Greetings! It’s April 8, and we’re tracking today’s top stories: Inside Boston’s luxury brothel scandal, Ghana don become route to move drugs and money laundering, U.S. has begun direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program, inside an obscure federal program fife with fraud, and much more…

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🔥 PODCAST MILESTONE!

Illicit edge launched its first podcast episode on October 1, 2024, and just six months later, we’ve passed 10,000 subscribers, 279,000 video views on YouTube, and thousands of loyal listeners on our audio channels!

Thanks to our loyal audience, launch sponsors, expert guests, and star hosts Elaine Dezenski and Yaya Jata Fanusie. There’s much more to come from Illicit Edge that will spark the crime fighting conversation — stay tuned!

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🎯 FEATURED STORY

Inside Boston’s Luxury Brothel Scandal. A high-end sex work operation catering to city elites charged up to $600 an hour before federal prosecutors brought it down. WSJ

🔥 TOP STORIES

Ghana don become route to move drugs and money laundering? BBC 

US has begun direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program CNN

Private Jets, Ferraris, and False Claims: Inside An Obscure Federal Program Rife With Fraud Free Beacon

EU agonizes over using its trade ‘bazooka’ to hit back at Trump’s mega tariff Politico

EU Envoy Says No Talks Yet With U.S. on Easing Russia Sanctions Bloomberg

Inside North Korea's Favorite Crypto Laundering Tool: THORChain CoinDesk

Thousands of North Korean IT workers have infiltrated the Fortune 500—and they keep getting hired for more jobs Fortune

Trump orders new review of U.S. Steel acquisition by Japan’s Nippon Steel CNBC

Venezuela cracks down on black market dollars as sanctions bite FT

Supreme Court allows Alien Enemies Act deportations to resume Axios

Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA) Counter Terrorism Brief NCRI

Iraqi Forces Seize 400,000 Captagon Pills Near Syrian Border in Major Drug Bust OCCRP

Cyberattacks by AI agents are coming MIT

🚀 TRM Labs:

2025 Crypto Crime Report — A Year of Evolving Threats and Tactical Shifts

Illicit crypto activity fell sharply in 2024 — down 24% to $45B — but threat actors didn’t slow down. TRM Labs’ 2025 Crypto Crime Report reveals how ransomware demands hit record highs, terrorist financing grew more sophisticated, and illicit drug sales surged beyond darknet markets.

Explore the global trends shaping crypto risk exposure and the tools needed to mitigate it. 👉 Read the full report!

💥 RUSSIA & CHINA

Russia arrests CEO of tech company linked to Doppelgänger disinformation campaign Record

Huawei fires 2 staffers in response to corruption scandal Politico

Panama's comptroller office to sue over renewal of CK Hutchison contract Reuters

China Deals a Blow to Donald Trump's F-47 Combat Jet Dream Newsweek

Money laundering gang who exploited Russia-Ukraine war jailed after being caught with £190,000 in cash Sky

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

This Agency Fights Corruption. New York City Leaders Have Weakened It. NYT 

Palestinian-American billionaire accused of helping build ‘terror infrastructure’ for Hamas is sued by Oct. 7 attack victims’ families NYP

Nadine Menendez trial witness details Mercedes-Benz bribe for ex-New Jersey senator CBS

CaaStle let CEO remain after learning of alleged fraud Axios 

Texas AG Ken Paxton Won’t Face Federal Corruption Charges as He Gains Momentum for Likely Senate Run ProPublica 

Fired Justice Department pardon attorney accuses the agency of ‘ongoing corruption,’ abuse of power AP

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

Former Binance CEO CZ joins Pakistan Crypto Council as advisor Block 

How North Korea became so good at hacking Telegraph

A decade-old debate is back as self-custody gets smarter Cointelegraph

Scattered Spider member pleads guilty to identity theft, wire fraud charges Record

Alliance of pro-Russia and pro-Palestine hackers hits UK army, navy and nuclear security office with cyberattacks Daily Mail

🚚 TRAFFICKING

The Italian mafia’s tentacles in Colombia: Cheaper cocaine and ties with the Gulf Clan El Pais

While War Rages, Congo’s Neighbors Smuggle Out Its Gold and Mineral Wealth WSJ

29 arrested and 26 tons of illegal plant protection products seized in France and Spain Europol

US blocks sea salt imports from South Korean salt farm over forced labor concerns AP

2 US border inspectors are charged with taking bribes to wave in people without documents AP

“If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?”
—Vince Lombardi

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