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$24B China Suit, Meth Blueberries, and Putin Wish List

Illicit Edge - Edition for March 11, 2025

In partnership with K2 Integrity

Hello Tuesday! It’s March 11, and we’re tracking today’s top stories: Missouri plans to seize assets to make China pay a $24 billion judgment, DEA finds $5M of meth hidden in cases of blueberries near Texas border, Putin prepares sanctions-lifting wish list, which European countries have the most dangerous neighborhoods, and much more…

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🎙️ New Podcast Drop!

Investing in "America First" with Elaine Dezenski and Nova J. Daly
 Coercive Capital

🎯 FEATURED STORY

Missouri plans to seize assets to make China pay a $24.5 billion judgment, but can it collect?  U.S. Department of Agriculture Statistics say Chinese interests owned about 44,000 acres of farmland in Missouri at the end of 2023. AP

🔥 TOP STORIES

DEA finds $5M of meth hidden in cases of blueberries near Texas border Fox

Putin Prepares Sanctions-Lifting Wish List CEPA

Gang crime on the rise: Which European countries have the most dangerous neighborhoods? Euro News

Visa sets up new team to take down all scammers Axios

Trump Prepared to Enforce Iran Oil Sanctions Bloomberg

After US move on Iraq-Iran power trade, Baghdad looks to replace Iranian gas Reuters

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrested over ICC warrant for crimes against humanity CNN

China Is Waging a ‘Gray Zone’ Campaign to Cement Power. Here’s How It Looks. WSJ 

Ex-Credit Suisse client pleads to hiding $90M from US Fortune 

From one predicament to another: How freed scammers are detained again Sky

Fraudster gets 17 years after bribing doctors in federal workers’ comp prescription drug scheme Wash Times

$50K for DEI Trainings, $5 Mil for Graffiti Removal, and No Rail Line Free Beacon

IN THE NEWS

💥 RUSSIA & CHINA

Inside Jan Marsalek’s Chaotic Russian Spy Ring WSJ

Trump’s Putin gambit: How to hammer Moscow with sanctions that bite Hill

US Closer to Forfeiting Seized Yacht as Judge Denies Ex-Rosneft Chief's Claim Reuters

Why the U.S. Keeps Losing to China in the Battle Over Critical Minerals WSJ 

What Is the Economy Like in Russia? Just Ask Ordinary People. MT

Newsom's ties to CCP under microscope in new book exposing alleged corruption Fox

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

Jailed. Pardoned. Now Rod Blagojevich Wants to Be a ‘Trumpocrat’ Free Press

U.S. Added to Global Human Rights Watchlist Over Declining Civil Liberties Time

Trump wants to go after criminal networks. A new approach to sanctions is needed. Hill

How Nigerian leaders spent millions on SC real estate amid US retreat from dirty money fight Post and Courier

Despite Enforcement Pause, Ignoring Antibribery Law Still Raises Risks for Companies WSJ

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

How “Hack For Hire” Mercenaries Are Reshaping Cybersecurity Crime Forbes 

Developer convicted for “kill switch” code activated upon his termination Ars

Elon Musk says X is down due to cyberattacks TechCrunch

Dead Dark Web Site Revived As $77.5 Million In Bitcoin Changes Hands Forbes

🚚 TRAFFICKING

Colombia urges UN to remove coca leaf from harmful substances list AFP 

Cuts to US foreign aid are hurting efforts to tackle human trafficking at scam compounds CNN

Thousands of online scam workers are stuck in limbo in Myanmar NPR

US ‘launched a drug war, not a trade war’ with Mexico, Canada Hill

FBI stepping up operations against cartel linked to Venezuela’s Maduro regime NYP

“Power is the great aphrodisiac.” —Henry Kissinger

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