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NEWS: Ukraine accuses Hungary of taking bank employees hostage in money laundering case

Premium March 9, 2026

Ukraine's Ambassador to Hungary Sandor Fegyir arrives at the headquarters of the Counter Terrorism Centre (TEK) in Budapest, Hungary, March 6, 2026. TEK, which cooperated with the tax authority in detaining seven Ukrainian nationals carrying cash and gold from Austria to Ukraine, reportedly swooped on two Ukraine registered cash in transit vehicles on Thursday. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

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LATEST: Singapore police arrest two directors at Capital Asia Investments, seize $125m in AML probe

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LATEST: Turkey’s Halkbank settles US criminal case over Iran sanctions violations

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NEWS: AMLA to hold first public hearing on 24 March – covering draft RTS for business relationships and customer due diligence

By Krisztina Than, Anita Komuves, Bernadett Szabo and Krisztina Fenyo

HUNGARY ​said it had detained seven Ukrainians carrying around $82 million in cash and gold on suspicion of money laundering, ‌as Kyiv accused Budapest of taking bank employees hostage amid a dispute over oil shipments.

The Hungarian Tax Authority’s decision to have counter-terrorism forces swoop on two Ukrainian armoured vehicles transporting cash to Ukraine marks a dramatic escalation of tensions that have already resulted in Budapest blocking tens of billions of euros in European Union aid for Kyiv.

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Premium

LATEST: Singapore police arrest two directors at Capital Asia Investments, seize $125m in AML probe

 Premium

LATEST: Turkey’s Halkbank settles US criminal case over Iran sanctions violations

 Premium

NEWS: AMLA to hold first public hearing on 24 March – covering draft RTS for business relationships and customer due diligence

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