Happy Monday! It’s May 4, and we’re tracking top stories to start the week: China's Commerce Ministry blocks US sanctions against five refineries, the long con, DEA whistleblowers want whopping $50M reward for 'abandoned' informants who helped Nicolas Maduro's capture, Harvard scientist convicted of lying about China ties rebuilds brain-tech lab in China, and much more…

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🎯 FEATURED STORY

China's Commerce Ministry blocks US sanctions against five refineries. China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday it had issued an injunction ‌to block U.S. sanctions imposed on five Chinese ‌refiners accused of buying Iranian oil. Reuters

🔥 TOP STORIES

The long con: How North Korean spies spent months in-person to drain $285 million from Drift CoinDesk

DEA whistleblowers want whopping $50M reward for 'abandoned' informants who helped Nicolas Maduro's capture New York Post

Harvard scientist convicted of lying about China ties rebuilds brain-tech lab in China Reuters

Trump expands sanctions on Cuban government Hill

A7, Company Implicated In Sanctions Evasion, Reportedly Linked To Russian Oligarchs RFE

U.S. Sanctions Tighten Grip on Iran-China Oil Trade U.S. Department of State

Economic Fury Targets Iranian Shadow Banking Networks Moving Billions in Foreign Currency U.S. Department of the Treasury

Joseph Kabila: US sanctions DR Congo ex-president alleging M23 support BBC

Coordinated Takedown of Scam Centers Leads to at Least 276 Arrests; Managers and Recruiters Charged in San Diego U.S. Department of Justice

25 Defendants Convicted in International $215M Scam That Targeted 1,000+ Victims U.S. Department of Justice

Fugees rapper Pras Michel surrenders to prison for 14-year sentence over money laundering charges NYP

Ex-Miami congressman is convicted in a secret Venezuela lobbying case Associated Press

UK defence firm Ultra Electronics to pay £15m after SFO bribery investigation The Guardian

One of Iran’s most powerful families founded its largest crypto exchange. It’s used by the IRGC to move millions. Reuters

Irish Drug Kingpin Daniel Kinahan Is Arrested in Dubai The New Yorker

Federal Jury Convicts ISIS-K Terrorist for Role in the Abbey Gate Bombing U.S. Department of Justice

California scammers on notice as feds launch West Coast fraud strike force New York Post

🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA

China Now Supplies 90% of Russia’s Sanctioned Tech Imports Moscow Times

US telecom agency votes to expand tech crackdown on China Reuters

Taiwan accuses China of vegetable laundering via Vietnam The Guardian

EU imposes sanctions on Mikhail Piotrovsky, director of Russia's State Hermitage Museum The Art Newspaper

Wanted Ukrainian Tycoon’s Family Ties To Russia War Revealed RFE

China’s Sanctions Hit Europe’s Emerging Drone Doctrine The Diplomat

🚀 SANCTIONS & TERROR

UAE refers defendants to State Security Court over ammunition shipment for Sudan Reuters

White House against Anthropic expanding Mythos model access AFP

Ship allegedly carrying stolen Ukrainian grain seen sailing away from Israel, after importer refuses to unload cargo CNN

United States Condemns the Pro-Hamas Global Sumud Flotilla U.S. Department of State

Ongoing Investigation Leads to Referral of Four Additional Former UNRWA Staffers Linked to Hamas for Suspension/Debarment USAID

Essex neo-Nazi guilty of terror charge after MI5 gun sting BBC

Bamako siege: Islamists block entry to Mali's capital city BBC

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

Trump’s Sons Land Massive Pentagon Deal as They Flaunt Corruption The New Republic

Franco-German tank maker launches probe into bribery allegations ahead of €20bn listing Financial Times

Canada to create powerful financial crimes agency as US weakens its approach The Guardian

Trump DOJ Pursuing Separate Comey Probe for Classified Leaks Bloomberg Law

US banks left guessing over scope of looming order on citizenship data Reuters

Food stamp fraud crackdown at USDA would end loophole that lets Ferrari, Lamborghini owners get benefits Fox News

Former Chick-fil-A employee charged in $80,000 mac-and-cheese scheme BBC

Nepal Charges Ex-Printing Chief With Money Laundering OCCRP

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

Leading Dark Web Marketplace Creator and Operator Extradited from Colombia to the United States U.S. Department of Justice

Chinese hackers vulnerable to U.S. arrest if they travel, FBI official says Reuters

Crypto Rushes to Bail Out Decentralized Lender Targeted by Hackers The Wall Street Journal

Cyber incident responders who carried out ransomware attacks given 4-year sentences The Record

Hackers earning millions from hijacked cargo The Record

🚚 TRAFFICKING

Arizona gun shop owner faces terrorism-related charges for allegedly selling high-caliber weapons bound for Mexican cartels ICIJ

Former “America’s Most Wanted” Fugitive Sentenced for His Role in Multi-State Drug Trafficking Operation U.S. Department of Justice

Mexico to investigate US indictment of officials for alleged Sinaloa cartel ties Border Report

Illegal Alien Who Led Massive International Drug and Firearms Trafficking Ring from Behind Bars Sentenced to Federal Prison with 14 Others U.S. Department of Justice

Sixteen Individuals Indicted in Takedown of East Alabama Drug Trafficking Organization as part of a Homeland Security Task Force Investigation U.S. Department of Justice

“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” —Winston Churchill

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