Treasury Sanctions Illicit Fentanyl Supply Network Tied to Sinaloa Cartel
On October 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced one of its most explicitly forceful actions yet against the illicit drug trade. Eight Mexican individuals and twelve Mexico-based entities linked to the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel were sanctioned for supplying fentanyl precursor chemicals. The move, carried out by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), targets the financial and material infrastructure supporting a network that produces and distributes fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that has fuelled a devastating wave of overdose deaths in the United States.
UAE Enacts New CBUAE Law: A Consolidated Regulatory Leap
The federal government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) formally issued Federal Decree‑Law No. 6 of 2025 (the “New CBUAE Law”), marking a landmark overhaul of the country’s financial-institutions and insurance regulation in recent years. This new law repeals and replaces the earlier Federal Decree‑Law No. 14 of 2018 (the “2018 Law”), as well as the Federal Decree‑Law No. 48 of 2023 on insurance activity.
Reforming the UK’s AML or CFT Supervisory Landscape
In October 2025 the UK Government declared fundamental changes to the supervision of anti‐money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) in the professional services sector. The core measure was that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will become the single professional services supervisor for AML/CTF in the legal, accountancy and trust & company service provider sectors.
South Africa, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Burkina Faso Exit the FATF Grey List
In a recent plenary decision, South Africa, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Burkina Faso were reported to have completed the required action plans and demonstrated sufficient progress to be removed from the FATF grey list. This development marks a landmark step for each of these nations, as grey listing can influence economic confidence, foreign investment, correspondent banking relationships, and perceptions of governance integrity. The decision reflects improvements in regulatory enforcement, institutional coordination, investigative capacity, and international cooperation mechanisms across the four countries.
UAE Takes the Helm of MENAFATF in 2026
At the conclusion of its 41st Plenary Meeting in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, the MENAFATF formally announced that the United Arab Emirates will assume the presidency of the regional body beginning January 2026.
The week-long Plenary session saw extensive participation that had high-level delegations from member states, various observers, and international partners who came together for focused deliberations on intensifying cooperation to counter financial crimes such as money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.
U.S. Launches New Strike Force to Tackle Southeast Asian Crypto Investment Scams
In a major effort to curb rising cryptocurrency frauds, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, in coordination with key federal agencies, announced on November 12, 2025 the establishment of the first-ever Scam Centre Strike Force. The move aims to defend Americans from what authorities describe as widespread, transnational “crypto-investment” schemes emerging from Southeast Asia.
The public unveiling included officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Secret Service, and the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, highlighting the breadth and seriousness of the problem.
U.S.–Mexico Joint Action Against Money Laundering
On November 13, 2025, the Treasury announced a coordinated effort with the Government of Mexico to dismantle a transnational criminal network operating through gambling and hospitality venues. This comes as part of a broader commitment to disrupt financial flows of drug cartels and organized crime.
The joint action targets the Hysa Organized Crime Group (HOCG), a family-run network alleged to launder proceeds from narcotics trafficking via casinos, restaurants, and other businesses across Mexico with links reaching into Europe and the United States.
US, UK and Australia Impose Sanctions on Russia-Based “Bulletproof Hosting” Firm
On November 19, 2025, the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia announced a coordinated set of sanctions targeting a Russia-based web services provider, Media Land, along with several related companies and individuals, for their role in facilitating ransomware operations and other forms of cybercrime.
The coordinated action, announced by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the U.K.’s foreign office, and Australia’s relevant authorities, reflects an intensifying global effort to disrupt the infrastructure that underpins major cyberattacks.
