Hello and welcome to episode 198 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast. I am Chris Kirkbride. In this episode, the UK has lifted its arms embargo on Armenia and Azerbaijan, shifting to Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. The US Treasury has sanctioned the Bhardwaj Human Smuggling Organisation, and OFSI designated Aliakbar Ansari for supporting hostile activity under the Iran sanctions. The FCA secured its first Data Protection Act conviction against a former Virgin Media O2 employee involved in a crypto scam. Also featured are global anti-financial crime efforts, such as EBA guidance shaping the future EU AMLA and an OSCE workshop in Uzbekistan focused on virtual asset money laundering. The episode concludes with a summary of the 2025 cyberattack on Marks & Spencer and its impact on competitor profits.

A transcript of this podcast, with links to the stories, will be available at www.crimes.financial.