• Illicit Edge
  • Posts
  • Fentanyl Warzone, Russian Float, and Master of Mutilation

Fentanyl Warzone, Russian Float, and Master of Mutilation

Illicit Edge - Edition for April 28, 2025

Happy Monday! It’s April 28, and we’re tracking top stories to start the week: What Happened When Portland Decriminalized Fentanyl, Trump floats tougher Russia sanctions, 'Master of Mutilation' charged with supporting Cameroon separatist groups, UN cash app for Gazans exploited by Hamas as terror group steals aid money, and much more…

***

Do not miss the launch episode of FinCrime Unfiltered with Sarah Beth Felix!

Elite expertise meets no-nonsense AML analysis.

In partnership with

🎯 FEATURED STORY

‘It’s Like a War Zone’: What Happened When Portland Decriminalized Fentanyl.  After a failed experiment with legal leniency, Oregon’s liberal stronghold tries to chart a path out of the fentanyl crisis. Rolling Stone 

💥 Networks that Fuel the Fentanyl Crisis with DEA’s Ray Donovan Coercive Capital with Elaine Dezenski

🔥 TOP STORIES

Trump floats tougher Russia sanctions, meets Zelenskyy for first time since Oval Office blowup NBC 

Accused 'Master of Mutilation' charged with supporting Cameroon separatist groups NBC

UN cash app for Gazans exploited by Hamas as terror group steals aid money Fox

Trump DOJ Strips Terrorist-Tied UNRWA of Immunity in U.S. Courts Free Beacon

China’s Huawei Develops New AI Chip, Seeking to Match Nvidia WSJ

Syrian letter delivers response to US conditions for sanctions relief Reuters

Cartels and terrorists love American art — and the money it hides Hill

Solana's Loopscale pauses lending after $5.8M hack Cointelegraph 

Over 100 immigrants arrested in raid on underground Colorado nightclub where active-duty military members worked CNN

A New, Full-Bodied Fraud Comes in a Whisky Barrel NYT 

Trump pardons Nevada politician who used $70K from slain cop’s memorial funds to pay for daughter’s wedding AP 

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Rejected Plea Deal in Federal Sex Trafficking Case Variety

Counter-terrorism police examine Facebook ‘massacre’ posts after Leeds attack Guardian

IN THE NEWS

🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA

FBI Confirms $10 Million Chinese Hacker Bounty Forbes

European Commission Bans Lobbyists Vouching for Huawei Amid Corruption Probe WSJ 

Shaheen calls for bipartisan support for secondary sanctions on Russia Hill

China’s top graft-buster warns ‘no one is untouchable’ in corruption fight SCMP

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

New SEC guard Paul Atkins promises ‘clear rules of the road’ to escape crypto ‘lava pit’ DLN

Back & Forth 4: Should the United States Adopt a “Hack-Back” Cyber Strategy? CSIS

Co-Founders of a Lithuanian Crypto Coin Scooped up Luxury Property While Fooling Investors OCCRP

Shaq Inks Deal to Settle With FTX Investors Over Boosting Failed Crypto Exchange CoinDesk

Dialysis company DaVita reviewing data leaked by ransomware gang Record

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

Fugitive Ukrainian MP Found Living in Dubai OCCRP 

Brazil's former President Fernando Collor arrested after corruption conviction AP 

South Korea prosecutors indict former president Moon Jae-in for corruption AFP 

Former Rep. George Santos sentenced to 87 months for federal fraud charges CNN 

Slovak court revives corruption case against central bank chief FT

🚚 TRAFFICKING

Virginia Giuffre, who accused Britain’s Prince Andrew in Epstein sex trafficking scandal, has died AP 

Four hours under fire from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel El Pais 

Why is cocaine flooding Germany? DW

Three Members of an International Money Laundering Organization Charged DEA

Thomson Reuters Risk & Fraud Solutions empower financial institutions to safely onboard and continuously evaluate customers, members, and vendors and increase new business securely through automated technology.​
Visit TR.com/CLEAR to learn more.

Share Illicit Edge with friends!

They can subscribe here for free and never miss a story.