US: WHEN ARE FROZEN ASSETS “BLOCKED” ASSETS? A post on the Transnational Litigation Blog on 23 October concerned the question of whether when assets are “blocked” and/or available for compensation under the terrorist Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) tlblog.org/when-are-fro...
REUTERS INVESTIGATION INTO NEW ZEALAND INSURANCE COMPANY’S SHADOW FLEET CONTRACTS On 28 October, the Global Sanctions blog reported the claim that the insurance company has insured “shadow fleet” tankers. www.reuters.com/investigatio...
GIBRALTAR: VIRTUAL ASSET ARRANGEMENTS NOW FALL UNDER THE FINANCIAL SERVICES ACT On 27 October, an article from Hassans reported on a significant update to its financial regulatory framework www.gibraltarlaw.com/insights/pos...
THE EU AML PACKAGE: IMPLICATIONS FOR ONLINE GAMBLING SERVICE PROVIDERS
On 28 October, Bird & Bird said that a major shift in the AML Rules with significant impact on gambling service providers has been introduced by adopting the so called EU AML Package. www.twobirds.com/en/insights/...
DISRUPTING ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE: HAVE WE FOLLOWED THE MONEY? On 29 October, a Commentary from RUSI posed this question, saying that 5 years ago, FATF issued a call-to-arms for greater focus on the financial dimension of illegal wildlife trade www.rusi.org/explore-our-...
HONG KONG CUSTOMS INTERCEPTS 150-TONNE SHIPMENT OF DONKEY SKINS On 28 October, OCCRP reported that Customs seized over 150 tonnes of donkey skins in a major operation intercepting 2 shipments, hidden in refrigerated containers bound for Taiwan www.occrp.org/en/news/hong...
DUBAI: SCRAMBLE TO STOP EXTRADITION OF MERCENARY ACCUSED OF PLOTTING COUP IN ROMANIA On 29 October, the Guardian reported on a last-minute attempt to halt the extradition from Dubai of a Romanian-French mercenary and former Foreign Legionnaire wanted in Romania. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
CHINESE BROKER’S ARREST HITS MEXICO’S FENTANYL TRADE HARDER THAN ‘KINGPIN’ CAPTURES On 28 October, Insight Crime reported that a Chinese citizen accused of leading a transnational drug trafficking network has been recaptured and extradited to the US.
ISLE OF MAN: FSA FINANCIAL RESOURCES REPORTING THEMATIC FINDINGS REPORT On 28 October, the FSA issued this latest thematic report, into the the management and oversight of the process for financial resources reporting.
ITALY: MAFIA USES TIKTOK TO REBRAND AND REACH FOLLOWERS On 17 October, OCCRP reported that the mafia is using TikTok to glamorise criminal life, recruit followers, and experiment with new forms of money laundering. www.occrp.org/en/news/ital... fondazionemagnagrecia.it/en/
FinCEN CLARIFIES SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS On 28 October, a Client Alert from Wilmer Hale reported on guidance, in the form of FAQ, issued by FinCEN and the prudential regulators issued joint guidance clarifying regulatory expectations www.wilmerhale.com/en/insights/...
UN CYBERCRIME CONVENTION: DIFFERENCE MAY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
On 27 October, an article from Lawfare said that the new Convention is substantively similar to the Budapest Convention, but it is procedurally different, and that may make all the difference. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/proc...
COINHOUSE AND BINANCE AMONG EXCHANGES TARGETED FOR WIDENED AML CHECKS BY FRENCH REGULATOR On 18 October, CoinDesk reported that failure to meet the requirements could compromise an exchange's ability to get a Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) licence from France. www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/...
COUNTDOWN TO NEW EU BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP RULES On 30 September, Transparency International reported as the Commission took action against 11 Member States for failing to “fully notify” how they transposed the 6th AML Directive’s first set of requirements www.transparency.org/en/news/coun...
TOBACCO TAX REFORM IN THE EU On 27 October, briefing from EU Parliament Research Service said that an evaluation highlighted several key issues regarding the 2011 Directive’s effectiveness, and updating it to address emerging products, such as e cigarettes europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etud...
TOBACCO TAX REFORM IN THE EU On 27 October, briefing from EU Parliament Research Service said that an evaluation highlighted several key issues regarding the 2011 Directive’s effectiveness, and updating it to address emerging products, such as e cigarettes www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etud...
On 27 October, Insight Crime posed this question and considered challenges as the President seeks to pull the country out of a spiralling security crisis. insightcrime.org/news/can-per...
MASSIVE METH BUST HIGHLIGHTS SOUTH AFRICA’S GROWING DRUG CRISIS
On 28 October, Eurasia Review reported on a bust with 5 Mexicans arrested; highlights the growing drug crisis and why it is considered one of the world’s largest crystal meth consumer markets. www.eurasiareview.com/28102025-mas...
