Tag

National Crime Agency

All articles tagged with #national crime agency

crime1 year ago

UK and US Crack Down on Russian-Linked Money Laundering Networks

The National Crime Agency has uncovered a major money laundering network involving Russian-speaking criminals who helped UK drug gangs convert cash into cryptocurrency during the pandemic lockdown. The operation, based in Moscow, facilitated the laundering of drug profits and was also used by the Russian state for espionage. The network spanned 30 countries, leading to 84 arrests, including 71 in the UK. Key figures, including Ekaterina Zhdanova, were sanctioned by the US. The network used cryptocurrency exchanges Smart and TGR to move illicit funds, complicating law enforcement efforts to track drug money.

cybersecurity1 year ago

"Law Enforcement Cracks Down on LockBit Ransomware Gang and Bitcoin Holdings"

The LockBit ransomware gang has accumulated over $110 million in unspent Bitcoin, with more than $125 million in ransom payments received over the past 18 months. The National Crime Agency (NCA) in the U.K., in collaboration with other agencies, identified and disrupted the group's infrastructure, uncovering 2,200 unspent bitcoins and discovering that the total ransom amounts are likely in the hundreds of millions. LockBit, which has been active since 2019 and targeted high-profile organizations, is one of the most prolific ransomware groups, with law enforcement agencies offering rewards for information on its members.

crime1 year ago

"Record Cocaine Seizure: UK Police Uncover £450m Haul in Banana Shipment"

British authorities seized a record 5.7 tons of cocaine, valued at over $570 million, at the port of Southampton, believed to be destined for Hamburg, Germany. The National Crime Agency (NCA) described it as the largest seizure of Class A drugs ever in the UK and a significant blow to international organized crime cartels, estimating that the illicit cocaine market in the UK generates around £4 billion a year for criminal gangs.

cybersecurity1 year ago

Law enforcement seizes control of multiple cyber criminal sites

The online site of the criminal gang LockBit, known for organizing ransomware cyber attacks, has been taken over by law enforcement, including the National Crime Agency of the UK, the FBI, and international law enforcement task force 'Operation Cronos'. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre has previously warned about the enduring threat posed by LockBit, which has been involved in high-profile hackings and is known for stealing sensitive data and demanding ransom. LockBit's eponymous software was the most deployed ransomware variant in 2022 and continues to be prolific in 2023.

politics2 years ago

"Michelle Mone's Controversial COVID Contracts and Political Feuds"

Michelle Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman, who profited £65m from providing £203m of allegedly unusable Covid-19 PPE, are under investigation by the National Crime Agency. Mone, who repeatedly lied about her involvement, recently gave a disastrous interview with the BBC. The Conservative government's failure to address the issue of profiteering during the pandemic is eroding trust in politics.

politics2 years ago

"Baroness Mone and Husband's PPE Scandal: Accusations and Expulsion Calls"

Baroness Mone, involved with PPE Medpro, a company awarded contracts worth over £200 million for PPE supplies during the pandemic, has claimed that government ministers were aware of her involvement from the start. The National Crime Agency is investigating the procurement of contracts by the company. Mone admitted to lying about her personal links to PPE Medpro but argued it was not a crime. Rishi Sunak stated that legal action is being pursued against the company, and Lady Mone faced calls to permanently step back from the House of Lords.