DAVID LEWIS COLUMN: Why seizing the yachts of Russia’s oligarchs may ultimately prove ineffective and costly; and why we must stop confusing sanctions for action on dirty money

Regulatory Watch News

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  Investigation Metallo: EPPO seizes additional assets in investigation into €42.8 million VAT fraud

  European Public Prosecutor's Office

  June 5, 2026

  (Luxembourg, 5 June 2026) – At the request of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Bologna, Turin and Palermo (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Prato has seized additional assets worth over €6 million, as part of an investigation into a suspected VAT carousel fraud involving luxury vehicles. Law enforcement carried out 16 searches in the residence of the suspects and companies under investigation, in the provinces of Rome, Naples, Vibo Valentia, Palermo and Catania, and arrested two individuals. Coercive measures were applied to five additional suspects, including house arrest for two of them, prohibition on acting as managers or board members of commercial companies for four of them, obligations to remain at their place of residence and regular reporting to the police.

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  MAST charges another two alleged facilitators of trusted insider network in Sydney

  Australia Federal Police

  June 5, 2026

  Two Sydney men were yesterday (4 June, 2026) charged as part of an ongoing joint-agency investigation into a trusted insider network operating within Sydney’s cargo ports. An Oran Park man, 35, and a Condell Park man, 26, were charged by the Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST) in relation to plots to import illicit drugs between 2025 and 2026. The MAST – made up of investigators from the AFP and NSW Police Force (NSWPF) – works directly with law enforcement partners from the Australian Border Force (ABF), NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and Australian Taxation Office (ATO), to target trusted insiders.

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  The following individuals have been added to OFAC’s SDN List: CUBA

  OFAC

  June 4, 2026

  ANIDO CUESTA, Manuel, Madrid, Spain; DOB 03 Nov 1994; POB Holguin, Cuba; nationality Cuba; Gender Male (individual) [CUBA-EO14404] (Linked To: CUESTA PERAZA, Lis). CASTRO CALIS, Raul Alejandro, Havana, Cuba; DOB 16 May 1995; nationality Cuba; Gender Male (individual) [CUBA-EO14404] (Linked To: CASTRO ESPIN, Alejandro). CASTRO ESPIN, Alejandro (a.k.a. "El Tuerto"), Cuba; DOB 1965; nationality Cuba; Gender Male (individual) [CUBA-EO14404]. CUESTA PERAZA, Lis, Cuba; DOB 28 Mar 1971; POB Holguin, Cuba; nationality Cuba; Gender Female (individual) [CUBA-EO14404] (Linked To: DIAZ-CANEL BERMUDEZ, Miguel). DIAZ-CANEL BERMUDEZ, Miguel, Cuba; DOB 20 Apr 1960; POB Santa Clara, Cuba; nationality Cuba; Gender Male (individual) [CUBA-EO14404].