Top stories this week:
NCA Recovers £3.84m in Suspected Sanctions Evasion and Money Laundering Case | INTERPOL Operation Leads to 58 Arrests
Welcome to this week's edition of the KYC Roundup, your gateway to the most impactful developments in the world of Anti-Money Laundering and financial crime. In the AML arena, the NCA has secured a £3.84 million forfeiture, while an INTERPOL operation targeting financial-crime networks has led to 58 arrests.
In the fast-paced world of sanctions, OTSI reports 178 potential UK trade-sanctions breaches, while the US targets nearly 60 entities and vessels linked to Iran.
In the corruption space, former Malaysian prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob faces an asset-declaration charge, while former president Robert Kocharyan faces bribery, abuse-of-office and money-laundering charges in Armenia.
We round off this week’s roundup with our latest article, “Event-Driven KYC Monitoring vs Periodic Reviews.”
KYC & AML
NCA Recovers £3.84m in Suspected Sanctions Evasion and Money Laundering Case
ENEX Premium Trading Limited has agreed to forfeit more than $5.2 million (£3.84 million) following an NCA civil recovery investigation into suspected money laundering and sanctions evasion. Investigators traced funds in UK accounts to Chinese accounts held by ENEX that had received funds from suspected front companies, some later sanctioned by the US over alleged Iranian oil sales and payments to the Qods Force.
INTERPOL Operation Leads to 58 Arrests
An eight-month INTERPOL-coordinated operation targeting West African organised crime groups has led to 58 arrests and the identification of 263 suspects across 22 countries. Operation Jackal IV focused on disrupting money laundering and criminal networks involved in romance, cryptocurrency and investment scams.
Ghana Establishes Committee to Oversee Virtual-Asset Regulation
Ghana has inaugurated a Virtual Assets Coordinating Committee as authorities work towards full implementation of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act 2025 by 2027. The Bank of Ghana and Securities and Exchange Commission are developing operational guidelines and policy sandboxes.
Sanctions
OTSI Records 178 Suspected UK Trade-Sanctions Breaches
The UK Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation received 178 reports or referrals concerning potential trade-sanctions breaches during 2025/26, according to its first annual review, with 156 relating to the Russia regime.
US Launches Wide-Ranging Iran Sanctions Campaign
The US Treasury has launched Operation Economic Outcast alongside sanctions against nearly 60 entities, individuals and vessels that US authorities link to Iranian nuclear and missile procurement, cyber activity and oil revenues.
Corruption
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Charged Over Failure to Declare Assets
Former Malaysian prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been charged under Malaysia’s anti-corruption law with failing to declare his assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. The charge identifies RM14.7m in cash, holdings in nine foreign currencies and five gold bars. Ismail Sabri pleaded not guilty.
Former Armenian President Faces Bribery and Money Laundering Charges
Armenian prosecutors have charged former president Robert Kocharyan with three counts of abuse of official powers, two counts of accepting a particularly large bribe and four counts of particularly large-scale money laundering. The allegations relate to the transfer of state-owned property on favourable terms. Kocharyan denies wrongdoing.
KYC360/Experian News
Article: Event-Driven KYC Monitoring vs Periodic Reviews
Keeping KYC up to date is one of the biggest challenges for compliance teams. Our latest article explores how firms can combine scheduled reviews with event-driven monitoring to identify material changes, focus resources where risk is changing, and maintain a clearer view of client risk across the lifecycle.
Read now:
Your latest weekly update from the worlds of money laundering, legislation and regulation, sustainability, gaming and gambling, crypto and sanctions.
KYC360 Weekly Roundup - 28th August 2026
KYC360 Weekly Roundup - 21st August 2026