raypanama.bsky.social
@raypanama.bsky.social
GUIDES TO COMPLIANCE: NETHERLANDS, SWEDEN, FINLAND, POLAND

Denmark-based Spektr has issued a number of guides recently, providing what it describes as “complete” guides, albeit brief, to the compliance regimes in several countries.
www.spektr.com/blog
Blog
www.spektr.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:28 PM
EU: AMLA NEW REPORTS CONSULTING ON DRAFT REGULATORY TECHNICAL STANDARDS AND IMPLEMENTING TECHNICAL STANDARDS

On 16 December, the new Anti-Money Laundering Authority issued 2 new reports.
www.amla.europa.eu/policy/regul...
Regulatory Instruments
This page provides an overview of the regulatory instruments included under AMLA's mandate.
www.amla.europa.eu
December 18, 2025 at 2:27 PM
PIRACY SURGE REPORTED OFF SOMALIA

On 12 December, Skuld reported that, several years of relative calm, piracy activity off Somalia has flared up again; and provided updated guidance.
www.skuld.com/topics/port/...
Somali piracy surge: Update & guidance
www.skuld.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:26 PM
SWEDISH NAVY REPORTS ARMED GUARDS SEEN ABOARD SHADOW TANKERS IN THE BALTIC

On 16 December, Maritime Executive reported that the Swedish Navy has spotted uniformed personnel aboard some of shadow fleet tankers.
maritime-executive.com/article/swed...
Swedish Navy Reports Russia’s Steps to Protect Shadow Tankers in the Baltic
The Swedish Navy is confirming that Russia is taking increased steps to protect the shadow tanker fleet while it is operating in the Baltic. During an...
maritime-executive.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:26 PM
CIRCULAR FASHION’S DIRTY DETOUR

On 27 November, Journalismfund Europe reported that donated clothes are traveling thousands through opaque free zones in Pakistan and UAE, tripling carbon emissions and creating potential money laundering risks.
www.journalismfund.eu/circular-fas...
Circular Fashion’s Dirty Detour | Journalismfund Europe
www.journalismfund.eu
December 18, 2025 at 2:25 PM
LITHUANIA ARRESTS 21 IN HOT-AIR BALLOON CIGARETTE SMUGGLING CRACKDOWN

On 17 December, OCCRP reported Lithuania had arrested 21 people allegedly linked to a criminal network that used hot-air and helium-filled balloons to smuggle cigarettes from Belarus
www.occrp.org/en/news/lith...
Lithuania Arrests 21 in Hot-Air Balloon Cigarette Smuggling Crackdown
www.occrp.org
December 18, 2025 at 2:24 PM
TRAIL OF DRUG-LINKED PLANES LEADS BACK TO CALIFORNIA SELLER – AND US AVIATION REGULATORY ‘BLIND SPOT’

On 17 December, OCCRP claimed that the law does not allow non-citizens to register aircraft, buyers can set up US shell companies or financial trusts to do so.
www.occrp.org/en/project/n...
Trail of Drug-Linked Planes Leads Back to California Seller – and U.S. Aviation Regulatory ‘Blind Spot’
OCCRP reviewed the sales of 30 planes by Lance Zane Ricotta’s companies since 2014, and found evidence that 11 of them were seized, investigated, or found abroad in suspected or confirmed drug cases. ...
www.occrp.org
December 18, 2025 at 2:24 PM
EU SANCTIONS FAQ UPDATE

On 17 December, the EU advised of updates to its FAQ re movements of Russian diplomats, diamonds, and export controls on dual-use goods and advanced technologies; as well as the consolidated list.
finance.ec.europa.eu/eu-and-world...
Frequently asked questions - Sanctions against Russia
Concerning sanctions adopted following Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and Belarus' involvement in it.
finance.ec.europa.eu
December 18, 2025 at 2:22 PM
GERMAN TAX AUTHORITY PURCHASES A TERABYTE OF DATA FROM OFFSHORE TAX HAVENS

On 12 December, ADVANT Beiten reported that the financial crime office in North Rhine-Westphalia had purchased the data from a whistleblower.
www.advant-beiten.com/en/news/tax-...
Tax evasion: North Rhine-Westphalia purchases one terabyte of data from offshore tax havens
A massive data disclosure concerning offshore service providers has prompted action from financial and law enforcement authorities. Taxpayers should act now: an overview of the opportunities for volun...
www.advant-beiten.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:22 PM
DOING BUSINESS IN HIGH-RISK JURISDICTIONS – LITIGATION RISKS IN FRANCE

On 16 December, a post from Freshfields says that France has emerged as a jurisdiction of relevance holding companies accountable for human rights and environmental impacts
blog.freshfields.us/post/102lxwk...
Doing Business in High-Risk Jurisdictions – Litigation Risks in France
France has emerged as a jurisdiction of relevance in the global trend toward holding companies accountable for human rights and environmental impacts. R...
blog.freshfields.us
December 18, 2025 at 2:21 PM
CAN SANCTIONS CHANGE THE COURSE OF CONFLICT?

On 17 December, this article from the Brookings Institution asked this question, saying experts weigh in on how sanctions are being used today
www.brookings.edu/articles/can...
Can sanctions change the course of conflict? | Brookings
www.brookings.edu
December 18, 2025 at 2:20 PM
UK: 5 INDIVIDUALS AND 19 ENTITIES ADDED TO RUSSIA SANCTIONS LISTS

On 18 December, OFSI advised of the addition of individuals and entities of various nationalities to its sanctions lists.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6943ce...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
December 18, 2025 at 2:19 PM
IRELAND: FINANCIAL CRIME BULLETIN

On 1 December, the Bank of Ireland issued its first Bulletin dealing with updates about AML/CFT, fraud and sanctions.
www.centralbank.ie/docs/default...
www.centralbank.ie
December 18, 2025 at 2:19 PM
OFAC SANCTIONS CARTEL DE SANTA ROSA DE LIMA (CSRL) MEXICAN CARTEL

On 17 December, OFAC also sanctioned Jose Antonio Yepez Ortiz, the leader of CSRL.
home.treasury.gov/news/press-r...
ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actio...
ofac.treasury.gov/media/934841...
insightcrime.org/news/mexico-...
December 17, 2025 at 7:42 PM
OFAC: NEW RUSSIAN SANCTIONS GENERAL LICENSES COVERING CIVIL NUCLEAR ENERGY ACTIVITIES AND OIL FOR JAPAN FROM THE SAKHALIN-2 PROJECT

On 17 December, 8 relevant FAQ were also amended FAQs 967, 978, 999, 1011, 1117, 1182, 1203, and 1216.
ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actio...
Transnational Criminal Organizations Designations; Issuance of Amended Russia-related General Licenses; Publication of Updated Russia-related Frequently Asked Questions | Office of Foreign Assets Cont...
ofac.treasury.gov
December 17, 2025 at 7:39 PM
UK: THE MACKAY V DICK PRINCIPLE DOES NOT APPLY IN ENGLAND & WALES

On 13 November, CMS Law reported that the Supreme Court held that there is no such English law principle of “deemed fulfilment”
cms-lawnow.com/en/ealerts/2...
www.slaughterandmay.com/insights/new...
www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litiga...
Contract is King: Supreme Court confirms the MacKay v Dick principle does not apply in England & Wales
Explore the Supreme Court's decision in King Crude Carriers v Ridgebury November, clarifying that the Mackay v Dick principle is not English law.
cms-lawnow.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:38 PM
HOW DO RUSSIAN OLIGARCHS HIDE MONEY? WRAP IT IN INSURANCE

On 25 November, Tax Notes considered the use of private placement life insurance (PPLI), or “insurance wrappers”, which can also be used to obscure the origins of assets and evade and avoid taxation.

www.taxnotes.com/featured-new...
December 17, 2025 at 7:37 PM
UN CONVENTION ON CARGO DOCUMENTS TO FACILITATE GLOBAL TRADE

On 16 December, the UN advised that the General Assembly had adopted the UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents.
press.un.org/en/2025/l330...
uncitral.un.org/en/ncdconven...
General Assembly Adopts Breakthrough Convention on Cargo Documents to Facilitate Global Trade | UN Meetings Coverage and Press Releases
NEW YORK, 16 December (Office of Legal Affairs) — The United Nations General Assembly adopted yesterday the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, a landmark treaty that extends the ...
press.un.org
December 17, 2025 at 7:34 PM
UK: COULD THE LIBOR-EURIBOR CASE HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR JURIES IN COMPLEX FRAUD CASES?

On 15 December, Corker Bining asked this after the Supreme Court focused on juries being given judicial directions how particular definitions should be interpreted.
corkerbinning.com/fraud-trials...
Fraud Trials: Floodgates Opened?
Could the Hayes & Palombo case have unintended consequences for juries in complex fraud cases, asks Maia Cohen-Lask.
corkerbinning.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:33 PM
HOW MEXICO’S FUEL THEFT MARKET WENT TRANSNATIONAL

On 16 December, Insight Crime said that Mexico’s largest criminal groups are expanding the sophistication and profitability of their involvement in illicit fuel markets, to affect the US energy sector
insightcrime.org/news/mexico-...
How Mexico's Fuel Theft Market Went Transnational
Mexican groups are expanding their local, illicit fuel markets into cross-border smuggling networks that affect the US energy sector.
insightcrime.org
December 17, 2025 at 7:31 PM
ITALIAN AND ROMANIAN AUTHORITIES SEIZE ASSETS WORTH MORE THAN €40 MILLION FROM AN INDIVIDUAL SUSPECTED OF BEING AFFILIATED WITH MAFIA FAMILIES

On 17 December, Eurojust said that he laundered money through gambling activities in Italy and cryptocurrency.
www.eurojust.europa.eu/news/eurojus...
Eurojust supports seizure of mafia assets worth EUR 40 million
Italian and Romanian authorities have seized assets worth more than EUR 40 million from an individual suspected of being affiliated with mafia families. Eurojust ensured that the freezing happened sim...
www.eurojust.europa.eu
December 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM
REPORT: CORRUPTION IN ICELAND

On 17 December, the Council of Europe reported that its GRECO arm had completed compliance procedures relating to Iceland in the light of the progress achieved in implementing recommendations
www.coe.int/en/web/porta...
Council of Europe welcomes progress in anti-corruption reforms in Icelandic central government and police - Portal - www.coe.int
<p>I<strong>celand has</strong> <strong>satisfactorily implemented 13 of the 18 GRECO recommendations</strong></p>
www.coe.int
December 17, 2025 at 7:28 PM
UK REMOVES 2 INDIVIDUALS AND 2 ENTITIES FROM SYRIA SANCTIONS LIST – BUT THEY REMAIN ON OTHER UK SANCTIONS LISTS

ON 17 December, OFSI advised individuals and entities had been removed from Syrian sanctions lists, but remained subject to sanctions
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/694271...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
December 17, 2025 at 7:28 PM
UK IMPOSES SANCTIONS AGAINST SYRIAN ENTITY UNDER ITS CHEMICAL WEAPONS SANCTIONS REGIME

On 17 December, OFSI advised that the SCIENTIFIC STUDIES AND RESEARCH CENTRE (SSRC) had been added to sanctions lists – but removed from the Syria sanctions lists.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/694273...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
December 17, 2025 at 7:27 PM
CANADA ADDS 4 INDIVIDUALS TO IRAN SANCTIONS LISTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS GROUNDS

On 15 December, Global Affairs Canada advised that it was imposing additional sanctions against 4 individuals, all Iranian senior officials
www.canada.ca/en/global-af...
Minister Anand announces additional sanctions against Iran
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions against 4 individuals under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations.
www.canada.ca
December 17, 2025 at 7:26 PM