January 05 - Prosecutors in Taipei on Monday indicted 35 people, including the operator of a Hong Kong-style diner in Taipei, for allegedly laundering more than NT$30.6 billion (US$975.24 million) in illegal online gambling proceeds through payment processing platforms they controlled. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office said a man surnamed Lo (羅), 41, who operates Ming Shiang Yuan Cafe (茗香園冰室), was charged with money laundering, organized crime and illegal online gambling.

January 05 - When Leonardo Rafael Montbrun Álvarez began promoting his fintech startup in 2019 in Miami, he presented himself as a young Venezuelan entrepreneur offering a technological lifeline to people shut out of the global financial system. His company, Shasta, promised fast, low-cost digital transfers, access to international payments and a modern alternative to traditional banking for Latin Americans living under strict currency controls.

January 05 - On December 21, 2025, Prime Minister Sushila Karki held discussions with Finance Minister Rameshwor Prasad Khanal, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Governor Bishwo Nath Poudel, and director general of the Department of Money Laundering Investigation, Gajendra Kumar Thakur, regarding the work done over the past year to remove Nepal from the ‘grey list’ of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Finance Minister Khanal informed the meeting that sectoral reports were being prepared for the National Risk Assessment Report. Director General Thakur, meanwhile, informed the Prime Minister that 1,600 ropanis of land had been frozen within the Kathmandu Valley alone on suspicion of black money investment. https://english.nepalnews.com/s/business/instead-of-exiting-fatfs-grey-list-nepal-faces-risk-of-falling-into-dark-grey-list/

January 05 - Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi ordered a full-scale crackdown against mafia involved in money laundering. During his visit of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Karachi Zone, Mohsin Naqvi chaired a special meeting and reviewed the performance of FIA Karachi Zone and South Zone. Mohsin Naqvi said a strong hand should be laid on big money launderers and the entire money trail of elements i nvolved in money laundering should be exposed. He said the business of hawala hundi will not be tolerated under any circumstances and indiscriminate action should be seen.

December 29 - A Montreal man has pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy following a fraud investigation in New York state. Houssam El-Atat, 44, entered the guilty plea on Dec. 22 in front of U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo after he was extradited from Spain.