Daily financial-crime intelligence · Updated 20 Jul 2026, 02:01 UTC
Other
The Federal Investigation Agency and Pakistan State Oil conducted a joint operation near Sihala that dismantled an organized theft network.
Fraud & scams
The Karachi Development Authority launched an inquiry into alleged fraud involving eight high-value commercial and residential plots worth over Rs1 billion, following reports of forged land documents and fake allotment files.
Fraud & scams
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency arrested a 10-person inter-provincial gang accused of impersonating overseas relatives and deceiving citizens into transferring money through fraudulent emergency requests.
Fraud & scams
The Punjab Auqaf department has issued recovery notices totaling millions of rupees against eight officials, including Tahir Maqsood, Sheikh Jameel Ahmad, Hafiz Javed Shaukat, Shafqat Abbas, Zawar Hussain, Amir Sattar, Zahid Iqbal, and Tariq Mahmood Najmi, for alleged embezzlement of donations and financial irregularities at religious shrines.
Money laundering
An Islamabad court convicted three individuals for illegally transferring funds abroad for Bahria Town development projects through hawala channels.
Fraud & scams
A special Federal Investigation Agency court convicted three former bank employees for embezzling over Rs976 million from 39 account holders.
Bribery & corruption
DOJ adviser Trent McCotter argued that the charges against Gautam Adani should never have been brought and do not align with the DOJ's new foreign bribery priorities. The DOJ's motion to dismiss its Foreign Corrupt Practices Act case against Adani remains pending before the U.S.
Money laundering
Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau seized control of Karachi's Bahria Icon Tower, valued at approximately Rs100 billion and regarded as the country's tallest building.
Other
Investigation reveals Pakistan's human smuggling industry generates approximately $300 million annually, with financial flows increasingly utilizing cryptocurrency alongside traditional hawala networks.
Fraud & scams
Punjab accounts for a disproportionate share of digital crimes in Pakistan, with 63% of the country's 380,000 complaints in 2024 related to WhatsApp, Facebook, financial fraud and online deception originating from the province, according to official records cited in the report.
Money laundering
Opinion piece highlights that foreign investors withdrew $736 million during the fiscal year, with 80% linked to investors in the US, UK, and Sweden, noting IMF directives for stricter anti-money laundering measures.
Fraud & scams
Investigation uncovered fraud worth 6 billion Pakistani rupees involving tax and petroleum levy evasion by a private oil marketing company. Seven individuals including CEO and terminal CEO have been charged.
Money laundering
A special narcotics court in Lahore rejected bail applications for three women—Naziah Khawaja Mukhtar, Maria Asim, and Rimsha Asim—arrested in a money laundering case linked to drug trafficking.
Money laundering
Pakistan's UN envoy described Afghanistan's illicit economy involving 'complex web of money laundering and terror financing networks, including hundi and hawala networks.'
Sanctions
OFAC and the SEC are investigating Freedom Holding, a Nasdaq-listed bank headquartered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, founded by Russian-born billionaire Timur Turlov. The joint investigation focuses on alleged sanctions breaches.
Other
Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested college lecturer Pooja from Haridwar, Uttarakhand for alleged involvement in an ISI-linked hawala network suspected of channeling funds for anti-national activities.
Indian authorities investigating former billionaire Anil Ambani over allegations that 20.5 billion rupees ($214 million) in corporate loans from Reliance Communications Ltd., Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd., and Reliance Home Finance Ltd. were misused.
Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau (NAB) returned Rs6 billion in recovered assets to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in the first phase of one of Pakistan's largest financial fraud cases.
Fraud & scams
The National Accountability Bureau returned over Rs6 billion in recovered assets to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government stemming from a large-scale corruption investigation in Upper Kohistan.
Other
FIA Commercial Banking Circle exposed illegal hundi hawala network in Soldier Bazaar Karachi. Suspect Kabir arrested with various foreign currencies and digital evidence recovered.
Other
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Commercial Banking Circle Lahore arrested Asim Mehmood during a targeted raid on McLeod Road for alleged involvement in hawala-hundi and unauthorized currency exchange activities.
Fraud & scams
Trump administration moved to dismiss criminal fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani in case where he was accused of bribing Indian officials for as much as $265m to secure contracts and lying to U.S. investors for solar energy project.
Other
FIA arrested bank manager Mohammad Saquib who was posted at private microfinance bank in Badar Commercial Area DHA Karachi for involvement in running hawala/hundi network.
Indian billionaire Gautam Adani agreed to pay a $6 million penalty, while his nephew Sagar Adani agreed to pay $12 million, totaling $18 million to settle civil fraud allegations with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Other
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency Commercial Banking Circle arrested Ali Raza, an advertising company director, in connection with FIR No. 10/2026.
Other
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency conducted what officials describe as the largest hawala/hundi crackdown in the history of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Money laundering
FIA conducted largest hawala-hundi crackdown in KP history with major raid near Chakdara Toll Plaza in Malakand district. Two suspects Muhammad Imran and Usman arrested, with authorities recovering over 250 million rupees from their possession.
Other
FIA arrested three suspects (Ashfaq Ahmed, Anas Ashfaq, and Shariq) in KMCHS Society, Karachi East for operating hawala/hundi network. Authorities recovered Rs 5,652,920 in cash, six mobile phones, and ledger records documenting transactions. FIR No.
Money laundering
Special Central Court granted interim bail until May 7 to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's daughter and son-in-law in a money laundering case filed by FIA. The case involves allegations of money laundering against the PM's family members.
Money laundering
PM Shehbaz Sharif ordered immediate legal action against Rs120 billion solar panel over-invoicing money laundering scheme running 2017-2022. Solar panels worth Rs120 billion imported at inflated prices, sold locally for Rs85 billion through fictitious transactions.
Money laundering
Major scandal uncovered involving 120 billion rupees money laundering through solar panel over-invoicing from 2017 to 2022.
Sanctions
EU introduced sanctions against entities, including from Kyrgyzstan, for helping Russia evade sanctions. The EU's 20th sanctions package placed 120 individuals and legal entities under blocking restrictions.
Money laundering
FIA Lahore arrested wanted suspect Amjad Khan (affiliated with Khyber Agency) on charges of hawala remittance and trade-based money laundering totaling approximately 74.60 crore rupees (746 million PKR). Cases registered under Foreign Exchange Regulation Act and Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Money laundering
Special court in Islamabad extended Dr. Fazila Abbasi's interim bail until April 20, 2026 in money laundering case while directing her to participate in FIA investigations. FIA had sealed joint account held by Dr. Abbasi and Hamza Ali Abbasi as part of investigation.
Money laundering
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed strict action against those involved in billions of rupees of money laundering through under-invoicing between 2017-2022. Government implementing preventive measures including centralized price verification portal and strengthening Financial Monitoring Unit.
Money laundering
The federal government decided to launch a major operation targeting illegal money transfers and underground banking networks.
Money laundering
Pakistani government announced major crackdown against money laundering and hawala-hundi operations in meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. Joint working group comprising State Bank of Pakistan and FIA formed to monitor progress.
Money laundering
Accountability Court convicted Bahria Town COO for laundering 1.7 billion rupees through hawala/hundi informal money transfer systems, causing damage to Pakistan's financial system.
Pakistani authorities conducted a massive crackdown on money-laundering and hawala/hundi networks. Interior and Finance Ministers announced formation of a joint working group comprising State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials to regularly review progress.
Money laundering
Multiple major Pakistani charities and NGOs allegedly using bank accounts to launder black money and illegally transfer billions of rupees domestically and abroad.
Money laundering
Pakistani customs audit (Dec 2024-Mar 2025) examined 13,140 goods declarations, finding 2,530 with discrepancies involving trade-based money laundering (TBML) risks. Importers drastically undervalued goods (e.g.
Money laundering
IMF Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment reported Pakistan failed to effectively prevent money laundering schemes, identifying significant deficiencies in beneficial ownership system with no evidence of data sharing between institutions.
Other
FIA raided Lahore's Dharampura area, arresting Sulaiman Ali Subhani and Bahadur Ali for illegal currency exchange activities. Recovered Rs2.4 million in cash, hawala-related receipts, and digital evidence. Part of nationwide campaign against hawala-hundi operations.
Money laundering
Federal Investigation Agency discovered evidence of Rs1.12 billion in money laundering by Malik Riaz and Bahria Town. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced documents showing evidence of Rs1.12 billion money laundering were seized during raids.
Money laundering
FIA registered money laundering case against Armughan who allegedly established company in America with his father for hawala-hundi operations. Suspect reportedly earned $300,000-400,000 monthly through cryptocurrency and hawala operations connecting Pakistan and US.
Other
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency arrested seven individuals in Lahore DHA area operating hawala-hundi network. Seized Rs11 million plus foreign currencies (USD, AED, GBP, CAD, CNY, QAR, OMR, ZAR), hawala receipts, mobile phones, and other evidence.
Money laundering
OCCRP and Le Monde obtained correspondence showing FINMA investigated Reyl for 'weaknesses in the area of money laundering' and alleged failures in handling high-risk accounts.
Money laundering
Former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi's lawyer filed a petition in Lahore's Special Central Court seeking exemption from a court appearance in a money laundering case. The petition claims Elahi is unwell and has been advised by doctors to rest.
Money laundering
Nepal Police arrested businessman Deepak Bhatta, chairman of Infinity Holdings, on money laundering charges. Nepal's central bank flagged a NPR 450 million ($3.02 million) transfer from Jagadamba Steel to Bhatta's personal account.
Trafficking
Federal Investigation Agency conducted operations across different areas of Nawabshah, apprehending six suspects involved in drug smuggling and illegal money transfer (hawala-hundi). Among those arrested was a junior clerk from SSP Sanghar's office.
On June 23, 2026, a Notice of Uncontested Sanctions Proceedings was issued in Sanctions Case No. 809 involving Beximco Computers Limited, following an earlier Notice of Sanctions Proceedings issued on March 12, 2026 by the World Bank's Chief Suspension and Debarment Officer.
Royal Marine Commandos from 42 Commando boarded the sanctioned shadow fleet oil tanker Smyrtos on 14 June 2026 in a six-hour mission in the English Channel, 25 miles south of the Isle of Wight.
Money laundering
The National Accountability Bureau seized Bahria Icon Towers in Karachi, valued at approximately 100 billion Pakistani rupees, under the Money Laundering Act 2010. Accountability Court No.
Fraud & scams
The FIA apprehended two key members of an online financial fraud ring operating in Faisalabad. During a raid on Satiana Road, authorities recovered 3.5 million rupees in cash, debit cards from various banks, and mobile phones.
Fraud & scams
Financial irregularities and alleged fraud exceeding 182.15 million Pakistani rupees have been uncovered at Gomal University in Dera Ismail Khan.
Money laundering
IMF expressed serious concerns about Pakistan's anti-money laundering framework: extremely low suspicious transaction reports from real estate sector, growing trade-based money laundering cases, and insufficient beneficial ownership transparency.
Fraud & scams
Pakistan National Accountability Bureau uncovered massive fraud at Islamabad Cooperative Housing Society: approximately 42,000 plot files sold despite land capacity for only 6,000 plots, creating 36,000 illegal files. Financial irregularities exceed 16 billion rupees.
Money laundering
Nepal's Special Court ordered former Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel into judicial custody for seven days following his arrest in a money laundering investigation.