Hello! It’s September 18, and we’re tracking today’s top stories: America Loves Cocaine Again — Mexico’s New Drug King Cashes In, House Judiciary to vote to subpoena major banks in Epstein case, White House plans to take action targeting left-wing groups as early as this month, These Are the Legal Woes of the ‘Real Housewives’, and much more…

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🎯 FEATURED STORY

America Loves Cocaine Again — Mexico’s New Drug King Cashes In. Trump’s war on fentanyl created an opening for ‘El Señor Mencho’ to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. by the ton. WSJ

🔥 TOP STORIES

House Judiciary to vote to subpoena major banks in Epstein case Politico 

White House plans to take action targeting left-wing groups as early as this month NBC

From DUIs to a Nationwide Telemarketing Fraud Scheme, These Are the Legal Woes of the ‘Real Housewives’ Hollywood Reporter

Treasury Targets Financial Network Supporting Iran’s Military U.S. Treasury

Europeans say Iran hasn’t taken action to stop the ‘snapback’ of UN sanctions AP

How Russian Sanctions Dodgers, Chinese Syndicates, and Mexican Cartels Intersect CODA

China blocks sale of Nvidia AI chips Ars 

Microsoft seizes hundreds of phishing sites tied to massive credential theft operation Cyberscoop

Mexico fuel trafficking network operated since at least 2023, with 69 shipments and more than $150M in profits El Pais

China and US agree to target money launderers linked to fentanyl trade SCMP

Suspect in Coinbase hack kept data for more than 10,000 customers on her phone Fortune

FBI ‘Arctic Frost’ probe targeted nearly 100 GOP groups NYP 

Russia, China and Iran Use Kirk’s Murder to Stoke Conspiracy Theories and Division NYT

🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA

Brussels Moves to Centralize EU Export-Control Enforcement Powers Lux Times

EU tech chief sounds alarm over Spain’s Huawei contract Politico

EU Seeks Closer India Ties Despite Delhi’s Russia Links Guardian

EU plans more sanctions on China. Will that be enough for Trump? Politico

Swiss parliament finalises bill on new money laundering rules for advisors Swissinfo

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

Two San Fernando Valley Men Charged in $611 Million Electronics Export Scheme OCCRP 

KPMG Accused of Ignoring Severe Audit Flaws WSJ

Son of Rostec Executive Questioned in Spain over Suspected Money Laundering OCCRP

South Africa’s Youth Bear the Burdens of Corruption National Interest

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

North Korean Kimsuky Used ChatGPT To Forge Military IDs in Phishing Operation Record

On-chain ransom negotiations show ShibaSwap hacker won’t be low-balled Protos

BreachForums founder resentenced to three years in prison Cyberscoop

Hackers steal hotel guests’ payment data in new AI-driven campaign Record

JLR Hack Could See Thousands Laid Off BBC

🚚 TRAFFICKING

US offers $5M reward for capture of Juan José Ponce Félix, cartel boss loyal to El Mayo Zambada El Pais

DEA sounds alarm about nitazene, a synthetic opioid more powerful than fentanyl CBS

Trump retreats on combating human trafficking and child exploitation Guardian

Bicoastal drug trafficking operation flew 22 tons of cocaine across country LAT

Treasury Expands Money-Transfer Surveillance along the U.S.–Mexico Border El-Paso Times

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