OFAC TARGETS RUSSIAN-BACKED CORRUPTION IN GUATEMALA MINING SECTOR

On 18 November, OFAC advised that it had sanctioned 1 Russian national, Dmitry Kudryakov, and 1 Belarusian national, Iryna Litviniuk, for their role in exploiting the Guatemalan mining sector, as well as three associated entities connected with their corruption schemes.  Kudryakov and Litviniuk are designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of corruption, including the misappropriation of state assets, corruption related to government contracts, or the extraction of natural resources, or bribery. 

https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20221118

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1118

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

EU: PROSECUTORS DISCUSS RISING THREAT TO CITIZENS OF INCREASED USE OF CHEAP FAKE CAR PARTS

On 16 November, a news release from Eurojust advised that a meeting of prosecutors and law enforcement officials had met to discuss the increasing use of fake car parts which poses a growing security risk for road-users, leading to deadly accidents and serious bodily harm.  The production of counterfeit parts is a rising criminal phenomenon with high profit margins.  Among perpetrators, the production of fake parts is often seen as a ‘victimless’ and so-called high-profit/low-risk crime, and penalties across the EU remain relatively low.

https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/news/prosecutors-discuss-rising-threat-increased-use-cheap-fake-car-parts

https://euipo.europa.eu/tunnel-web/secure/webdav/guest/document_library/observatory/documents/reports/dangerous-fakes-study/dangerous-fakes_study_en.pdf

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y