics to Iran, the unsealing of a US indictment against three Russian nationals, and a guilty plea of a former media company Chief Financial Officer. Finally, the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry report details approximately £10 billion in wasted PPE procurement and alleged favouritism in the VIP supply lanes.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 266 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, global developments in sanctions enforcement, regulatory compliance, enforcement actions, and cyber security policy. On sanctions, OFAC provides clarification on Russian sanctions, and starts the process to lift Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. In the UK, HMRC reports recovering over £4.2 billion from tax fraud and trade sanctions breaches in its latest annual notes. Under regulatory developments, the Financial Action Task Force has published a global review on the successes and barriers in anti-money laundering coalitions, while MONEYVAL has urged Armenia to strengthen its money laundering prosecutions. In fraud enforcement, a former Puerto Rico private equity fund manager has been indicted for alleged embezzlement, and INTERPOL makes arrests and intercepts millions in illicit assets. On market abuse, the FCA has intensified its crackdown on market abuse and social media "finfluencers". While on bribery and corruption, the OECD warns on Türkiye's persistent anti-bribery failures, alongside warnings from anti-corruption analysts on the proposed revival of the UK's investor visa scheme. Finally, a UK Treasury study challenges corporate boards to reframe cyber resilience.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 265 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, significant global developments in sanctions enforcement, regulatory assessments, and the evolving technological landscape of financial crime. In sanctions enforcement, both the European Union and the United Kingdom implemented restrictive measures targeting Russian military scientists and entities linked to chemical weapons, while the UK also amended its Russia sanctions registry and extended a maritime insurance wind-down licence. On the regulatory front, Australia's AUSTRAC entered into an enforceable undertaking with online bookmaker bet365, while MONEYVAL released compliance reports urging Slovenia to reinforce its money laundering prosecutions and noting Romania's progress under an enhanced follow-up process. Judicial and anti-corruption developments include a 27-month U.S. prison sentence for an insider trading scheme involving a securities filing agent, an OECD review of Latvia's foreign bribery enforcement, and UK case studies highlighting systemic legal hurdles in international bribery and civil asset recovery actions. Finally, authorities and industry experts are warning of rapid technological threats, marked by regulatory warnings on the cyber and fraud risks of advanced AI models, the launch of the UK's corporate Cyber Resilience Pledge, and the discovery of the first fully autonomous, AI-driven ransomware attack.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 264 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, coordinated international enforcement actions, strategic regulatory frameworks, and high-level institutional transitions highlight this week's global efforts to combat illicit finance. The United States Department of the Treasury designated a Brazilian financial network for allegedly laundering over $30 million in drug proceeds using cryptocurrency, while also issuing its annual filing reminder for blocked property. In Europe, the European Data Protection Board and the Anti-Money Laundering Authority began drafting joint guidelines to govern information sharing across the financial sector. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom assumed leadership of the Financial Action Task Force under Giles Thomson, who launched a dedicated roadmap to address global fraud, and the UK Trade Remedies Authority declined to disclose cyber breach data to prevent exploitation by threat actors. Finally, the week's domestic and developmental highlights include federal prison sentences for four individuals involved in a public corruption scheme in South Carolina, alongside a United Nations Development Programme analysis connecting national cybersecurity commitments to measurable GDP per capita growth.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 263 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, International regulatory and enforcement bodies are intensifying their focus on illicit finance, marked this week by coordinated US sanctions targeting Sudanese procurement networks and cartel-linked fuel smuggling, alongside the UK's landmark public settlement with Petrofac Facilities Management. In digital finance, the Financial Action Task Force is warning that messaging and streaming apps are increasingly exploited for terrorist financing, while the Council of Europe coordinates specialised training to trace crypto-assets in Malta and Moldova. Institutional integrity remains a critical theme as GRECO highlights a persistent compliance gap among Europe's top political leaders, and the UK and Germany commit new funding to Ukraine's anti-corruption initiatives. Finally, the week's domestic developments include federal sports bribery indictments against former NBA players, a major statutory overhaul of the UK's criminal confiscation regime, and a public campaign addressing underreported ransomware attacks on small businesses.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 262 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, global law enforcement and financial watchdogs are increasing pressure on illicit networks, led by "Operation Endgame," which is a coordinated international sweep which successfully disrupted critical infrastructure supporting major malware distribution networks. In the United States, federal authorities have announced enforcement measures, including charges in a $1.2 billion Arizona healthcare fraud scheme and key prosecutions targeting corporate insider trading. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom is deploying newly expanded civil enforcement windows in an effort to recover billions of pounds lost to pandemic-era fraud. Finally, the Financial Action Task Force is preparing to launch its new 2026–2028 anti-fraud roadmap to foster international collaboration and combat emerging digital financial threats.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 261 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, there is the formalisation of joint operational priorities between Europol and INTERPOL, alongside concerted efforts by the US and UK to harmonise their respective sanctions regimes. The Financial Action Task Force has also revised global standards to protect humanitarian aid, and published the outcomes of its Plenary. There is a story respecting the conviction of cyber-attackers on the London transport network, and the jailing of a director for pandemic-related fraud. Finally, there is a rare advisory from the Five Eyes alliance regarding the imminent arrival of advanced AI models capable of launching high-impact cyber offensives.

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

The photograph on the podcast cover art is by Sora Shimazaki at Pexels, and the stinger sample between each news section is ‘Ben Logo 1’ by BenKirb from Pixabay.