Top Story

U.S. authorities and Guatemalan justice officials are strengthening cooperation aimed at disrupting the financial networks supporting transnational cartel activity, with investigations expected to focus on fraud, bulk cash movements, trade-based money laundering, cryptocurrency and other methods used to move illicit proceeds across borders. U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould and Criminal Chief Fabio Leonardi of the Northern District of Texas travelled to Guatemala during the week of

Binance withdrew its application for authorisation as a crypto-asset service provider in Greece in June 2026 after the licensing process stalled before the end of the transitional period under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). Subsequent reporting has alleged that European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde intervened with Greek authorities to prevent the application from being approved. The application was submitted to the Hellenic Capita

A Russian financial technology group known as A7 allegedly moved more than $6.9 billion through the international banking system using front companies, forged commercial documents and other methods designed to conceal the nature and origin of transactions, according to an investigation based on hundreds of thousands of leaked internal files. The investigation concerns A7, a cross-border payments business established in late 2024 with backing from Russian state-owned Promsvyaz

Spain has allowed a US request to extradite American national James Cox Chambers to proceed to judicial review, following his arrest in Ibiza in July 2026. The decision does not constitute approval of his extradition. The case will now be considered by Spain’s Audiencia Nacional before the Spanish government makes a final determination. Chambers, 41, was arrested on 10 July while visiting Ibiza and remains in pre-trial detention in Madrid. He is a US citizen and has been desc

Barbados is preparing to strengthen the practical application of its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework ahead of its fifth international mutual evaluation, with the government emphasizing that controls must extend beyond banks and other financial institutions. Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams addressed the issue in the Senate on September 23, 2026, during debate on the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention and Control) Amendment

The Senate of American Samoa has given final approval to the Money Laundering Prevention and Enforcement Act of 2026, establishing a dedicated criminal-law framework targeting the laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity. The legislation was approved by the Senate on September 23, 2026. The measure is intended to create clear criminal offences covering the concealment, movement and handling of money obtained through unlawful activity in American Samoa. The bill f

British authorities have frozen a London townhouse purchased for £53 million after official property records identified a connection between the property's registered owner and a person subject to UK financial sanctions. The property, located in Belgravia, was purchased in October 2023 by Zhao Chen, who is not herself designated under UK sanctions. The restriction was placed on the property in August 2026. Land Registry documents show that Zhao Chen acquired the property for

The UK Gambling Commission has suspended the combined remote operating licence of Targetlocal Ltd, which trades as Ken Howell’s Sports Betting and operates the website kenhowells.com, following regulatory enquiries that identified anti-money laundering failings. The suspension took effect immediately on 21 September 2026 and applies to operating licence number 000422-R-336567-002. The affected licence covers Targetlocal’s online casino, sports betting and virtual event bettin