The National Crime Agency (NCA) has announced the arrest of six individuals suspected of operating a celebrity impersonation scam centre in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. The arrests were carried out by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) on 4 July 2026 after information shared by Meta helped authorities locate the suspects. The suspects allegedly targeted victims in the UK and internationally. NPF officers seized 11 mobile phones, a laptop, a tablet and a Mercedes-Benz GLK SUV.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) and National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) have issued Flash Alert 0808-NECC on A7, a sanctions evasion network established by Russian-Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor in collaboration with sanctioned Russian state-backed bank Promsvyazbank (PSB) and also backed by VEB.RF. A7 and its affiliates are sanctioned by the UK, US and EU. The alert states that A7 introduces liquidity into the international financial system through shell companies or ‘sub-agents’, using local bank accounts and false invoices to obscure the Russian origin and purpose of transactions. A7 staff also use virtual private networks (VPNs) to appear to be located in jurisdictions where they seek banking services, which the alert says enables A7 to avoid traditional anti-money laundering regulations and know-your-customer checks. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has identified transactions between A7 shell companies and UK-incorporated beneficiaries routed through intermediary jurisdictions.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) have called for restrictions on under-16s’ access to unsafe online platform features to protect children from online sexual abuse and exploitation. The organisations stated that technology companies should either prevent children from using high-risk features or make them safe, failing which the government should prohibit those features for under-16s.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) and the UK Financial Intelligence Unit (UKFIU) have published the Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) Reporter Booklet for August 2024. The booklet aims to share perspectives on the use of SARs with regime participants, provide a feedback mechanism to the UKFIU about the regime’s operation and encourage best practice amongst reporters. The booklet also contains a review of case studies surrounding fraud and money laundering.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) and the UK Financial Intelligence Unit (UKFIU) have published the guidance document, ‘Requesting a defence from the NCA under POCA and TACT’, aimed at all reporters of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). The guidance document relates sections 327-329 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) and sections 15-18 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT). The guidance covers the defences under POCA and TACT, how a reporter can request a defence from the NCA, the information the UKFIU needs, as well as the decision-making process. It also covers some frequently asked questions and next steps.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) and the UK Financial Intelligence Unit (UKFIU) have published the Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) Reporter Booklet for April 2024. The booklet aims to share perspectives on the use of SARs with regime participants, provide a feedback mechanism to the UKFIU about the regime’s operation and encourage best practice amongst reporters. April’s edition contained a review of case studies of SARs across various matters spanning money laundering, fraud, vulnerable persons and money mules.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) and the UK Financial Intelligence Unit (UKFIU) have published the Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) Reporter Booklet for February 2024. The booklet aims to share perspectives on the use of SARs with regime participants, provide a feedback mechanism to the UKFIU about the regime’s operation and encourage best practice amongst reporters. The booklet also contains a review of case studies of SARs across various matters spanning money laundering, fraud and drugs and other crimes such as immigration crimes.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has announced that the UK has issued its first INTERPOL Silver Notice to aid in tracing and recovering the assets of Anopkumar Maudhoo, a convicted fraudster responsible for illegally obtaining £8.5m. This notice allows INTERPOL member countries to share alerts and requests for information globally and forms part of a pilot phase involving 52 countries, enabling international cooperation in identifying laundered assets such as properties and financial accounts. Maudhoo, convicted of 76 offences, including fraud and money laundering, is subject to ongoing domestic investigations to identify assets for victim compensation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Supported by the NCA, this initiative is a key component of the UK's strategy to combat fraud through enhanced international collaboration and asset recovery.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has announced that two suspects have been charged following a cyber-attack on Transport for London (TfL) that occurred on 31 August 2024. Thalha Jubair and Owen Flowers were arrested on 16 September 2025 and appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court on 18 September 2025. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised charges of conspiracy to commit unauthorised acts under the Computer Misuse Act 1990. Flowers faces additional charges of conspiring to infiltrate and damage the systems of US-based SSM Health Care Corporation and attempting to compromise Sutter Health’s networks, while Jubair has also been charged under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 for failing to disclose passwords to seized devices. Both defendants have been remanded in custody to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 16 October 2025. The CPS confirmed that sufficient evidence exists to proceed with prosecution and that pursuing the case serves the public interest.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has announced the successful conviction of three men who conspired to use a legitimate removals company as a cover for smuggling class A drugs, following a covert investigation by the NCA. During its investigation, the NCA discovered that Mark Youell, Alfred Rumbold, and removal driver Brian Wright met several times with a Merseyside organized crime group to discuss the drug import. Following a joint operation by the NCA and Dutch law enforcement, Wright’s truck containing drugs sealed in fish tanks was raided and Wright was arrested. Dutch law enforcement agents recovered 20.5 kg of heroin, 31 kg of cocaine and three kg of MDMA, which NCA experts estimate had a UK street value of £4.5m. NCA officers raided the home addresses of Youell and Rumbold and seized phones using Encrochat and Sky ECC encrypted devices. While the trio denied the drug importation charges, they were found guilty of conspiring to import class A drugs at Isleworth Crown Court. They are due to be sentenced on 26 November 2021.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has announced that Thalha Jubair and Owen Flowers pleaded guilty to carrying out a cyber attack on Transport for London (TfL) in 2024, which compromised TfL's network, disrupted services and resulted in reported loss and recovery costs of £29 million. The pair, members of the online criminal group Scattered Spider, gained unauthorised access to TfL's systems, requiring the organisation to reset passwords for approximately 28,000 employees. The attack also disrupted Oyster refund services and applications for Oyster photocards, affecting customers. Investigators recovered digital evidence, including recordings, messages and screenshots, linking the defendants to the attack and demonstrating unauthorised access to TfL's systems. The investigation also identified evidence indicating that networks belonging to two US healthcare organisations had been compromised. Jubair and Flowers changed their pleas to guilty on the first day of their trial at Woolwich Crown Court on 22 June 2026 and are due to be sentenced on 16 July 2026.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has announced Operation Machinise, a comprehensive enforcement action against cash-intensive businesses across England suspected of facilitating money laundering and other criminal activities. The operation, involving 19 police forces and various national agencies, resulted in the freezing orders over bank accounts exceeding £1m, the execution of 84 warrants, 35 arrests and the safeguarding of 97 potential victims of modern slavery. The operation also led to the seizure of significant amounts of cash, illegal tobacco products, vapes and the discovery of cannabis farms. The operation underscores the NCA's commitment to disrupting organised crime and enhancing the resilience of the UK's financial system.