Day: May 22, 2019

On 22^nd May, the Guardian in Nigeria reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned Bridget Okafor, a former Assistant Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on a 13-count charge – she pleaded not guilty to the charges.

https://guardian.ng/news/efcc-arraigns-ex-customs-boss-okafor-for-alleged-n3b-fraud

KYC 360 on 22^nd May reported that Mexico’s government will auction a Lamborghini, homes and other assets seized from gangsters and at least one former politician, as part of a “Robin Hood” programme to use millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains to aid the poor – by the newly created Institute to Return Stolen Goods to the People.  The first auction will seek bids for 77 vehicles with a total starting price of around $1.5 million.

https://www.riskscreen.com/kyc360/news/mexico-to-auction-lamborghini-other-seized-assets-to-help-poor/

CNA reported on 21^st May that an international trade fair in North Korea this week may be the largest such event on record, analysts said, with hundreds of Chinese and other foreign vendors taking part despite sanctions pressure.  More than 450 companies from North Korea, China, Russia, Pakistan, Poland and “other countries and regions” showcased a range of products at the fair, the state news agency claimed.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/hundreds-of-foreign-companies-attend-north-korea-trade-fair-despite-sanctions-11551322

On 21^st May, Infosecurity Magazine cites a Fortinet report which highlights criminal’s adaptation of ransomware, with targeted attacks, being customised for high-value targets and to give the attacker privileged access to the network.  The report also mentioned dual-use tools, preinstalled on targeted systems to carry out cyber-attacks, and shared infrastructure and communication between malware and botnets.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/ransomware-not-gone-but-more-1/

The report is at –

https://www.fortinet.com/fortiguard/threat-intelligence/threat-research.html

On 21^st May, UNIAN in Ukraine reported that MMZ Avangard, supplier of the S-300 and S-400 surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems, the Gatchina SAM Training Centre and the Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) Tula had been made subject to US sanctions.  The sanctions imposed by the State Department include a ban on export licences and on any business involving the US Government.  A number of other concerns in China, Iran and Syria are also listed, together with a Chinese individual.

https://www.unian.info/world/10558185-u-s-to-slap-sanctions-on-russian-supplier-of-missiles-for-s-300-s-400-systems.html

https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2019-10664.pdf