28th July 2019
UKRAINE DETAINS UKRAINIAN FOR ATTEMPTING TO SHIP PARTS FOR COMBAT HELICOPTERS TO RUSSIA
Crime Russia reported on 27th July that customs officers have detained at the railway station in the Kharkiv region, a Ukrainian who wanted to transport helicopter components for the Mi-8 and Mi-24, recognised as military goods, to Russia.
IRANIAN GRAIN VESSELS STRANDED IN BRAZIL OVER US SANCTIONS FREE TO LEAVE
Rferl on 28th July reported that the vessels were stranded in early June after Petroleo Brasileiro, Brazil’s state oil company, refused to sell them bunker fuel for fear that it would violate U.S. sanctions against Iran.
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-ships-refueled-allowed-leave-brazil-sanctions/30079309.html
UK: COCAINE SMUGGLING GANG WHO USED HELICOPTERS TO FERRY MILLIONS OF POUNDS WORTH OF DRUGS TO RENTED HOLIDAY HOMES
The Manchester Evening News on 27th July carried a feature about a convicted cocaine smuggling gang based in the north west of England who rented holiday homes then chartered helicopters to drop off millions of pounds worth of drugs from across Europe. Helicopters were loaded with cocaine then flown by Dutch pilots across the Channel and into the UK. The private flights would be booked between Belgium and southern English airports, with associates responsible for renting secluded properties on those routes. The helicopter pilots could then drop off their consignments without significantly diverting from their flight paths, disappearing from airport traffic monitors for just a few minutes at a time. 6 flights, which contained a combined total of just under 500 kg of cocaine with an estimated wholesale value of £17.25 million, were identified.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/cocaine-smuggling-gang-who-used-16655835
AUSTRALIA: 5 CHARGED OVER $100 MILLION MONEY LAUNDERING SYNDICATE
On 28th July, various media reported that a Manminder Singh, aged 31, had become the fifth person taken into custody over his alleged role in the syndicate. It is believed he frequently delivered cash deposits from organised crime groups to different banks across Sydney. On one occasion, he made 9 different deposits totalling nearly $500,000 in one day. The group have been accused of using South-West Sydney security business Assure Protection Services as a front for laundering $100 million from organised crime groups in Australia and abroad. The money laundering syndicate’s alleged director Gangandeep Pahwa, aged 30, his partner Gopali Dahl, aged 30, and 2 others Bipin Thapa, aged 29, and Nitin Kapila are currently in custody.
https://www.desiblitz.com/content/five-charged-over-100m-money-laundering-syndicate
EU COMMISSION TAKES MEASURES TO END ILLEGAL TAX BREAKS IN CYPRUS (AND ITALY) YACHT INDUSTRY
On 25th July, In Cyprus reported that the European Commission has said that it was taking further steps to end illegal tax (VAT) breaks in the yacht industries of Italy and Cyprus, first brought to light in the Paradise Papers leaks. The Commission has decided to refer Italy to the Court of Justice for the EU for its failure to address an illegal system of exemptions for fuel used to power chartered yachts in EU waters. At the same time, the Commission has decided to send reasoned opinions to Italy and Cyprus for not levying the correct amount of VAT on the leasing of yachts, saying that tax breaks of this type can lead to major distortions of competition.
ANGOLA: FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ROAD INSTITUTE HAS PROPERTIES SEIZED
Prensa Latina on 28th July reported that the National Asset Recovery Service has seized properties of the former director of the National Road Institute of Angola Joaquim Sebastiao, who is under preventive detention under charges of corruption.
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