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The European Banking Authority (EBA) and the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism have finalized the full transfer of all anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing mandates and responsibilities, marking a major step forward in the European Union’s efforts to combat financial crime. The completion of this handover brings to a close the stand-alone AML/CFT mandate that the EBA has held since 2020 and represents a key mileston

The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) has published updated evaluations assessing the progress of regional jurisdictions in combating illicit financial activities, reflecting technical compliance re-ratings for Suriname and the British Virgin Islands through May 2025. The reports highlight legislative and operational improvements made by both territories and underscore their efforts to align domestic regulations with international standards for transparency and ri

The European Commission has formally classified Russia as a “high-risk third country,” pointing to long-standing and systemic weaknesses in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework. The decision follows an in-depth technical assessment that drew on publicly available information, findings from authorities in EU member states, and evaluations conducted by the European External Action Service (EEAS). The Commission concluded that Russia’s financial sy

The Netherlands Gambling Authority has issued a binding instruction to bet365’s Dutch operator, Hillside New Media Malta, after concluding that the company failed to properly assess player affordability and intervene when signs of financial harm emerged. The regulator noted that these deficiencies persisted for several months despite repeated warnings. The authority stated that the shortcomings occurred between at least December 2024 and June 2025, during which bet365 did not

A specialist money launderer who played a central role in supporting fugitive cryptocurrency fraudster Zhimin Qian has been ordered to repay £5,603,305.81 or face an extended prison term. Seng Hok Ling was sentenced to four years and eleven months in November 2025 after admitting involvement in a sophisticated criminal enterprise. On the same day, the primary defendant, Zhimin Qian, received a sentence of eleven years and eight months for her leadership of the conspiracy. The

The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has mandated an external audit of global payments platform Airwallex following concerns over serious non-compliance with financial crime regulations. AUSTRAC Chief Executive Officer Brendan Thomas announced the regulatory action on January 22, 2026, citing potential failures in the company’s management of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) obligations. The audit, conducted under sect

Croatia has strengthened its framework for combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism, but further work is still required to fully address remaining weaknesses, according to a follow-up report adopted by MONEYVAL, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism. The assessment finds that Croatia has achieved significant progress in remedying technical compliance shortcomings that pr

Indian authorities have stepped up their crackdown on illegal online gambling by blocking a further 242 betting and wagering websites, bringing the total number of restricted platforms to more than 7,800 nationwide. The latest move underscores a marked intensification of enforcement efforts following the introduction of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, which bans online money gaming throughout the country. According to government officials, the on

Finland has moved further along the path of overhauling its gambling framework by granting expanded powers to its newly created gambling regulator, reinforcing enforcement as the country prepares to transition to a licensing-based market in 2027. The changes mark another significant milestone in the dismantling of the long-standing monopoly model. Under the new arrangements, Finland’s Permit and Supervision Agency will take responsibility for overseeing enforcement in the fut

Malaysia’s former army chief and his wife were charged on Thursday (Jan 22) with money laundering offences involving close to RM2.2 million (US$543,000), marking another major development in a widening anti-corruption crackdown within the country’s defence establishment. In separate proceedings at the Kuala Lumpur Special Corruption Court, 58-year-old Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan and his wife, Salwani Anuar, 26, were each slapped with four charges under the Anti-Money Launder

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) carried out extensive supervisory work in 2025, resulting in administrative sanctions totaling €2.3 million, President George Theocharides said at a press conference on Wednesday, reviewing the Commission’s activities over the year. The regulatory authority conducted approximately 600 on-site and remote inspections of Cyprus Investment Firms (CIFs), alongside extensive reviews of Collective Investment Managers and Undertak

The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening player protection in 2026, closing out January with the publication of its supervisory agenda for the coming 12 months. After a challenging and politically charged year for both the gambling sector and the Netherlands more broadly, the authority has struck an optimistic tone as it looks ahead to a period of intensified oversight and reform. In the agenda, KSA Chair Michel Gr

The US Treasury announced on Wednesday that it has imposed sanctions on six Palestinian aid organisations operating in Gaza, accusing them of forming part of a “covert support network” for Hamas through its armed wing, the Qassam Brigades. The organisations named in the announcement are Waed Society, Al-Nur, Qawafil, Al-Falah, Merciful Hands and Al-Salameh. In its statement, the Treasury said it was acting through its Office of Foreign Assets Control, noting that “Treasury’s

The Korea Customs Service has successfully dismantled a major criminal network that laundered 148.9 billion won through unauthorized digital asset transfers, authorities confirmed. Investigations revealed that three Chinese nationals orchestrated the elaborate scheme by exploiting domestic bank accounts and international cryptocurrency platforms between September 2021 and June of the previous year. The suspects have been referred to the prosecution for serious violations of t

The Lebanese Central Bank has introduced a series of regulatory enhancements aimed at responding to evolving financial threats and preserving the integrity of the national banking system. At the core of these reforms is a strong emphasis on deploying advanced screening mechanisms designed to identify illicit funds before they can penetrate the formal economy. Regulators are placing greater weight on transparency by requiring more frequent disclosures and imposing stricter sta

On 1 January 2026, the European Union reached a decisive moment in its campaign against financial crime as the European Banking Authority formally completed the transfer of all anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism responsibilities to the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism. The handover represents a major step toward centralizing oversight at the EU level and safeguarding the integrity of the single market.

Former Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili has been sentenced to five years in prison following a plea agreement announced by the Prosecutor General’s Office on January 12 in connection with a serious money laundering case. In addition to the prison term, Garibashvili was fined GEL 1 million, or approximately USD 270,000, and authorities will confiscate cash seized from his residence that they say was obtained illegally. Without the plea deal, Garibashvili had been fa

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia has issued a final decision siding with the Department of Justice in its effort to keep confidential a lengthy monitor report examining HSBC’s internal compliance failures. Granting the government’s motion for summary judgment, the court brought to a close years of litigation over access to a document exceeding one thousand pages that chronicles the bank’s past shortcomings and remediation efforts. The ruling concl

The Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering monitoring body, MONEYVAL, has published a new set of follow-up reports assessing the performance of Georgia, Montenegro, Poland and Slovakia, revealing mixed outcomes in how effectively these countries have strengthened their frameworks to combat illicit finance. While several states have recorded meaningful legislative and regulatory advances, others continue to face persistent shortcomings in meeting technical compliance standa

Nicola Brown, a 37-year-old resident of St John’s Park, Waterford, has pleaded guilty to committing money-laundering during the period of February 3 to 5, 2024. Brown made her plea at Waterford Circuit Court before Judge Eugene O’Kelly. She admitted to a charge of money-laundering contrary to Section 7.1.a and 7.1.b, having laundered €5,600 through a Revolut account. During the hearing, defence counsel Gareth Hayden BL requested that a probation report be prepared ahead of se