Anti Money Laundering News 13 Oct 2025

Anti Money Laundering News (06 Oct – 12 Oct 2025)

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Global AML News Weekly Digest. Here are the top stories making headlines around the world:

CBN Imposes ₦20 Million Fine on POS Operators for Ownership Changes

Nigeria’s Central Bank (CBN) has imposed a ₦20 million fine on Point-of-Sale (POS) operators that change ownership, merger or acquisition without prior approval, under its new agent banking guidelines. In addition, a daily penalty of ₦500,000 will apply for continuous non-compliance until rectified. The directive is intended to strengthen regulatory oversight and ensure transparency in POS operator structures, thereby limiting AML risks stemming from opaque ownership or control changes in fintech ecosystems.

(BusinessDay NG)

High Court Confirms $5.06M Penalty on Christchurch Casino for AML Failures

In New Zealand, the High Court has approved a NZ$5.06 million penalty against Christchurch Casino after it admitted violations of AML / CFT obligations. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) investigation (May 2023 – Sept 2024) found systemic failures: inadequate monitoring, poor recordkeeping, failures in enhanced due diligence, and not terminating business relationships when required. Justice Dunningham reduced the proposed NZ$6.33M figure by 20% for the casino’s cooperation and admission. This ruling is considered a landmark in the country’s regulatory enforcement landscape.

(RNZ / ODT) (RNZ)

Deutsche Bank and the Epstein “Ghost” — Old Case, New Spotlight

A Fortune article recently revisits Deutsche Bank’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, describing how the bank continued to maintain accounts for Epstein and related entities despite public red flags. The piece frames it as a “ghost” in regulatory memory, arguing that memories of that scandal still cast a shadow over how banks manage reputational and AML risk today. While the major penalty ($150 million by NY regulators in 2020) was long ago, the review underscores enduring lessons about how high-risk clients should never be ignored.

(Fortune)

Dubai Authority Fines 19 Crypto Firms in Licensing Crackdown

Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has fined and issued enforcement actions against 19 crypto firms for operating without the proper licensing or breaching marketing/operational rules. The fines ranged between US$27,000 and US$163,000 depending on severity of infractions. The crackdown signals UAE’s tightening stance on crypto regulation and its resolve to bring these firms under AML supervision.

(CoinMarketCap)

ED Arrests Reliance Power CFO in Money Laundering Probe

India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Ashok Pal, the CFO of Reliance Power, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The action is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged bank frauds and suspicious financial flows involving group entities. The arrest is a serious enforcement signal, though monetary fines, asset attachments, or judicial adjudications are yet to be publicly disclosed.

(Telangana Today)

EBA Says AML Progress, But Weak Spots Remain

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published a supervisory review noting that, while many national authorities have improved AML/CFT frameworks, a “substantial minority” still underperform in applying risk-based supervision, coordination, and consistency in enforcement. The report warns that those gaps may undermine EU-wide efforts to reduce financial crime.

(ICLG / EBA)

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