“Greasy hands”: EPPO targets international criminal network for €15 million fraud involving engine oil
European Public Prosecutor's Office
(Luxembourg, 7 May 2024) – Investigation ‘Greasy Hands’, led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Turin (Italy), is targeting a criminal organisation alleged to have imported vehicle lubricants to the Italian market while systematically evading VAT, causing a loss of over €15 million.Searches and judicial measures were executed today by the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) in the provinces of Bari, Campobasso, Foggia, Matera and the regions of Rome, Trieste and Turin. Simultaneously, investigative measures were also carried out in Latvia. Judicial measures have been taken against 14 individuals, including the suspected ringleaders. Eight of the suspects will remain in pre-trial detention, and six have been placed under house arrest.
United States Sanctions Senior Leader of the LockBit Ransomware Group
US Department of the Treasury
WASHINGTON — Today, the United States designated Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, a Russian national and a leader of the Russia-based LockBit group, for his role in developing and distributing LockBit ransomware. This designation is the result of a collaborative effort with the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, the Australian Federal Police, and other international partners. Concurrently, the Department of Justice is unsealing an indictment and the Department of State is announcing a reward offer for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Khoroshev. The United Kingdom and Australia are also announcing the designation of Khoroshev.
Financial sanctions update: Cyber
OFSI
On 7 May 2024 the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated the UK Sanctions List on GOV.UK. This list provides details of those designated under regulations made under the Sanctions Act.
The following entry has been added under the Cyber financial sanctions regime and is now subject to an asset freeze:
Dmitry Yureyvich Khoroshev (Group ID: 16494)
OFSI’s consolidated list of asset freeze targets has been updated to reflect these changes.