Nigerian Instagram celebrity, Pascal Okechukwu, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of abusing naira banknotes. The charges against Okechukwu relate to three incidents in which he allegedly tampered with or “sprayed” NGN500 banknotes. Another Nigerian celebrity, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, received a six-month prison sentence for the same offence. Nigerian Authorities Clamp Down on Naira ‘Spraying’ […]
US Treasury Cites Rising Cryptocurrency Misuse in 2024 National Risk Assessments
In its 2024 National Risk Assessments, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has unveiled the concerning trend of criminals increasingly turning to cryptocurrencies to finance illegal activities. US Treasury Reports Identify Crypto’s Role in Illicit Finance The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced in a press release that it has issued its 2024 National Risk […]
DOJ Charges Belarusian National With Money Laundering Conspiracy and Operating Unlicensed Crypto Exchange
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged the Belarus national Aliaksandr Klimenka with money laundering conspiracy and the operation of an unlicensed money services business. Most of these criminal activities were perpetrated via BTC-e’s servers in the U.S. which were “leased to and maintained by Klimenka and Soft-FX.” According to the DOJ, Klimenka […]
Affected by the National Stock Market Downturn, Chinese Investors Have Flocked to Gold
Chinese investors have been buying gold as an investment, motivated by the poor performance of traditional stock and property options. According to World Gold Council (WGC) reports, China had the largest demand for gold for jewelry and investment purposes in 2023. This, and the demand from central banks has maintained gold prices over $ …
Indian National Pleads Guilty in Case Involving ‘Largest Single Cryptocurrency and Cash Seizure in DEA History’
An Indian national has pleaded guilty in a case involving “the largest single cryptocurrency and cash seizure” in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) history. The defendant “is designated as a Consolidated Priority Target, which makes him one of the most significant drug trafficking threats in the world,” the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) described. […]