Financial Crime Weekly Podcast
Financial Crime Weekly Podcast is presented by Chris Kirkbride, a law lecturer at the University of Worcester, focusing on financial crime. The show covers news, events, and legal developments regarding fraud, bribery, market abuse, money laundering, cybercrime, and related issues. While centered on the UK, it also explores financial crime in other jurisdictions, emphasizing the cross-border nature of these offenses.
Episodes
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 286
Welcome to episode 286 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US Treasury has targeted the Tren de Aragua cyber-fraud network, Cuban trade restrictions, and the "A7 Network" shadow banking system, while the UK has enacted 31 new Russia-related designations, extended the Sakhalin-2 oil price cap exceptions, authorised LNG maritime transport to Japa
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 285
Welcome to episode 285 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions, there are UK arms brokering convictions and updated UN and UK sanctions listings. On money laundering, there are AML mutual evaluation reports from MONEYVAL and the FATF concerning Canada, Türkiye, and Gibraltar. Enforcement authorities across the United States and the United Kingdom
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 284
Welcome to episode 284 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, OFSI has established a "presumption of denial" policy for licence applications involving five designated Iranian banks, while OFAC has consolidated its Sanctions Penalty Regulations and updated Syria-related rules. On money laundering, a FCA multi-firm review has urged institutions to stren
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 283
Welcome to episode 283 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, OFAC designates Iranian digital asset exchange BitBank, and terminates Ethiopia emergency sanctions alongside updated Russia-related Lukoil authorisations. The UK revokes maritime sanctions on the oil tanker ASTRA. On money laundering and regulatory oversight, the UK FCA has opened an enforcement i
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 282
Welcome to episode 282 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on money laundering and financial integrity, a FinCEN Exchange targets Iranian illicit finance networks, a RUSI commentary evaluates the effectiveness of the global FATF architecture, and the UK government unveils a £550 million Anti-Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Strategy. In corruption enfor
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 281
Welcome to episode 281 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions, the US has designated Russian financial institution VTB Bank, while OFSI has issued clarified guidance on crediting interest to frozen accounts. Under money laundering enforcement, the UK government has launched a £500 million strategy recruiting 500 specialist investigators, and form
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 280
Welcome to episode 280 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions, the UK has introduced expanded statutory controls targeting Iranian economic sectors, while the US Department of the Treasury designates procurement networks supporting Kata'ib Hizballah and Lebanese Hizballah. On money laundering and corruption enforcement, HMRC released its list
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 279
Welcome to episode 279 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions, the US has expanded measures targeting Cuban elites, a Turkish financial network, and Iran's commercial aviation sector, while the UK has enacted new designations against West Bank human rights abuses, Hizballah financial entity Al-Qard Al-Hasan, and a compound settlement has been
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 278
Welcome to episode 278 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions, the UK makes several administrative corrections, and there is a term of imprisonment in the US for an individual who smuggled semiconductors to Russia. On money laundering, there is a prison sentence for a money laundering conspiracy, and on bribery and corruption, the UK SFO settles
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 277
Welcome to episode 277 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US expands "Operation Economic Outcast", and the UK issues a joint flash alert on the Russian "A7" sanctions evasion network. On money laundering, a prison sentence is handed to a Nigerian money launderer in the US, and the UK Gambling Commission takes enforcement action against
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 276
Welcome to episode 276 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, OFAC has issued new counter-terrorism designations and updated Russia-related diamond import licences. In the UK, the FCDO has made corrections to UK sanctions, and OTSI has published its first annual review. On money laundering, the UK NCA has forfeited funds from a company over suspected money la
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 275
Welcome to episode 275 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions, US has lifted Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, and launched a range of secondary sanctions targeting Iran. On fraud, in the US, there is a Social Security and pension fraud sentencing, as well as one for an ATM jackpotting conspiracy. There is the conviction in
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 274
Welcome to episode 274 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the UK has issued a sanctions alignment following amendments by the UN, and the US has issued sanctions against Cuban officials and a Turkish-led Hizballah cash-smuggling network. Finally, the International Criminal Court has responded to the US sanctions imposed on two of its members. On enforceme
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 273
Welcome to episode 273 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions, the UK Foreign Office updates counter-terrorism designations, and the US government sanctions members of the ICC. On money laundering, there is a 15-year sentence for a Chinese money launderer. Moving to fraud and bribery, there is the arrest of a public official over alleged pandemic
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 272
Welcome to episode 272 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on sanctions developments, a US manufacturer has settled an apparent Iran sanctions violation with OFAC, while the UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has amended and extended its Lukoil General Licences. On money laundering enforcement, the US Treasury Department has repealed
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 271
Welcome to episode 271 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, on money laundering, we look at the English Court of Appeal’s decision in R v Osmond concerning the tipping-off offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. On bribery and corruption, we look at the agreement between the DoJ and Veloxis Pharmaceuticals. On market abuse, the US Securities and Excha
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 270
Welcome to episode 270 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the UK amends its Russia sanctions list with administrative variations and corrections for three individuals, while OFAC designates individuals and entities associated with Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood financial networks. Concurrently, the European Union adopted its 21st sanctions package against R
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 269
Welcome to episode 269 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, there are major global developments across sanctions, money laundering, fraud, regulatory enforcement, and cyber security. In sanctions developments, OFAC clarified deposit requirements for Venezuelan earthquake relief, OFSI has updated its basic needs licensing guidance, and the EU has designated
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 268
Welcome to episode 268 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the United Nations Security Council has blacklisted two entities and six armed group commanders operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while the US Treasury designated over 50 targets and shipping vessels linked to the multi-jurisdictional oil network of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani. Mone
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 267
Welcome to episode 267 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, there is significant global enforcement actions, regulatory updates, and compliance developments. In sanctions enforcement, the US has targeted Iranian financial networks, blocked state-owned Cuban entities, and made cyber designations. Concurrently, the UK expanded its sanctions to target Russian
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 266
Welcome to episode 266 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, global developments in sanctions enforcement, regulatory compliance, enforcement actions, and cyber security policy. On sanctions, OFAC provides clarification on Russian sanctions, and starts the process to lift Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. In the UK, HMRC reports recove
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 265
Welcome to episode 265 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, significant global developments in sanctions enforcement, regulatory assessments, and the evolving technological landscape of financial crime. In sanctions enforcement, both the European Union and the United Kingdom implemented restrictive measures targeting Russian military scientists and entities
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 264
Welcome to episode 264 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, coordinated international enforcement actions, strategic regulatory frameworks, and high-level institutional transitions highlight this week's global efforts to combat illicit finance. The United States Department of the Treasury designated a Brazilian financial network for allegedly laundering
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 263
Welcome to episode 263 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, International regulatory and enforcement bodies are intensifying their focus on illicit finance, marked this week by coordinated US sanctions targeting Sudanese procurement networks and cartel-linked fuel smuggling, alongside the UK's landmark public settlement with Petrofac Facilities Manageme
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 262
Welcome to episode 262 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, global law enforcement and financial watchdogs are increasing pressure on illicit networks, led by "Operation Endgame," which is a coordinated international sweep which successfully disrupted critical infrastructure supporting major malware distribution networks. In the United States, feder
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 261
Welcome to episode 261 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, there is the formalisation of joint operational priorities between Europol and INTERPOL, alongside concerted efforts by the US and UK to harmonise their respective sanctions regimes. The Financial Action Task Force has also revised global standards to protect humanitarian aid, and published the out
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 260
Welcome to episode 260 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, a ship’s captain is charged for allegedly breaching Russian sanctions, and there are the US Treasury’s latest designations against Hizballah-linked officials. In the UK, Nigeria's former oil minister has been acquitted in a bribery case, while the High Court has imposed reporting restrictions i
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 259
Welcome to episode 259 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the UK announces the conviction of an international arms-trafficking network, and the European Union announces its latest sanctions package targeting Russia’s "shadow fleet" and military-industrial capacity. UK Finance publishes a report designating the country’s £1.3 billion fraud losses a
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 258
Welcome to episode 258 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, new US sanctions targeting Iranian military procurement networks and Cuba's state-owned oil company, alongside a High Court ruling clarifying the scope of UK sanctions and contractual obligations. Europol has dismantled a €336 million cryptocurrency laundering service and the sentencing of a ba
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 257
Welcome to episode 257 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US designates a shadow fleet network moving Iranian petroleum through front companies, and the European Union announces its 21st sanctions package against Russia. There is a $21.3 million settlement for contract fraud, alongside a prison sentence for a $100 million international investment sche
Financial Crime Weekly Special Episode: Conversation with Pedro Bizarro, Feedzai
Welcome to this special edition of the financial crime weekly podcast.If you’ve been paying attention to the news this week, or at any time in the last two years, you can’t have failed to notice the cybersecurity landscape has officially crossed a terrifying new threshold. Google’s Threat Intelligence Group released a report confirming that generative AI has moved from a shiny new toy to a routine
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 256
Welcome to episode 256 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, an Iran-based tech executive is arrested for alleged procurement of U.S. equipment for military sectors, and the results of "Disruption Week" have been published. In the UK, the Crown Prosecution Service has published its 2030 strategy, while in Sri Lanka there is a nationwide campaign to b
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 255
Welcome to episode 255 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the U.S. Treasury has modernised its sanctions lists, and settled with FTI Consulting for dealings in prohibited Russian debt. In the UK, the Public Accounts Committee reports on the Ministry of Defence fraud risk, and the government warns offshore financial hubs about transparency. We also look at
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 254
Welcome to episode 254 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the expansion of US sanctions against Iran, and a FCA report flagging systemic weaknesses in the management of £37 billion in frozen assets. There is a new international framework between major economies and tech firms to address online fraud, as well as OECD data showing that coordinated settlemen
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 253
Welcome to episode 253 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the UK imposes sanctions targeting Russian evasion networks, and the US designates Lebanese officials linked to Hizballah. From the UK, a report is published highlighting the estimated £325 billion in illicit funds which move through the UK annually, and the dismissal of a "circular" fraud
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 252
Welcome to episode 252 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US Treasury lifts sanctions on a UN expert following a free-speech ruling, and there is a designation of Sinaloa Cartel networks. A former investment company CEO has been sentenced for breaching an SFO restraint order, alongside multiple enforcement actions related to COVID-19 relief fraud in t
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 251
Welcome to episode 251 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, OFSI fines Deutsche Bank for Russia sanctions breaches, and the US reaches a settlement with Adani Enterprises over prohibited transactions involving Iranian cargo. There is a $1 billion US federal crackdown on nationwide fraud schemes, alongside the arrest of a former Venezuelan minister for large
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 250
Welcome to episode 250 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the European Union has extended its cyber-attack sanctions, and the UK has made administrative updates to its Iran, Russia, and Afghanistan regimes. In the US, a $1 billion Medicare fraud leads to a conviction, and a sentence has been handed down in a decade-long money laundering conspiracy. Furthe
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 249
Welcome to episode 249 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US and UK have expanded various of their sanctions regimes, while on fraud, the US has had heightened activity including the conviction of Bradley Heppner in a $150 million securities fraud scheme and the sentencing of a ringleader whose multinational network defrauded the elderly and vulnerabl
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 248
Welcome to episode 248 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US expands sanctions targeting officials in Iraq and military-controlled conglomerates in Cuba. We look at a report on the rise in insider fraud threats and, on market abuse, the SEC prosecutes a global insider-trading ring. Additionally, the IMF has assessed governance vulnerabilities in Nepal
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 247
Welcome to episode 247 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, new UK sanctions target Russian drone manufacturing supply chains and migrant exploitation, and the FATF has published its mutual evaluation of Singapore. In the US, two individuals are sentenced for a genetic testing fraud, and in the UK Ultra Electronics has agreed a Deferred Prosecution Agreemen
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 246
Welcome to episode 246 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US sanctions a former president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On fraud, a €50 million pan-European fraud network has been dismantled, and a range of counter-fraud operations in the US including one targeting cryptocurrency "pig-butchering" scam centres, and the successful pro
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 245
Welcome to episode 245 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US Treasury’s extensive sanctions targeting Iran’s "shadow banking" network and its global oil revenue streams, alongside the UK’s announcement of upcoming sanctions updates and revised trade licensing procedures. A French national has been sentenced for laundering nearly half a billion
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 244
Welcome to episode 244 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the EU has adopted its 20th sanctions package against Russia, and US Treasury designations have targeted a Cambodian network linked to scam operations and human trafficking. In the UK, Serious Fraud Office is investigating an energy efficiency scheme fraud, and a former RBS manager has been sentenc
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 243
Welcome to episode 243 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, new US sanctions targeting Iraqi militia commanders, procurement networks for Iranian missile technology, and facilitators of the conflict in Sudan. Deutsche Bank has self-disclosed potential breaches of Russian sanctions, and the EU has adopted a new directive aimed at standardising corruption off
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 242
Welcome to episode 242 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, an Iranian oil-smuggling network linked to Hizballah is addressed, alongside the UK National Crime Agency charging a shipping financier for Russia-related sanctions breaches and money laundering. There is the sentencing of two US nationals for facilitating a multi-million dollar fraud, and the FCA’
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 241
Welcome to episode 241 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US Department of Justice has launched a $40 million remission process for victims of the OneCoin cryptocurrency fraud, and new sanctions are issued targeting casinos and associates linked to the Cartel del Noreste. AUSTRAC has warned the wealth management sector over a significant lack of suspi
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 240
Welcome to episode 240 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US Treasury issues guidance targeting "sham transactions" used to evade sanctions, and the DoJ establishes the National Fraud Enforcement Division to coordinate major fraud prosecutions. Globally, Operation Atlantic disrupts $45 million in cryptocurrency schemes. In Australia, AUSTRAC h
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 239
Welcome to episode 239 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, record financial fraud losses are reported by the FTC and FBI, totalling $15.9 billion and $21 billion, respectively. The Department of Justice has taken enforcement action in relation to healthcare and COVID-19 fraud, and FinCEN has proposed an overhaul of anti-money laundering and counter-terrori
Financial Crime Weekly Special Episode: Conversation with Boaz Valkin, Falkin
In this special episode, I spoke with Boaz Valkin, Co-Founder and CEO of Falkin, a digital safety platform which is redefining how financial institutions approach the global surge in fraud.Boaz's journey into the world of cyber defence is deeply personal, stemming from a devastating family experience where a close family member lost 15% of her life savings in a single afternoon to a bank phish
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 238
Welcome to episode 238 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US lifts sanctions on Venezuela’s acting president and several Russian-flagged vessels, and the UK extends a general licence. The SEC brings insider trading charges, while in the UK, the FRC closes its investigation into KPMG. Additionally, the episode covers Transparency International’s assess
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 237
Welcome to episode 237 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, OFSI issues a £390,000 penalty against Apple Distribution International for breaching Russia sanctions, and AUSTRAC significantly tightens anti-money laundering controls. In the US, there is a coordinated warning from the US Treasury and FinCEN regarding organised fraud targeting healthcare, alongs
Financial Crime Weekly Special Episode: Conversation with Craig Taylor, CyberHoot
Cybercrime is always in the news. It is high profile. It is impossible to open a news-based website on any day without seeing news that an attack has taken place. Indeed, the most recent high-profile cyberattack in the UK on Jaguar Land Rover has closed the production line, sent employees home, and has the UK government stumping up £1.5bn in pandemic-style support for the supply chain. Against tha
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 236
Welcome to episode 236 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the UK government expands its human rights sanctions list, and a unanimous Supreme Court decision confirms that Russian sanctions suspended payment obligations under letters of credit. The Crown Prosecution Service has seized an £81 million London property portfolio using an Unexplained Wealth Orde
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 235
Welcome to episode 235 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US Treasury designates a 16-member network accused of diverting funds to Hizballah, and there is a guilty plea from a former bank CEO involving a multimillion-dollar fraud. In the UK, the NCA reports on the outcome of Operation Henhouse, and there is a new global public-private framework aimed
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 234
Welcome to episode 234 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, a landmark ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union regarding the classification of insider list notifications as "inside information" and the National Crime Agency’s latest strategic assessment on the tech-driven "criminal ecosystem". In the US, the Department of Just
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 233
Welcome to episode 233 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, INTERPOL and the UNODC raise the problem of the "industrialisation of fraud." In England, the High Court has ruled that the tort of conversion cannot be used to recover stolen cryptocurrency, and the Environment Agency is to have police powers to address waste crime. The Council of the Euro
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 232
Welcome to episode 232 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US designates four non-profits in Türkiye and Indonesia for allegedly funding Hamas, and takes action against a DPRK IT worker fraud network. In the UK, OFSI updates guidance on evaluating the "reasonableness" of legal fees in sanctions licensing, and it varies the Russia sanctions list
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 231
Welcome to episode 231 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the UK Government unveils a £250 million Fraud Strategy and a new Online Crime Centre. In the US, the Treasury has released its 2026 National Risk Assessments, while the DOJ seeks to forfeit over $15 million tied to an Iranian oil-evasion network. We look at the UK's new unified strategic appro
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 230
Welcome to episode 230 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the FCA has fined John Wood Group plc for publishing misleading financial statements, while banning orders have been issued against directors for fraud linked to NHS contracts. On international enforcement, a Spanish police operation has dismantled a money-laundering ring, and there has been a take
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 229
Welcome to episode 229 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, there is major US civil forfeiture action targeting an oil tanker and 1.8 million barrels of crude oil linked to illicit trade between Iran and Venezuela. The FATF has warned that stablecoins accounted for 84% of illicit virtual asset volume in 2025, alongside an OPBAS report flagging persistent en
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 228
Welcome to episode 228 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, significant enforcement actions as the US Treasury sanctions Iran’s "shadow fleet" and procurement networks, while FinCEN moves to cut Swiss bank MBaer off from the American financial system. In the UK, Transparency International’s report on £5.9 billion in trade between UK Overseas Territo
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 227
Welcome to episode 227 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the UK government’s most extensive sanctions package against Russia since 2022, targeting nearly 300 entities and vessels, alongside a prison sentence for a UK director who illicitly exported military-grade rifle sights to Hong Kong. In enforcement news, the SFO has secured a prison term for the pe
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 226
Welcome to episode 226 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we cover a significant international enforcement push by INTERPOL, while the US Treasury targets a CJNG−linked timeshare fraud network. We also look at US sanctions imposed on Sudanese RSF commanders and MONEYVAL’s praise for Latvia’s significant AML/CFT progress. In legal developments, we cover th
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 225
Welcome to episode 225 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we look at the outcomes of the FATF Plenary, the UK government’s call for evidence on sanctions ownership and control rules, and the FCA issuing a fine to the former Carillion CEO. In the US, the Treasury has launched a new confidential whistleblower portal, and FinCEN has warned of the rise of rel
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 224
Welcome to episode 224 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the US Treasury has sanctioned a Hizballah-linked gold and shipping network operating across the Middle East and Russia, alongside a $1.72 million OFAC fine against IMG Academy for tuition-related violations of Mexican counternarcotics sanctions. In the UK, the FCA’s first-ever enforcement action a
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 223
Welcome to episode 223 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the major story is the stark warning from Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, which highlights a global decline in public sector integrity and significant backsliding in established democracies like the UK and US. In sanctions enforcement, the US has designated a network
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 222
Welcome to episode 222 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we lead with a light flurry of UK sanctions activity, including the designation of six individuals under the Sudan regime and an update to general licensing following the merger of Bank FC Otkritie, while a new analysis explores how cryptocurrency is being leveraged to sustain Russia’s war economy.
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 221
Welcome to episode 221 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we lead with a coordinated international push against Iranian repression, while in the US the Treasury has opened a path for established firms to resume Venezuelan oil exports. In the UK, the Upper Tribunal has upheld FCA findings of a lack of integrity against Rangecourt SA and its former executiv
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 220
Welcome to episode 220 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we lead with a major escalation in international sanctions, as the EU targets 15 individuals and six entities in Iran for human rights abuses and military support for Russia, while the UK’s OFSI announces a sweeping overhaul of its enforcement framework. In the fraud and money laundering sectors, t
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 219
Welcome to episode 219 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we lead with the UK government’s proposal to establish a new National Police Service, dubbed a "British FBI." In sanctions news, the US Treasury has designated nine vessels linked to Iran’s "shadow fleet," OFSI has fined Bank of Scotland for Russia-related breaches, and a UN expert
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 218
Welcome to episode 218 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we look at decisive action from the US Treasury targeting a hidden Hamas support network using nonprofit fronts and a major Costa Rica-based cocaine trafficking and money laundering operation. In the UK, the City of London Police launched the "Report Fraud" service, and the SFO has charged
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 217
Welcome to episode 217 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we lead with the US Treasury sanctioning 21 entities and individuals involved in Houthi oil smuggling and weapons procurement, while the EU marks a historic structural shift as the European Banking Authority transfers all AML/CFT mandates to the new AMLA. We examine the SFO’s conviction of three di
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 216
Welcome to episode 216 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we lead with significant sanctions updates as the UK and EU lower the oil price cap on Russian crude to $44.10 per barrel, and the US Treasury targets Iranian shadow-banking networks and security officials linked to illicit financing. We also analyse major domestic and international enforcement, in
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 215
Welcome to episode 215 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we lead with significant global sanctions updates, including a multilateral warning regarding North Korean cyber-enabled sanctions evasion and the US designation of several Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist organisations. We also look at major legal developments, such as the five-year money
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 214
Welcome to episode 214 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, we cover significant federal movements in the US, including the White House’s launch of a new DOJ division for national fraud enforcement and a former TD Bank employee pleading guilty to a $2 million money laundering scheme. In the UK, the SFO has repatriated £400,000 to fraud victims, the FCA has
Financial Crime Weekly Episode 213
Welcome to episode 213 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I’m Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the dramatic escalation in global sanctions enforcement, including the US targeting four entities linked to Venezuela’s oil sector and a high-stakes naval engagement over a sanctioned tanker in the North Atlantic. We also analyse the UKFIU’s 2024-25 annual report, while in the US, FinCEN has officia
Financial Crime Weekly Special Edition: Crypto Regulation and Financial Crime
This Financial Crime Weekly Special Episode examines the seismic regulatory and enforcement shifts that reshaped the crypto landscape in 2025. From the EU’s “Fortress Europe” under MiCA and the UK’s aggressive Financial Promotions regime, to U.S. legislative clarity on stablecoins and digital commodities, the episode highlights how the era of regulatory liminality has ended. With case studies rang
Financial Crime Weekly Special Episode: 2026 Horizon Scan
This Financial Crime Weekly Special Episode looks ahead to 2026, a year defined by localisation and divergence in global financial crime regulation. From the EU’s AMLA rollout and the US Corporate Transparency Act compliance cliff, to the UK’s aggressive enforcement of the new “Failure to Prevent Fraud” offence, the episode explores how jurisdictions are reshaping rules to meet domestic priorities
Financial Crime Weekly Special Episode: 2025 Review
In this Financial Crime Weekly Review episode, we take stock of the key developments which shaped 2025 across enforcement, regulation, and corporate accountability. From landmark legislative changes and headline cases to evolving trends in cryptoassets, ESG‑related financial crime, and sanctions, the episode distills a year of complex activity into clear insights. With a focus on practical impact
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