The International Enforcement Law Reporter is a monthly print and online journal covering news and trends in international enforcement law.
Since September 1985, the International Enforcement Law Reporter has analyzed the premier developments in both the substantive and procedural aspects of international enforcement law. Read by practitioners, academics, and politicians, the IELR is a valuable guide to the difficult and dynamic field of international law.
On January 14, 2022, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that it conducted raids on and arrested fourteen alleged members of the ransomware crime group REvil at the request of the United States.[1]
[1] Tom Balmforth and Maria Tsvetkova, Russia takes down REvil hacking group at the U.S. request, Reuters, Jan. 14, 2022.
On January 14, 2022, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that it conducted raids on and arrested fourteen alleged members of the ransomware crime group REvil at the request of the United States.[1]
[1] Tom Balmforth and Maria Tsvetkova, Russia takes down REvil hacking group at the U.S. request, Reuters, Jan. 14, 2022.
On December 21, 2021, the European Data protection Supervisor (EDPS), an EU privacy and data protection independent supervisory authority, issued a decision, ordering Europol to erase personal data on individuals that have not been linked to criminal activity.[1] Europol had resisted the decision in a series of dialogues with the EDPS. This article discusses the decision and the impact on Europol.
[1] EDPS Decision on the retention by Europol of datasets lacking Data Subject Categorisation (Cases 1019-0370 & 2021-0699), Dec. 21, 2021.
On January 11, 2022, pursuant to a forfeiture action filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, James H. Clark, a significant collector of Cambodian antiquities, agreed to return 35 pieces to Cambodia.[1]
The upcoming Libyan presidential election is thought to be a crucial factor in bringing the country political stability and ending its 10-year crisis. In December 2021, the Tripolis Appeals Court approved Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the late dictator Huammar Gadaffi, to run in the upcoming presidential election.[1] Experts believe that Saif al-Islam may be able to win the support of Libyans that yearn for the stability of his father’s regime before the civil war. Other Libyans are outraged that Saif al-Islam can run in the election despite his prior conviction for war crimes during the revolution.
[1] Matthew Loh, The son of Libyan despot Muammar Saif al-Islam has been OK-ed to run for president, even though he was convicted and sentenced to death for war crimes, Business Insider, December 3, 2021.
On December 22, 2022, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the Korean National Policy Agency of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) signed a Working Arrangement to support the EU members and the South Korean government in preventing and combating serious crime and terrorism. This article discusses the arrangement in the context of similar Europol arrangements.[1]
[1] Europol, Republic of Korea and Europol sign arrangement to combat cross-border serious organized crime, Press Release, Dec. 22, 2021.
John Habeta, a Dutchman of Eritrean descent, was extradited from Kenya to The Netherlands on December 25, 2021 following his capture in an INTERPOL operation for the smuggling of African migrants, mostly Eritreans, into Europe. The Dutchman’s capture and extradition come after a pursuit lasting for over four years, as INTERPOL has considered Habeta a wanted man since 2017.[1] In October 2020, Habeta was labeled a high priority target after multiple countries alerted INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in The Hague with new leads on his activities and whereabouts.[2]
We at the IELR send you the best wishes for a warm and joyous holiday season. 2021 was momentous for the international enforcement community, and we are grateful to have had you following along with our coverage during our 37th year of discussing international enforcement developments.
On January 6, 2021, law enforcement officials arrested Pierre Girgis, of Manhattan, for allegedly acting as an agent of the Egyptian government, without registering with the United States Department of Justice, as required by the Foreign Agents Registration Act.[1]
[1] U.S. Department of Justice, Man Arrested for Acting in United States as Agent of Egyptian Government, Press Rel., Jan. 6, 2022.
