Hello! It’s July 9, and we’re tracking today’s top stories: 'Los Rugrats' cartel boss charged with narco-terrorism in Southern California, Block reaches $45M settlement with 46 states over Cash App fraud probe, Former acting DHS secretary warns Chinese criminal organizations are infiltrating America's hemp industry, What Happens if China Hacks the US Water Supply, and much more…

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🎯 FEATURED STORY

'Los Rugrats' cartel boss charged with narco-terrorism in Southern California. The indictment unsealed Tuesday accuses Carlos Alberto Paez Pereda of manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine into the U.S. for the Mayo Zambada faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Los Angeles Times

🔥 TOP STORIES

Block reaches $45M settlement with 46 states over Cash App fraud probe TechCrunch

Former acting DHS secretary warns Chinese criminal organizations are infiltrating America's hemp industry Fox News

What Happens if China Hacks the US Water Supply? I Went to a Secret War Game to Find Out. Wired

Trump Moves to Revoke Syria's Designation as State Sponsor of Terrorism TIME

Iraq Agrees to U.S. Demands to Halt Dollar Flows to Iran-Backed Militias The Wall Street Journal

Crypto giant Circle rebuffed efforts to help scam victims ICIJ

DOJ Warns Binance May Slow Cooperation in Crypto Crime Investigations BeInCrypto

India central bank seeks to bar financial institutions from exposure to crypto assets The Block

Despite Sanctions, the Myanmar Government Continues to Procure High Volumes of Jet Fuel The Diplomat

Saudi Arabia blocking payments to UAE accounts Financial Times

4 accused of money laundering involving gold smuggled into S’pore inside signal converters The Straits Times

U.K. Businessman Fined for Attempting to Ship Four Artworks to Russia, Violating Sanctions Artforum

Texas regulations lacking as crypto kiosk scams rise Texas Tribune

Founder/CEO of Digital Health Company Sentenced to 72 Months and 24 Months, Respectively, for $90 Million Scheme to Distribute over 37 Million Pills of Adderall U.S. Department of Justice

Report to National Crime Agency of £5m Farage gift is ‘deeply serious’ The Guardian

🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA

Kazakhstan Imposes One-Entry-per-Day Rule on Russian Vehicles over Fuel Smuggling United24

Select Committee: Owner of Capitals, Wizards Should Cut Ties with Chinese Military Company Alibaba U.S. House Select Committee on the CCP

FCC denies US firm with Chinese links approval to provide telecoms services Reuters

Lawmakers probe growing use of Chinese AI models in U.S. companies CNBC

Chinese National Sentenced to Prison for Money Laundering Conspiracy Involving $2.2 Million in Walmart Gift Cards U.S. Department of Justice

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

EagleBank Fraud Shows Failure of Bank Secrecy Act Cato Institute

Man accused in Feeding Our Future scheme added to FBI's "most wanted fraudsters" CBS News

Southern Poverty Law Centers pleads not guilty in federal fraud case AP

Man Sentenced in $39M Bank Fraud Scheme That Defrauded Seven Financial Institutions U.S. Department of Justice

Another Philippine senator arrested for alleged large-scale corruption AP

Three arrested on suspicion of money laundering at university in £1m fraud investigation. The Independent

🌎 SANCTIONS & TERROR

EU Lawmakers Back Alumina Sanctions Push OCCRP

US officials compiling 'menu' of Spanish goods, as Trump weighs embargo Politico

Vitol moves to expand, open office in Venezuela Reuters

After China sanctions Philippines’ defense chief, Marcos breaks his silence South China Morning Post

Maryland Man Sentenced for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS U.S. Department of Justice

Alleged IRGC plot sought woman to burn kosher shop Iran International

Judge schedules 2027 trial in decadeslong case linking AMP to Hamas murder of American teen Jewish Insider

Neo-Nazi who had 'kill list' of customers and colleagues at Tesco jailed Sky News

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

Coinbase secures UK authorization to offer traditional investments alongside crypto CoinDesk

Hacked, leaked, and held for ransom: The worst breaches of 2026 so far TechCrunch

Hackers can use 9 of the most popular AI tools to assemble massive botnets Ars Technica

Telco giant KDDI says data breach affects over 12 million people BleepingComputer

Accenture confirms breach after hacker offers stolen data for sale BleepingComputer

Victims of 23andMe data breach to get $47m payout BBC

🚚 TRAFFICKING

How California Effectively Legalized an Open-Air Sex Market City Journal

Two Georgians Sentenced for Trafficking Fentanyl from China U.S. Department of Justice

Mexican National to Spend 27 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Over One Thousand Kilograms of Meth in Homeland Security Task Force Case DEA

Mexican cartel member sentenced for trafficking meth in North Carolina NBC News

Chinese men in Germany used Telegram groups to share illicit videos and drugging tips AP

Huge new fines for Brit cannabis smugglers in Thailand or up to two years in prison National Crime Agency

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