On 31 December, Panama celebrates 23 years since final control of the Panama Canal was handed over by the US.
31 DECEMBER 2022
US: RUSSIA, UKRAINE SANCTIONS ETC UPDATE AS OF 30 DECEMBER
On 30 December, Bass, Berry & Sims published an update of the position re restrictions etc involving OFAC, the State Department, Commerce Department and DoJ.
https://www.bassberrygovcontrade.com/russia-ukraine-update-dec-30
INDIA: GOVERNMENT HAS SUSPENDED THE EXPORT LICENCE OF MANUFACTURER OF DOK-1 MAX COUGH SYRUP THAT REPORTEDLY LED TO THE DEATH OF 18 CHILDREN IN UZBEKISTAN
On 31 December, The Pioneer in India reported that the Government has suspended the export licence of Marion Biotech, manufacturer of Dok-1 Max syrup that reportedly led to the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan. The Government says that this has brought bad reputation to the Indian pharma industry and is also likely to have an impact on the trust of international agencies on Indian pharma exports.
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/page1/uzbek-deaths-claim–noida-firm-export-licence-suspended.html
HONG KONG CUSTOMS RECORD SEIZURES OF CONTRABAND CIGARETTES IN 2022
On 30 December, the South China Morning Post reported that more than 750 million cigarettes seized as smugglers tried to take advantage of easing of coronavirus restrictions and resumption of trade. This is the biggest annual haul since records began 2 decades ago.
MEET THE CYBERCRIMINALS OF 2022
On 30 December, the Tech Crunch website looked back on some of the biggest thwarted cybercrime operations of the year, and their new and unconventional eyebrow-raising methods.
https://techcrunch.com/2022/12/30/meet-the-cybercriminals-2022/
ARMING UKRAINE AND HOW TO MITIGATE RISKS OF ILLICIT DIVERSION OF WEAPONS AND CONFLICT ESCALATION: A US PERSPECTIVE
In the December issue of Trust & Verify from VERTIC, this article says that arming any country comes with serious risks that should not be ignored and need to be considered at various stages. It concentrates on the risks of diversions of weaponry and notes that in October the US issued its strategy to counter the illicit diversion of certain advanced conventional weapons in Eastern Europe.
https://www.vertic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/TV171-1.pdf
OVER 1,500 SEAFARERS WERE ABANDONED IN 2022
On 30 December, Lloyds List reported on a trend which has continued throughout 2022, a year which has ended up being the worst on record – with 1,555 seafarers and 113 ships being abandoned this year, the highest number of cases since records began.
UK: SELECT COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE REGULATION OF GAMBLING
On 30 December, Local Government Lawyer reported that the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee has issued a call for written evidence after launching an examination of the Government’s approach to the regulation of gambling. The Committee said this followed warnings “that more needs to be done to protect people, including children, from gambling-related harm”.
JET LINKED TO ISRAELI SPYWARE TYCOON DELIVERS SURVEILLANCE TECH FROM THE EU TO SUDANESE MILITIA
On 30 November, the Lighthouse Reports website carried a report saying that in May a private aircraft linked to a former Israeli intelligence operative who has bought up an array of sophisticated surveillance technology landed in Sudan. It is claimed that it was delivering high-end surveillance technology, made in the EU, to the notorious and feared militias, the Rapid Support Forces. The equipment is said to have the capacity to turn smartphones into audio-visual informants on their owners. It names Tal Dilian and spyware company Intellexa. It is also reported that, when asked to distinguish between the better-known NSO spyware and this spyware, a senior source in the Israeli industry said that the latter does not follow Israeli law and sells to similar but also worse clients than NSO.
https://www.lighthousereports.nl/investigation/flight-of-the-predator/
CATERING TO NORTH KOREA’S ELITE, DEPARTMENT STORES STOCK UP ON FAKE LUXURY GOODS
On 30 December, RFA reported that counterfeit brand-name bags, perfumes, mink coats flow into the country ahead of New Year holidays. It is said that freight trains running between Dandong, China, and Sinuiju, North Korea, operate every day except weekends, bringing loads of fake luxury items into the country. The brand-name goods – some genuine but mostly counterfeits – are sold at about 10 department stores in the capital. It is also said that stores are also importing large quantities of counterfeit goods to prepare for the suspension of trade with China for the Lunar New Year.
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/fake-luxury-goods-12302022150804.html
NORTH KOREAN HACKERS ARE PRETENDING TO BE CRYPTO VENTURE CAPITAL FIRMS, CRYPTO START-UPS AND BANKS IN NEW PHISHING SCHEME
On 27 December, Coin Telegraph reported a warning from Kaspersky, saying that most of the fakes presented themselves as well-known Japanese companies, but some also assumed the identity of US and Vietnamese companies.
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