OCCRP
Articles about OCCRP
UK Sanctions Dutch Businessman Allegedly Linked to Russian Arms Firms
The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on Dutch businessman Alexander Tattersall and his Turkish company, Redwing Metal, following a joint investigation by The Kyiv Independent, OCCRP and IrpiMedia that exposed shipments of European industrial equipment to Russian factories supplying missile and fighter jet manufacturers.
EU Blacklists Nearly 1,600 in Russian Defense Firms and Executives
The European Union adopted its largest-ever single set of sanctions against Russia to date on Monday, blacklisting 1,569 individuals and companies within the country's military-industrial complex.
Croatia Expands Probe Into Alleged Multi-Million-Euro Toxic Waste Scheme
Croatia's anti-corruption office, USKOK, expanded its investigation into an alleged international illegal waste dumping ring, arresting and questioning five new suspects and three companies over the suspected criminal disposal of hazardous materials near the town of Benkovac and inside the Velebit Nature Park near Senj.
A Chinese Auto Giant Sponsors Portugal’s National Football Team. Its Trucks Are Used by Russia to Attack Ukraine
The Portuguese Football Federations said its sponsorship deal with China’s Changan Automobile went through a “tight” compliance process. Reporters found that the Russian military uses Changan trucks to launch drone strikes against Ukraine.
Fiji Criticized in U.S. Trafficking Report Over Failure to Tackle Grace Road Cult
Fiji has been granted a one-year reprieve from a potential downgrade that could lead to U.S. aid cuts, amid concerns over its efforts to combat human trafficking, including its response to the Korean doomsday sect the Grace Road Group, according to a U.S. State Department report released last week.
Hungarian Ad Agency Got Millions From Firm Owned by Orban’s Billionaire Friend
The Hungarian political advertising agency Megafon received about $12 million from a construction company owned by a friend of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. After years promoting the government, the ad firm appears to have ceased activities since Orbán’s dramatic loss in April.
Deloitte’s Cyprus Office Helped Abramovich Firms Relocate Billions in Assets in Apparent Bid to Sidestep Tax and Transparency
A trove of emails shows that Deloitte Cyprus helped firms beneficially owned by Roman Abramovich attempt to skirt tax and disclosure obligations by retroactively transferring assets to British Virgin Islands companies using backdated paperwork.
Montenegro Arrests then Expels Russian ‘Rybar’ Network Leader, Associates
Montenegrin authorities crack down on the pro-war Telegram channel over "hybrid warfare" fears, confiscating drones and digital equipment while ordering the deportation of five Russian nationals.
Kidnappings and Home Invasions Soar as French Syndicates Extort Crypto
A father beaten and forced into a car trunk. A magistrate and her mother held hostage for 30 hours. A family terrorized overnight in northern France for digital cash. Over the past two years, a violent wave of kidnappings and home invasions has swept across France targeting cryptocurrency executives, influencers, and their loved ones, as criminal networks increasingly turn to physical torture to extort digital fortunes.
Lithuanian Minister Condemns Intimidation Campaign against Investigative Reporters
Lithuanian Culture Minister Lukas Alsys condemned the harassment of journalists and editors on Thursday after being asked about growing pressure on 15min staff following the news outlet’s joint investigation with OCCRP into the crypto-finance firm Bankera.
IKEA Stopped Selling in Russia. But its Former Belarusian Supplier Filled the Gap — With Strikingly Similar Furniture
Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, IKEA pulled out of Russia, as well as Belarus where it had sourced some furniture. The Belarusian factory stopped supplying IKEA, but kept making similar products for export to Russia. One Russian retailer even marketed the furniture as a replacement for IKEA, touting its “fami
Nearly 50 Arrested as Police Target Western Balkan Drug Network
Nearly 50 suspects have been detained following an international crackdown on a Western Balkan drug syndicate allegedly linked to murders, kidnappings, and grenade attacks across Europe, Europol announced on Thursday.
Georgia Scraps Offshore Intermediary in Azerbaijani Power Imports
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia will eliminate intermediary companies from its electricity imports from neighboring Azerbaijan, a move he said would save the state millions of dollars annually.
Police Say Scam Center Busted in PNG Had Moved from Cambodia
A suspected online scam operation that was raided by police in Papua New Guinea last month is believed to have relocated to the Pacific island country in response to a crackdown on online fraud in Cambodia, local police have told OCCRP.
U.S. Designates China-Born Businessman in Fiji for “Significant Corruption”
The U.S. State Department announced Thursday it had designated for “significant corruption” Zhao Fugang, a Chinese Communist Party-backed businessman in Fiji that OCCRP has previously revealed to be a top organized crime target of Australian law enforcement.
Azerbaijan Denies Link to Espionage Case Involving Former German Spy Chief
Azerbaijan has denied a report from a German magazine that claimed a former German spy chief — arrested Tuesday on treason and espionage charges — used classified state secrets to prepare an “analysis” for Baku’s intelligence services in exchange for money.
The Uzbek President’s Son-In-Law Secretly Acquired a UAE Passport While Serving as a Top Security Chief
Leaked records show the Uzbek leader’s son-in-law, Otabek Umarov, covertly acquired Emirati citizenship – an explicit legal breach of his position at the time as deputy head of presidential security. He then went on to obtain millions in luxury Dubai real estate.
Ex-Ukrainian Lawmaker Sent to Trial Over $1.3 Million Fraud Scheme
Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities have sent a case to trial charging former lawmaker Heorhii Lohvynskyi and five others with misappropriating 54.18 million hryvnias (about $1.3 million) in state funds and laundering the proceeds.
Montenegro Moves to Seize Vast Real Estate Empire of Fugitive Crime Boss
Montenegrin prosecutors are seeking the permanent confiscation of over 54,000 square meters of coastal real estate and luxury vehicles linked to a fugitive drug lord, striking a massive financial blow as he continues to evade a half-million-euro bounty.
Cocaine Boatmen Are Being Blown Up By US Airstrikes, But The Drugs Keep Flowing From Colombia
In the remote Colombian smuggling hub of La Guajira, locals say a year of U.S. airstrikes has left behind wrecked vessels and bodies, but done little to stop cocaine-laden speedboats from heading out to sea.
Prosecution of Tren de Aragua Accused Mastermind Deemed Complex Case
Accused Venezuelan cybercriminal Anibal Alexander Canelón Aguirre will remain behind bars after pleading not guilty to charges of funding the Tren de Aragua gang through a multimillion-dollar ATM fraud scheme.
Leaked Video of Uruguayan Kingpin Triggers Mass Arrests Across Bolivian Justice System
Two newly surfaced videos of Uruguayan drug lord Sebastián Marset alleging high-level state protection triggered a law enforcement purge in Bolivia, ending in the arrest of the country’s attorney general and 13 other top officials.
EU Froze Sierra Leone Aid for Harboring Alleged Drug Kingpin, Netherlands Says
Brussels has frozen roughly $20 million in aid to Sierra Leone's 2026 budget, in a move the Dutch justice minister attributed to the country harboring alleged cocaine kingpin Jos Leijdekkers.
Amnesty Report Documents Morocco’s Sustained Spyware Campaign Against Civil Society
A report from Amnesty International claims the Moroccan government used surveillance systems to silence human rights defenders over the course of the past two decades.
U.K. Sanctions Four Georgians Over Occupied Ukraine Visit
The U.K. has sanctioned four Georgians—including the brother-in-law of Tbilisi’s mayor—for “legitimising Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory” after they met with the head of a Russian-backed separatist republic.
Ex-Hungarian Minister Detained in $53 Million Graft Probe
Black-masked law enforcement officers escorted Balázs Hankó, a former Hungarian culture minister, into a district court on Thursday, where a judge ordered him held in pretrial detention over allegations that he masterminded the widespread misappropriation of state funds to benefit the party of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Raids Across Europe Target Far-Right Network Accused of Producing Neo-Nazi Music
Authorities in five European countries carried out coordinated searches on Wednesday as part of an investigation into a suspected far-right criminal organization accused of producing and selling sound recordings containing music that incited hatred and spread National Socialist, antisemitic, racist and dehumanizing ideology.
Leaked Warrant List Reveals How Turkmenistan Targets Critics Abroad
Considered one of the world’s most oppressive countries, Turkmenistan has long silenced critics at home. A leaked arrest warrant list reveals how the regime has weaponized the legal system to target dissidents abroad.
The US Blacklists Alleged Venezuelan Cyber Crime Mastermind
The U.S. Department of the Treasury blacklisted the first cybercriminal on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List, accusing the Venezuelan hacker of developing malware that allowed the transnational gang Tren de Aragua and Mexican syndicates to loot millions from ATM machines.
Fiji Overhauls Evidence Security After 52 Kilos of Cocaine Vanish from Court
Fiji’s police chief has ordered the immediate transfer of all illicit drugs and cash to highly secure police vaults after officials confirmed Wednesday that 52.4 kilograms of cocaine tied to two major criminal cases were stolen from a High Court evidence room, in the capital, Suva, with much of the contraband replaced by flour.
Egyptian Security Services Arrest Entire Newsroom within 24 Hours
Egyptian security services have arrested six journalists between Monday and Tuesday, all working for local independent investigative journalism platform Matsadaash. According to a statement published by the news platform on Wednesday, the crackdown began with raids on the homes of two of the journalists on Monday evening and early Tuesday morning.
Dutch Police Arrest Alleged Member of Hacking Group that Targeted FBI
Dutch Police have announced the arrest of a 24-year-old alleged member of the cybercrime group ShinyHunters that has been responsible for a string of major data breaches, including the hacking of an FBI website last week.
EPPO Indicts Two Polish Nationals in €100 Million Electronics VAT Fraud Scheme
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Katowice has indicted two Polish nationals alleging that they were part of a cross-border VAT fraud and money laundering scheme involving more than 100 million euros ($113.58 million) in fraudulent invoices. The indictment is the first to stem from "Operation Escape Room," a broader investigation targeting an electronic device trading ring operating across Austria, Belgium, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, and Poland.
Trafigura Bought Venezuelan Gold in ‘Historic’ US Deal in March. It’s Still in Storage
Experts say lawlessness in Venezuelan gold mining areas makes it hard to meet U.S. standards for import. International commodities trader Trafigura told OCCRP that the Venezuelan gold it bought after the U.S. lifted restrictions in March is still sitting in a warehouse.
Iraqi Lawmaker Sentenced to 7 Years, Fined $21 Million for Illicit Enrichment
An Iraqi court has sentenced sitting lawmaker Mohammed Farman Shaher to seven years in prison for illicit enrichment, ordering him to pay the equivalent of over $21.4 million in restitution and fines, according to legal authorities.
Seven Arrested in Massive EU Fraud Scheme Selling Used Phones as New
An international law enforcement operation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) resulted in the arrests of seven people, including two alleged ringleaders, to dismantle a criminal network suspected of selling more than one million used mobile phones as new, the EPPO announced Tuesday. The cross-border crackdown, code-named "Troja," involved more than 1,700 officers conducting over 160 searches across 19 countries.
Lithuanian Mayor Found Guilty in Expense Fraud Case
A Lithuanian court has found Prienai district Mayor Alvydas Vaicekauskas guilty of abuse of office, fraud, and document forgery over false expense claims he submitted while serving as a municipal councilor. The Alytus District Court fined him 7,500 euros ($8,800) and barred him for three years from holding elected or appointed public office once the judgment becomes final.
OCCRP Partner Siraj Wins 2026 Samir Kassir Award
The Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press has named Ali Al-Ibrahim, co-director of OCCRP member center Siraj, and Syrian investigative journalist Mais Katt as joint winners in its investigative reporting category. The award recognizes their September 2025 cross-border investigative project, “Syria’s Stolen Children: How the Assad Regime Turned Detainees’ Children into Hostages Between Intelligence Agencies and Orphanages.”
French Prosecutors Seek Prison Time for Ex-Minister Dati in Renault-Nissan Case
France's former Minister of Justice and Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, faces a requested four-year sentence for allegations of corruption and influence peddling stemming from her alleged lobbying work for the Renault-Nissan carmaking group between 2009 and 2013, OCCRP media partner Le Monde reports.
Wife, Daughter of Ecuador Gang Boss Arrested in Colombia
Colombian authorities arrested two Ecuadorian women suspected of helping manage the finances of a major transnational criminal organization, Ecuadorian police said Sunday. The women were detained in Sabana de Torres during a joint operation involving police from both nations, Colombia’s GAULA anti-kidnapping unit and the FBI. Ecuadorian authorities described both women as high-value targets and said they are believed to be the wife and daughter of the alleged crime boss José Adolfo Macías Villamar, known as “Fito.”
Internal Watchdog says Data Leaks and Bribery Push French Police Misconduct Cases to Five-Year High
Offenses involving corruption, influence peddling, and other integrity violations within the French National Police surged by 45 percent between 2024 and 2025, reaching their highest level in five years, according to an internal oversight report released this week.
Bosnian Police Officer Dies by Suicide Following Raid
A Bosnian police officer died by suicide Wednesday after authorities searched his office during a multi-city anti-trafficking operation, officials and local media reported. The State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) stated Thursday the suspect suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound during raids across Sarajevo, Doboj, and Bratunac targeting an organized crime network involved in arms and drug trafficking.
Former Anti-Corruption Official Among Two Iraqi Lawmakers Jailed for Illicit Enrichment
Iraq's Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court has sentenced two lawmakers to seven years in prison each for illicit enrichment, tying their hidden wealth to an ongoing corruption probe into a senior oil official.
US Charges Tech CEO, Russian Over Hidden Ownership
U.S. authorities have charged the CEO of a digital forensics company and a Russian national with allegedly concealing the firm's Russian ownership and the origins of software sold to U.S. government agencies, including the Secret Service.
Vanuatu Denies Revoking Andrew Tate’s Citizenship
The government of the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu has denied a media report that it had revoked the citizenship of online influencer and alleged rapist Andrew Tate.
Guns, Camouflage, and Facebook: How Colombia’s Biggest ‘Narcoinfluencer’ Weaponized Social Media
Naim Pérez, known as Bendito Menor" (“Little Blessing”), turned his life as an illegal armed-group commander into social media content that resonated in Colombia. His death in a government raid earlier this month may have amplified his fame.
Federal Judge Weighs Limits of U.S. Reach in Trial of Accused Kingpin Sebastián Marset
A federal judge will decide by Nov. 6 whether to dismiss criminal charges against Sebastián Marset, the self-proclaimed South American drug lord whose defense attorney conceded in court on Wednesday that while his client is a drug trafficker, his illicit empire fell entirely outside United States jurisdiction.
Azerbaijan Pardons French Citizen as EU Lifts Sanctions on Russian Billionaire
President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan pardoned 20 prisoners on Wednesday, including a French national jailed on espionage charges, shortly after the European Union removed Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov from its sanctions list.
EPPO Arrests Suspect in $79M Cross-Border VAT Fraud Probe
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has arrested another suspect in its “Escape Room” investigation into a cross-border VAT carousel fraud network operating across six EU countries.
Human Trafficking Raid Exposes Suspected Cyber Scam Operation in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea police rescued 39 Indonesians believed to have been trafficked to work in a cyber scam compound, the first case of its kind uncovered in the Pacific island nation.
Former Mother-In-Law of Dismissed Ukraine Prosecutor General Denies Buying Dubai Villa
With a cloud of controversy hanging over former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko — who was dismissed last week after his office was raided by anti-corruption officers — information has now emerged about a mystery villa in Dubai.
Albanian Court Orders House Arrest for Intelligence Chief
An Albanian court has ordered the director of the State Intelligence Service (SHISH), Vlora Hyseni, to be put under house arrest and suspended from public duty as part of a sweeping investigation into public tender fraud, the Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) announced Tuesday. The development prompted Prime Minister Edi Rama to announce her immediate removal from office.
Romanian Ex-Presidential Candidate Held in €1.1M Fraud Case
Romanian prosecutors have asked a Bucharest court to place former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu and businessman Ionel Rusen in pretrial detention for 30 days over an alleged organized criminal group and a 1.1 million euro ($1.26 million) fraud.
Disappearance of 2 Journalists in Djibouti Raises Concerns for Their Safety
The Committee to Protect Journalists said Sunday that it is “deeply concerned” by reports that South African investigative journalist Micah Reddy and local fixer Kooki Mahmoud have gone missing in Djibouti, and urged authorities “to immediately clarify their whereabouts and ensure their safety.”
Bosnia Seizes 1.1 Tons of Synthetic Drugs Worth Up to €33 Million
Authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina have seized nearly 1.1 metric tonnes of dangerous synthetic cathinones with a potential street value of up to 33 million euros ($37.82 million), and arrested two suspects, marking the largest synthetic drug bust in the history of the nation of roughly 3.5 million people, the State Border Service announced.
Iraq Sentences Former Electricity Director General to Seven Years for illicit enrichment
An Iraqi anti-corruption court has sentenced the former director general of a state electricity distribution firm to seven years in prison for illicit enrichment, ordering him to forfeit nearly $20 million in restitution and fines as part of a sweeping crackdown on graft in the country’s power sector.
Georgia Court Sentences Ex-Security Chief to 13 Years in Prison in Corruption Case
The former head of the State Security Service of Georgia was found guilty this week of accepting more than $2 million in bribes and sentenced to 13 years in prison, as a corruption crackdown continues against former senior officials from the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Six Convicted, €300M Confiscation Ordered in Mafia-Linked EU Tax Fraud
A Milan court has sentenced six individuals to prison and ordered the confiscation of more than 300 million euros ($344.66 million) for their roles in a transnational tax fraud and money laundering syndicate tied to the Italian mafia, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) announced on Thursday.
Former Maduro Ally Pleads Guilty in US to $195M Money Laundering Scheme
A Miami federal court brought a decade of investigative reporting to a close on Wednesday as Colombian-born businessman Alex Saab pleaded guilty to money laundering—years after Venezuelan news outlet Armando.info first began uncovering his state corruption schemes.
Belgian Court Rules Treasury Lacked Authority to Reject Release of Russian Assets
Belgium’s top administrative court has ruled that the country’s treasury department has no right to decide if frozen Russian assets should remain blocked or be released.
Hackers Demand $3M Ransom in Revolut Data Leak
A group claiming responsibility for a recent Revolut data breach has demanded 6,000 Monero—an untraceable, privacy-focused cryptocurrency—worth about $3 million, threatening to sell sensitive information belonging to hundreds of the fintech company’s customers if it is not paid within 24 hours.
Israeli Firm May Have Run Angola Influence Campaign
Israeli influence-for-hire company BlackCore appears to have trained members of an Angolan government communications team and helped them run a covert social media campaign, according to research by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab.
US Charges Russian Network in Alleged European Sabotage, US Murder Plot
A newly unsealed U.S. federal indictment reveals that a Russian intelligence network allegedly orchestrated a targeted attack in Prague in June 2024, part of a sprawling, Kremlin-backed assassination and sabotage campaign across Europe and the United States.
UK Freezes $72-million London Townhouse in Connection to Sanctioned Prince Group Associate
British authorities have targeted a luxury townhouse in London belonging to a China-born Cypriot citizen named Zhao Chen. Official documents cite the property’s connection to a man the U.K. and U.S. allege was involved in a Cambodian conglomerate accused of running major scam operations.
Independent Journalism Is Critical For European Resilience
EU leader Ursula von der Leyen warned during her State of the Union address this week that foreign propaganda and information warfare are key threats facing Europe. Fending them off requires stronger safeguards for investigative journalists.
How to Track Down People Who Don’t Want to Be Found
OCCRP’s research director offers tips and tricks on how to start investigating an individual with just a handful of clues.
Thousands Protest in Malta as Alleged Mastermind Walks Free
Outrage spilled onto the streets of the Maltese capital on Wednesday evening as demonstrators gathered at the heart of Valletta, shifting from vigils to protests to demand political accountability following the acquittal of the alleged mastermind behind the 2017 assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
French Prosecutors Seek Up to 5 Years in Prison for Sons of Ex-Yemeni President Saleh Over Ill-Gotten Assets
French prosecutors are seeking prison sentences and the formal forfeiture of luxury Paris real estate and Swiss bank accounts, accusing the sons of late Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh of laundering millions in embezzled state funds.
From Fugitive to Federal Custody: Inside the Takedown of South America’s ‘King of the South’
When federal agents reached out to Sebastián Marset through his girlfriend in March 2025 to persuade him to surrender, the Uruguayan drug lord who styled himself the “King of the South” mocked them, boasting that he was "smarter than the entire D.E.A. put together."
Ex-French Justice Minister Stands Trial Over Renault-Nissan Consultancy Case
Criminal proceedings began Wednesday against Rachida Dati, France's former Minister of Justice and Minister of Culture, and currently the mayor of a Paris arrondissement over corruption allegations stemming from her alleged lobbying work for the Renault-Nissan car making group.
Instead of Helping Ukraine’s Poor, Ferrexpo’s Charitable Donations Flowed to Companies Associated With Its Then CEO
Tens of millions of dollars that the London-listed iron ore giant Ferrexpo donated to a Ukrainian charity were not used for their intended purpose, according to a forensic report shared with OCCRP. Instead, the charitable funds flowed through dozens of Ukrainian companies — some of which were owned or controlled by Ferrexpo’s then-CEO Kostyantyn Zhevago.
Lithuanian Authorities Target Founders of Failed Cryptobank
Lithuanian law enforcement authorities have formally named three co-founders of the cryptocurrency project Bankera as suspects in a criminal investigation, accusing them of siphoning off at least 45 million euro ($49 million) in investor funds following one of Europe’s largest digital token sales.
The Son of Ljubljana’s Mayor Granted Serbian Citizenship in “National Interest”
Serbian authorities granted citizenship to the son of Ljubljana’s mayor under a discreet "national interest" provision while declining to publicise the justification of its decision. The move coincides with high-value real estate purchases in the Slovenian capital by a key ally of the Serbian president, a businessman at whose Belgrade villa the mayor's son registered his official residence.
Citing Trump Crypto Fortune, US Democrats Try to Derail Bill to Regulate Digital Assets
Congressional Democrats are using the sudden surge in crypto wealth accumulated by U.S. President Donald Trump as a rallying cry to defeat legislation that would create a new regulatory landscape for the digital currency industry.
Probe Into Serbian Ruling Party’s Election Call Center Yields No Progress After Three Years
As Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s party gears up for elections at the end of October, suspicions of vote-buying in previous election cycles remain unresolved.
Ghana Arrests Three for Allegedly Aiding Dutch Fugitive Drug Lord Jos Leijdekkers
Authorities in Ghana have arrested three men suspected of operating on behalf of Joseph “Chubby Jos” Leijdekkers, one of Europe’s most wanted cocaine kingpins, following a massive drug seizure at a French port.
Under Cloud of Scandal, Outgoing Ukrainian Prosecutor General Targets Anti-Corruption Chief
Ukraine’s outgoing prosecutor general signed a notice of suspicion Monday targeting the chief of the national anti-corruption agency, accusing him of forging documents for massive financial gain and orchestrating a sham adoption to evade prosecution.
Two Shot, Several Arrested in Clashes Over Papua New Guinea Mine
At least two people were shot and several arrested in the Papua New Guinea island of Bougainville on Sunday after unknown people set fire to equipment belonging to an Indian company poised to reopen one of the world’s largest untapped copper and gold reserves.
Philippine President’s Cousin to be Transferred from Hospital to Jail
The Philippines’ anti-graft court on Monday ordered the transfer of Martin Romualdez, former House Speaker and cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., from a hospital to a regular jail a week after his arrest, OCCRP partner Rappler reported. Romualdez is accused of plunder in a 7.44-billion-peso ($118 million) case.
UK Fraud Trial Opens Over $119M Car Investment Scheme
Two businessmen accused of defrauding investors through a car investment scheme involving about 88 million pounds ($119 million) are due to stand trial in London, the U.K. Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said. Reginald Larry-Cole and Scott Martin each face three counts of fraud over their roles at the Raedex Consortium, which operated investment schemes including Buy2Let Cars, PayGo Cars, Wheels4Sure and Rent2Own Cars. Both men have pleaded not guilty.
Cypriot Police Seize 126 Kilos of Ketamine in Limassol Raid
Cypriot police said they seized over 126 kilograms of ketamine and arrested four suspects during a coordinated raid on two residences in Limassol. Greek media claims hat the operation netted two couples—one Israeli and one Palestinian. The Limassol District Court subsequently ordered all four individuals remanded in custody for eight days as officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit (YKAN) continued with the investigation.
Jailed Editor, Closed Outlet: The Rapid Demise of Kazakhstan’s Top Independent News Site
Orda.kz, one of Kazakhstan’s leading independent news outlets, ceased publication a month after an Almaty court sentenced its editor-in-chief to eight years in prison. Press freedom advocates described the closure as the final step in a months-long state campaign aimed at silencing critical journalism.