Category: Regions

Regulatory Watch News

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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.

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  Bulgaria: EPPO charges entrepreneur with subsidy fraud involving heating systems

  European Public Prosecutor's Office

  March 14, 2025

  (Luxembourg, 14 March 2025) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Sofia (Bulgaria) filed an indictment today against an entrepreneur, accused of using false documentation to illegally obtain €54 000 (BGN 106 047.49) in EU and national funds. The funds were aimed at purchasing heating systems.