UPDATE: Speculation FATF could add up to two MEA countries to ‘grey list’ this week

Regulatory Watch News

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  Leaders of Los Zetas, a Violent Mexican Drug Cartel, Arraigned on Drug Trafficking, Firearm, and Money Laundering Charges

  US Department of Justice

  March 15, 2025

  Mexican nationals and former leaders of the Los Zetas cartel were arraigned today in Washington, D.C., on charges of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise that involved multiple murder conspiracies, conspiring to manufacture and distribute large quantities of cocaine and marijuana destined for the United States, using firearms — including a machinegun — during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes, and conspiring to launder monetary instruments.

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  Large cocaine bust in Ecuador: 36 arrested after 73 tonnes of drugs seized

  Europol

  March 14, 2025

  A large-scale drug trafficking investigation, supported by Europol, led to the dismantling of an Ecuadorian criminal cell involved in supplying wholesale cocaine to the EU via major ports. The international operation, led by the Ecuadorian National Police (Policía Nacional del Ecuador), also involved the German Criminal Police (LKA Baden-Württemberg), German Customs (ZFA Stuttgart) and the Spanish Guardia Civil.

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  Company Director jailed after receiving £250,000 via fraudulent loans during COVID

  The Crown Prosecution Service

  March 14, 2025

  A man who fraudulently applied for five false bounce-back loans during the COVID pandemic has been jailed. Mohammed Uddin, 37 of Dunmow, Essex, previously pleaded guilty to five counts of false representation to make gain and was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court today to 28 months in prison.  He was disqualified from acting as a company director for five years. Uddin was prosecuted following an investigation by the National Investigation Service (NATIS).   He was the company director of four businesses and in total, submitted five applications for loans between May 2020 to November 2022.