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Putin Pass, ISIS Gold, and Terror Spies
Illicit Edge - Edition for October 28, 2026
Hello, Wednesday! It’s October 28, and we’re tracking today’s top stories: Trump Explores Lifting Sanctions on Russia’s Flagship Investment Fund, Gold smuggling funds Islamic State-linked insurgency in eastern Congo, British Man Charged With Helping Iranian Intelligence In UK, Hundreds of staged armed robberies helped thousands pose as crime victims in US immigration scam, and much more…
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Breaking News for FinCrime Professionals
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🎯 FEATURED STORY
Trump Explores Lifting Sanctions on Russia’s Flagship Investment Fund. The move would be the latest U.S. concession to Moscow as President Trump pursues economic incentives he hopes will secure an end to war in Ukraine. New York Times
🔥 TOP STORIES
Gold smuggling funds Islamic State-linked insurgency in eastern Congo Reuters
RAF Fairford plot coordinated by handler known as 'Ali' Sky News
Hundreds of staged armed robberies helped thousands pose as crime victims in US immigration scam Fox News
National Security Division Announces First “Near Miss” Non-Prosecution Agreement Under the Department-wide Corporate Enforcement Policy DOJ
Inside Donald Trump Jr’s Mongolian hunting trip with a Kremlin-linked businessman Financial Times
US indicts Malaysian national after Madagascar scam operation uncovered Record
What It Will Take to Defeat the Houthis New York Times
US agency is again probing if Polymarket broke 2022 settlement Reuters
Alexander Brothers Sentenced to 30 Years Each for Sex Trafficking New York Times
Hackers target US FEC system, disrupting campaign finance disclosures days before midterms Reuters
FBI Miami searches for Colombian fugitive in $54M drug-money laundering operation NBC Miami
U.K. man faces allegations of worldwide money-laundering in Northern California courtroom FOX
Russian court sentences IT specialist to 13 years after crypto exchange handed over his data to Moscow Insider
Ghanaian twins and US woman plead guilty to romance scams BBC
Bitcoin Wallet Maker Keystone Pulls Devices as Stolen Key Opens Door to Fakes Decrypt
IN THE NEWS
🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA
China hands former security regulator anti-graft official suspended death sentence Reuters
Russian Satellites Help Iran’s Allies Strike Saudi Arabia Associated Press
DHS suspends visa-free travel program for Chinese nationals amid birth tourism, security concerns New York Post
Caught stealing: An employee of Russia’s top-secret Department K has been convicted of selling a classified database Insider
German soldier led local branch of Putin-linked Night Wolves biker club for years Insider
China’s new trade secrets law draws White House warning Politico
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🚀 SANCTIONS & TERROR
Iraqi court sentences seven French ISIS members to prison The National
NYC native who became ISIS teen bride faces decade in prison as she's found guilty of training with terror group New York Post
State Department ‘monitoring’ Palestine Action for ignoring new terror sanctions Washington Examiner
Can The EU Put Russia's GRU On Its Terror List? RFE/RL
Europe's New Financial Firewall: Closing the Door on Iranian Terror Financing and Russian Sanctions Evasion JCFA
Dozens of Somali soldiers killed in battle with al Shabaab Reuters
At least 62 people killed in attack on a community in northeastern Nigeria Associated Press
💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME
Evening sessions urged as fraud, money-laundering cases pack Hong Kong courts South China Morning Post
Fugitive Fraudster Herb Kimble Sentenced to 20 Years for International Healthcare Fraud Scheme DOJ
U.S. Court Sentences Lender to 15 Years over $76M Ponzi Scheme OCCRP
Nigerian Man Extradited from Benin to Face Federal Charges in $100 Million Stolen Identity Tax Scheme DOJ
Minnesota appeals court reinstates guilty verdict in $7.2 million fraud case Star Tribune
Multiple Individuals Arrested for Health Care Fraud Conspiracy following Homeland Security Task Force Investigation DOJ
🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER
Ukrainian National Sentenced for Role in Hacking Hospitals, Businesses, and Governments as Part of Ransomware Conspiracies Causing Over $100 Million in Losses DOJ
Japan internet giant GMO says hackers posted stolen customer data TechCrunch
“Bulletproof” website domain seized in international law enforcement operation DOJ
CyberStrikeAI Uses 44 AI Agents to Automate Hacking Operations Against Japan Targets The Hacker News
Crypto Casino Gamdom Faces $15M Bitcoin Ransom After Multimillion-Dollar Hack Bitcoin.com
US government says hackers are now exploiting critical PHP web bugs TechCrunch
🚚 TRAFFICKING
Attorney General James Uthmeier Charges Sinaloa Cartel Network in RICO Cocaine Trafficking Case Florida Attorney General
Fugitive mom wanted in daughter’s Arizona murder used cartels to hide for years before capture in Mexico Fox News
Terrorism-Linked Colombian Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Import Nearly 62 Pounds of Cocaine into U.S. DOJ
Guatemalan National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Narcotics Trafficking DOJ
El Paso federal court sentences human smuggler 'Monstro' to 9 years in prison KFOX14
Indonesia Seizes More Than 2 Tons of Narcotics in Major Anti-drug Operations Diplomat
“I can resist everything except temptation.” — Oscar Wilde
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