DOJ Turns Sights on Mexican Brokers and Crypto Networks Used to Launder Drug Money
The U.S. Justice Department is increasingly targeting corrupt Mexican money brokers in an attempt to disrupt the financial networks used to launder cartel drug proceeds via cryptocurrency and other means, the Associated Press reported.
Mexican Drug Traffickers’ Latest Illicit Good: Vape Pens
Mexico’s sweeping crackdown on electronic cigarettes is accelerating a shift in the country’s $1.5-billion vape-pen market toward organized crime, according to ABC News.
Chinese-Language Networks are Playing a Bigger Role in Crypto Crime
Chinese-language money laundering networks have become a central conduit for illicit cryptocurrency activity, processing an estimated 20% of known on-chain laundering over the past five years and accelerating far faster than illicit financial flows tied to centralized exchanges.
White House Designates Muslim Brotherhood Branches as Terrorism Groups
The Trump administration designated three Middle Eastern branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations, claiming the groups contribute to regional instability and violence.
Spain Targets Nigeria’s ‘Black Axe’ Network in Criminal Crackdown
Spanish National Police, working with Germany’s Bavarian State Criminal Police Office and supported by Europol, arrested 34 people in Spain during an operation against the international criminal organization known as “Black Axe,” Europol announced.
Botswana Weighs ‘Golden Passport’ Program as Diamond Sales Fall
Botswana is weighing a “golden passport” program that would grant citizenship to foreigners making a one-off investment of up to about $100,000, as the country searches for fresh revenue streams.
Japan’s ‘Dementia Money’ Becomes Increasing Target of Elder Fraud
Japan’s rapidly aging population is creating a sprawling new target for financial abuse, with older people experiencing cognitive decline controlling assets worth almost half the country’s GDP.
Iran Offers to Sell Weapons for Crypto
Iran is offering to sell ballistic missiles, drones, warships, and other advanced weapons systems to foreign governments in exchange for payment in cryptocurrency, the Financial Times reported.
U.S. Threatens Fiji Aid Over Human Trafficking by Doomsday Cult
The U.S. government is threatening to downgrade Fiji to the lowest tier in its global human trafficking rankings unless authorities take “decisive action” against a religious group linked to human trafficking and transnational organized crime, OCCRP reported.
China Has Access to Unencrypted Communications of Nearly Every American: Senator
A top Democratic senator has warned that Chinese intelligence is still inside U.S. telecommunications networks as part of a sweeping cyber campaign known as “Salt Typhoon,” saying the operation gives Beijing access to the unencrypted communications of almost anyone in America, the Financial Times reported.