The court also handed a five-year sentence to former deputy managing director Christian Herrault, while Lafarge itself now owned by Holcim was fined €1.125 million.

The case stems from payments made between 2013 and 2014, when Lafarge, through its Syrian subsidiary, transferred nearly €5.6 million to armed groups, including Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra. These payments were made to secure access to raw materials and ensure safe passage for company employees and transport operations.

According to the Paris court, these transactions enabled Lafarge to continue operating its cement plant in northern Syria despite escalating conflict. Presiding judge Isabelle Prévost-Desprez stated that the company effectively entered into a «commercial partnership»  with terrorist organisations, contributing to their ability to finance operations both in the region and abroad.

The ruling follows earlier proceedings in the United States, where Lafarge pleaded guilty in 2022 to providing material support to designated terrorist organisations and agreed to pay a $778 million fine, the first time a corporation faced such charges.

Lafarge had completed construction of its €680 million plant in Jalabiya in 2010, shortly before the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011 amid protests against President Bashar al-Assad. While many multinational companies withdrew from Syria in 2012, Lafarge continued operations, evacuating only foreign staff and keeping local employees on site until the facility was seized by Islamic State fighters in 2014.

Prosecutors argued that Lafont authorised the decision to keep the plant operational despite clear risks, describing the strategy as driven solely by profit. The court found that eight former employees were involved in financing terrorist organisations, issuing sentences ranging from 18 months to seven years. Among them, Syrian intermediary Firas Tlass was sentenced in absentia to seven years in prison.

French counterterrorism prosecutors emphasised that the company’s actions were aimed at preserving commercial interests, despite the known involvement of extremist groups controlling the region.

Holcim, which acquired Lafarge in 2015, has stated it had no knowledge of the activities in Syria at the time. Meanwhile, a separate legal case concerning potential complicity in crimes against humanity remains ongoing.

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Operation Atlantic, conducted last month and co-hosted by the NCA alongside the United States Secret Service, Ontario Provincial Police and the Ontario Securities Commission, focused on identifying victims affected by so-called “approval phishing” scams. These schemes involve fraudsters deceiving individuals into granting access to their cryptocurrency wallets, often under the guise of investment opportunities.

During the operation, authorities identified more than 20,000 victims across the UK, Canada and the United States. One UK-based victim alone is believed to have lost over £52,000 as a result of such fraudulent activity.

Through collaboration with private sector partners, investigators were able to trace illicit transactions and intervene in real time. This enabled authorities to freeze more than $12 million linked to suspected fraud, while also identifying over $45 million stolen globally through cryptocurrency-related scams.

The NCA hosted participating law enforcement agencies at its London headquarters, where real-time intelligence sharing, technical capabilities and coordinated victim outreach efforts contributed to the disruption of multiple fraud networks worldwide. The City of London Police, Financial Conduct Authority and other international partners also took part in the week-long operation.

Officials highlighted the critical role of private sector organisations in detecting suspicious activity and identifying victims quickly, allowing funds to be secured before they could be moved by criminals. This model of close public-private collaboration is expected to form a central element of the UK government’s recently announced Fraud Strategy, aimed at improving early detection and prevention of financial crime.

Authorities will now continue analysing intelligence gathered during Operation Atlantic to support victims and pursue further investigations into suspected criminal activity.

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In its decision dated April 1, 2026, the AMF’s sanctions committee fined the firm €300,000. Its directors at the time of the violations, Anthony Finck and Marc Peuvrier, were each fined €75,000. All sanctions are accompanied by a five-year ban on operating as financial investment advisers.

The case relates to misconduct between January 2020 and June 2023. The regulator found that Kerdiz Finance misrepresented its regulatory status, allowing itself to be presented as an authorised investment services provider despite lacking the necessary approval. The firm also incorrectly claimed to a potential intermediary that it had received authorisation from the AMF to market financial products linked to Vivat Multitalent.

The sanctions committee further determined that the firm failed to properly identify and manage conflicts of interest, particularly in relation to its commercial and capital ties with the Vivat Multitalent group. It also did not implement adequate safeguards предусмотренные its own procedures to address such conflicts.

In relation to Vivat Multitalent investment offerings, the AMF concluded that Kerdiz Finance did not comply with product governance requirements designed to protect investors. The firm failed to gather sufficient information to properly understand the products it was recommending and did not apply the controls set out in its internal procedures.

The regulator also found that the company exceeded the limits of its authorised activities and failed to act with the necessary competence and diligence in the best interests of its clients. This included recommending securities issued by several Multitalent entities without verifying whether key safeguards, such as the appointment of a management company and a custodian, were in place. These products were also prohibited from being marketed in France at the time.

Additionally, Kerdiz Finance conducted a marketing campaign for the “Guyane Agricole” investment scheme, which involved high-risk agricultural investments in French Guiana, despite the elevated risk of losses exceeding the initial capital invested.

The AMF also identified shortcomings in the firm’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing controls, as well as a lack of cooperation with regulatory oversight.

The sanctions committee held that most of the violations were attributable to both executives, with certain exceptions concerning findings not formally notified to Anthony Finck. The decision remains subject to appeal.

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The investigation, led by FBI agents in New Haven in coordination with the Connecticut State Police, traced the fraudulent transactions across multiple cryptocurrency wallets, according to U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, David Sullivan.

The case began in September when the Connecticut resident received a letter instructing him to perform a mandatory security check on a cryptocurrency device. Although the message appeared to originate from the device manufacturer, it contained instructions that allowed fraudsters to compromise the device, resulting in the theft of approximately $234,000 in cryptocurrency.

Investigators followed the flow of stolen funds through several cryptocurrency accounts and ultimately recovered around $600,000 in Tether, a stablecoin frequently used in digital asset transactions. Officials confirmed that the seized cryptocurrency represented proceeds of wire fraud and was involved in money laundering.

The operation highlights ongoing risks in digital asset security and underscores the increasing capacity of federal authorities to track and seize cryptocurrency linked to criminal activity.

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Li, a Chinese national, was extradited from Phnom Penh with the assistance of Cambodian authorities. According to Chinese state media, he is suspected of fraud, concealing criminal proceeds, and running illegal operations including unauthorised casinos.

The case centres on Huione Group, which had been identified by investigators as a key player in facilitating global money laundering activities linked to online scams. Authorities allege that the company provided services enabling criminals to move illicit funds across borders while obscuring their origins.

Chinese officials have intensified crackdowns in Southeast Asia in recent years, targeting both scammers and the financial networks supporting them. These operations often involve online fraud schemes run from secured compounds, with victims and perpetrators frequently including Chinese nationals. Some individuals involved are believed to have been trafficked and forced into participation.

The investigation also connects Huione Group to Prince Group, a larger entity previously sanctioned by the United States. U.S. prosecutors have accused the group of orchestrating investment scams that defrauded victims of billions of dollars. Its chairman, Chen Zhi, was extradited to China earlier this year.

China’s Ministry of Public Security confirmed that multiple key members of Chen Zhi’s alleged criminal network have now been arrested. State television footage showed Li arriving in custody, escorted by Chinese officers following his extradition.

For years, cooperation between Chinese and Cambodian authorities resulted mainly in the arrest of lower-level operatives, while senior figures behind large-scale fraud and laundering operations remained beyond reach. The latest extraditions suggest a shift, with Cambodia increasing its cooperation under pressure from Beijing.

The United States has also taken action against the network. Authorities sanctioned Prince Group and related entities, while seizing nearly $15 billion in cryptocurrency linked to Chen Zhi’s operations — one of the largest such seizures on record. American prosecutors have filed charges against Chen, including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Separately, Huione Group was blacklisted by U.S. authorities as a money-laundering operation, effectively cutting it off from the American financial system. Investigations estimate that Huione and its affiliates processed at least $4 billion in illicit funds, with some estimates suggesting significantly higher volumes when including activity on associated online marketplaces.

Despite maintaining legitimate services such as payment processing and financial products in Cambodia, investigators found that the group’s primary revenue was derived from illicit operations. These included tailored money-laundering services and platforms connecting criminals with financial facilitators.

In December, Cambodia’s central bank announced that Huione Group had entered liquidation after its operating licence was revoked, marking a significant step in dismantling one of the region’s most prominent financial crime networks.

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Klyuev, 58, faces charges of aggravated money laundering, accused of funneling stolen funds through offshore companies into luxury purchases across France. According to prosecutors, between 2008 and 2012, more than 2.1 million euros ($2.42 million) were spent on high-end fashion, art, jewelry, and exclusive ski resorts. Some transactions allegedly benefited other Russian officials and connected parties.

The trial is being held in absentia, as Klyuev is believed to remain in Russia. French authorities have cited the unlikelihood of extradition, noting limited cooperation from Russian authorities. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and fines of 4.5 million euros.

Investigators say the fraud involved the seizure of Hermitage Capital subsidiaries and fraudulent claims for tax refunds, which were approved by Russian officials.

The illicit funds were traced across Europe and beyond, including through Swiss bank accounts, British Virgin Islands companies, and Western financial institutions. A portion of the funds was laundered through Danske Bank’s Estonian branch, resulting in a $2 billion settlement with U.S. authorities, while other proceeds were invested in real estate in Manhattan, Cyprus, and Dubai.

Bill Browder, co-founder of Hermitage Capital, said, “The investigation revealed how complex laundering operations can move illicit funds across borders. This trial represents a long-overdue step in holding the key perpetrators accountable.”

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Mayolas is currently at large along with his wife and son after all three were sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment earlier this month. The charges relate to the misappropriation of financial support allocated under FIFA’s Covid-19 relief programme in February 2021, including nearly $500,000 intended for the country’s women’s national team.

Investigators believe Mayolas fled the country weeks before the court proceedings and may be hiding in either Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Regional law enforcement agencies have been alerted, while authorities are working with financial intelligence bodies, including Tracfin, to identify and freeze assets linked to the case.

On 10 March, a court in Brazzaville convicted Mayolas and his family of multiple offences, including money laundering, forgery, and embezzlement. Also convicted were Fecofoot’s general secretary Badji Mombo Wantete and treasurer Raoul Kanda, who each received five-year prison sentences.

Separately, FIFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Mayolas, Wantete and Kanda over alleged financial misconduct. The governing body is reviewing potential violations including conflicts of interest, document falsification, and the improper acceptance of benefits, following information submitted to its ethics committee.

Allegations indicate that since assuming leadership of Fecofoot in 2018, Mayolas may have used a network of shell companies to divert FIFA funds. A declaration submitted by presidents of top-tier women’s clubs in Congo claimed that only $20,000 of the $500,000 allocated in 2021 for pandemic relief was ultimately distributed. Mayolas has previously denied the accusations, describing them as politically motivated, while Wantete also rejected the claims. Both officials had earlier faced sanctions from FIFA in 2015, receiving six-month bans for ethics breaches related to gifts and benefits.

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The proposed measure would require the US President to impose asset-freezing sanctions and visa bans on high-level officials in the Government of Hungary if they are found to have directed, approved, or otherwise contributed to efforts to delay or block financial or security support for Ukraine. This would apply to assistance provided through bilateral arrangements as well as multilateral frameworks, including the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The bill also targets officials involved in approving or maintaining Hungary’s imports of Russian oil and natural gas, aligning with broader Western efforts to curb Russia’s energy revenues.

An exemption is provided for cases where Hungary formally adopts and begins implementing a transparent, time-bound strategy to reduce its reliance on Russian energy imports. Such a plan must include a binding commitment to significantly diversify oil and gas supplies before 2028. To qualify, Hungarian authorities must also refrain from any obstructive actions related to Ukraine assistance for a continuous period of at least 180 days. The legislation comes amid reports that Hungary has threatened to suspend gas supplies to Ukraine in response to disruptions in Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding energy security and regional cooperation

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According to FinCEN, Evjemo‑Nysveen, who served as MBaer’s vice chair from September 2020 to May 2023 and had been a board member since 2019, allegedly used her position to process payments linked to a corruption scheme involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), following U.S. sanctions on the company in January 2019. The notice claims these payments were made on behalf of her husband, Bazzoni, who had been a minority shareholder in MBaer and previously sanctioned by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in January 2021 for supporting a PDVSA-linked sanctions-evasion network. Although Bazzoni has since been removed from the sanctions list, the Treasury emphasized that the alleged activities occurred while he was still designated.

MBaer, founded in 2018 by Michael Bär, managed approximately CHF 4.9 billion in client assets and nearly 700 relationships before its collapse in 2026. Swiss regulator FINMA revoked the bank’s license earlier that year after uncovering systemic deficiencies in anti-money laundering compliance, weak risk management, and repeated failures to investigate or report high-risk transactions. Investigators determined that MBaer had executed transactions for clients under sanctions or with frozen assets, potentially assisting in circumventing official restrictions, prompting liquidation proceedings.

The Treasury notice also highlighted other controversial figures linked to MBaer, including José Luis Chávez Calva, described as a “key figure involved in laundering billions of dollars obtained through PDVSA corruption”,handling funds for both Bazzoni and Alex Saab, a known associate implicated in Venezuelan oil corruption networks. Calva has publicly denied wrongdoing, stating that any MBaer account held was for legitimate purposes.

Evjemo‑Nysveen and Bazzoni have strongly denied the allegations, with legal representatives asserting that the Treasury references rely on “unsubstantiated or debunked sources.” They argue that Bazzoni’s delisting from the U.S. sanctions list undermines the credibility of the claims and note that neither U.S. nor Swiss authorities have initiated legal proceedings against Evjemo‑Nysveen. No UK law enforcement agency has confirmed any investigation into either individual.

The case has drawn public attention in the United Kingdom due to the couple’s high-profile involvement in English polo. Bazzoni previously participated in charity matches, including one against Prince William, and both have been patrons of prominent polo teams. Evjemo‑Nysveen also owns significant property near Windsor, underscoring how individuals with visible social and business profiles can become entangled in complex cross-border financial crime allegations.

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Local sources told Reuters that the Mozambique-flagged tanker, named Deyna, was suspected of flying a false flag while sailing from the Russian port of Murmansk. The operation was conducted in coordination with British naval forces, according to the French Mediterranean prefecture.

Russia did not immediately respond to the seizure. Previously, Moscow has characterized similar incidents involving its tankers or cargo vessels as acts of piracy.

At the request of prosecutors, the French military said the vessel was escorted to an anchorage for further inspection. President Macron described the ships as “conflict  profiteers” that circumvent international sanctions and violate the law of the sea in a post on X. This interception marks the second such operation by France in recent months. In January, French authorities stopped the oil tanker Grinch in the waters between southern Spain and northern Morocco, also on suspicion of being part of the Russian shadow fleet.

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