Law enforcement agencies in 25 European countries and the United States are cracking down on the growing and disturbing trend of firearms trade via parcel mail, Europol said Monday.

Norway’s biggest lender faces a potential record-breaking US$45.5 million fine for its failure to comply with anti-money laundering rules, the bank confirmed in a statement released on Monday. 

The U.K. Border Force officers have seized more than a tonne of cocaine, estimated at 100 million British pounds (US$133.28 million), hidden amongst a shipment of banana pulp bound for Europe, the U.K. Home Office confirmed to OCCRP Monday.

After publishing a report casting further doubt on Cyprus’ controversial and recently suspended citizenship by investment program, auditor general Odysseas Michaelides is facing government pushback that could lead to his ousting. 

With the U.K. becoming the first country to approve a COVID vaccine, Interpol has warned again about the threat of organized crime groups trying to get their hands on the precious vials and disrupt their distribution. 

European and U.S. authorities arrested in separate operations hundreds and identified thousands of so-called money mules - people who assist fraudsters by receiving money from victims and forwarding it to the fraud organizers - and their recruiters.

Every day about two rhinoceroses are killed in South Africa for their horns. 

Senior White House officials are being investigated for their role in a potentially criminal and secret lobbying scheme in which a bribe was offered in exchange for a presidential pardon, an unsealed court order from a federal judge revealed on Tuesday.

Belarus continues to crack down on public dissent following the controversial presidential election this summer, with authorities now starting to bring serious criminal charges against the hundreds of journalists arrested since demonstrations began.

A coalition of NGOs is calling on the European Union to protect civil society watchdogs from abusive private legal action designed to frustrate and obstruct their pursuit of public interests.