NEWS: US preferred hub for corrupt financial transactions; Dubai, Hong Kong replace Panama as OCG centres, claims UK university report

Regulatory Watch News

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  Treasury Sanctions Additional Iranian Intelligence Officers Involved in the Probable Death and Cover-Up of Robert Levinson

  OFAC

  March 25, 2025

  WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is imposing sanctions on three Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) officials who were involved in the abduction, detention, and probable death of former FBI Special Agent Robert A. “Bob” Levinson.  The individuals designated today, Reza Amiri Moghadam, Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, and Taqi Daneshvar, all played a role in Mr. Levinson’s abduction, probable death, and Iran’s efforts to cover up or obfuscate their responsibility.  This action follows the December 2020 OFAC designations of two Iranian MOIS officers, Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, who acted in their capacity as MOIS officers in Mr. Levinson’s abduction, detention, and probable death.

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  Geopolitics and cyber threats are the biggest concerns for financial companies

  The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority

  March 25, 2025

  The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority has again this year asked a number of major financial companies how they perceive the current risks and their level of confidence in the financial system. Confidence remains high, with geopolitics and cyber threats being the most worrying.

  “Just like last year, geopolitical issues and cyber threats are the biggest risks to financial stability in Denmark, according to companies,” says Niki Saabye, head of the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority’s Economic Secretariat. “And compared to last year, geopolitical threats are now almost as high on the list of concerns as cyber threats.”

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  Italy: 13 arrests in €100 million VAT fraud investigation involving the trade of plastics products

  European Public Prosecutor's Office

  March 25, 2025

  (Luxembourg, 25 March 2025) – Today, at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Turin (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Turin executed an order of the judge for preliminary investigations at the Court of Nola, to arrest 13 suspects and seize assets worth up to €100 million. The investigation targets an organised crime group suspected of large-scale VAT fraud in the trade of plastics products.