Hello, Friday. It’s September 11, and we’re tracking top stories to take you into the weekend: Iranian Students Return Home With Deadly Knowledge Of Drones, How a billion-dollar sanctions dodge kept Chinese goods flowing to Iran, The Narco Highway: Mapping the Pacific’s Drug Trade, North Korea’s military partnership with Russia has consequences far beyond Ukraine, 25 years since 9/11, and much more…

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Breaking News for FinCrime Professionals
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🎯 FEATURED STORY

From Russia With Expertise: Iranian Students Return Home With Potentially Deadly Knowledge Of Drones, AI, And More. In addition to shells and other ammunition, Iran provided many of the drones used by Russia in the earlier stages of the full-scale invasion, and Russia is now churning out domestically made versions using the same technology. RFE/RL

🔥 TOP STORIES

How a billion-dollar sanctions dodge kept Chinese goods flowing to Iran Reuters

The Narco Highway: Mapping the Pacific’s Drug Trade CSIS

North Korea’s military partnership with Russia has consequences far beyond Ukraine Chatham House

The state of terrorism, 25 years after 9/11 Atlantic Council

U.S. Takes Action Against Iran’s Terrorist Proxies U.S. Department of State

Iran Is Producing Ballistic Missiles Again Wall Street Journal

Group of bipartisan lawmakers ask US government to ban several hack-for-hire firms TechCrunch

Treasury Uncovers $17.5 Billion in Suspected Health Care Fraud U.S. Treasury

Treasury Cracks Down on Transnational Criminal Organization Behind Cyber Scam Operations Targeting Americans U.S. Treasury

Covert Compute: How Advanced AI Chips Reach China C4ADS

Anthropic says it blocked possible attempts to use AI to develop bioweapons CNN

Top US Lobby Firm Had Hidden Ties to Iran, Russia Oil Tycoons Bloomberg

The Crypto Scam Victims Fighting the U.S. to Get Their Money Back Wall Street Journal

TFTC Announces Follow-On Designations Targeting Hizballah’s Gold Exchange Network Terrorist Financing Targeting Center

Trafficked into fraud: An African crisis in Cambodia DW

India’s financial intelligence unit flags 15 crypto platforms for AML lapses CoinDesk

🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA

Chinese nationals indicted in North Texas for trafficking drugs to prison inmates across United States Fox

US disrupts Xinbi Guarantee marketplace fueling the cyber scam economy Record

India to push BRICS digital currency link despite hurdles Reuters

Russia’s Enduring Role in Latin America and Its Implications for U.S. Hemispheric Interests RAND

India's Serious Fraud Office recommends 'detailed' probe into Xiaomi's business in country Reuters

🚀 SANCTIONS & TERROR

25 Years After 9/11, Questions About the FBI’s Pursuit of Saudi Suspects in the Case Have Only Grown ProPublica

Trump to sanction unnamed 'large' bank on Monday, Bessent says Reuters

EU court hands another defeat to Abramovich in fight against sanctions Politico

The Quiet Battle Against Russia’s Shadow Fleet CEPA

Why America Can’t Strangle Iran: The Sources of Tehran’s Economic Resilience Foreign Affairs

Two arrested in London on suspicion of assisting Iran's intelligence service Sky News

Islamic State Plots Disrupted and Operatives Arrested in 4 Countries FDD

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

Orange County Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Orchestrating Massive Health Care Fraud that Submitted $270 Million in Bogus Claims DOJ

Oz’s Medicaid fraud war room is prompting ‘aggressive’ state crackdowns Politico

Brothers Plead Guilty to Bribing NYC Buildings Commissioner Under Mayor Adams New York Times

Glencore’s former head of oil pleads not guilty to bribery charges Guardian

Ousted Bangladesh PM's Daughter Steps Down as WHO Regional Chief after Fraud Probe OCCRP

Malaysia to charge former minister over haj fund corruption South China Morning Post

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

Mexican Musician and Family Killed Over Bitcoin Cold Wallet Believed to Hold Millions Decrypt

ID verification giant IDScan confirms data breach with more than 150 million driver's licenses stolen TechCrunch

Gigabud Creates Android Work Profiles to Hide From Banking App Malware Checks The Hacker News

Multiple Chinese hacking groups seen using identical Chrome zero-day exploit Record

Ukrainian National Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Wire Fraud Conspiracy in Connection with Conti Ransomware DOJ

🚚 TRAFFICKING

Russia ‘trafficking’ foreigners to Ukraine’s front line Politico

Thousands of horses caught up in Europe-wide trafficking scheme Europol

Five Mexicans in court over Warwickshire meth lab National Crime Agency

U.S. Takes Aim at New Target in Deadly Boat Strike Campaign New York Times

Turkey Detains 24 in Belgium-Linked Drug Trafficking Probe OCCRP

“We will not waver; we will not tire; we will not falter, and we will not fail. Peace and Freedom will prevail.” —George W. Bush

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