Greetings! It’s April 22, and we’re tracking today’s top stories: 'China Track' bank netting system shields Russia-China trade from Western eyes, Unilever probes Ben & Jerry’s Foundation’s donations, Southeast Asian cyber fraud industry at ‘inflection point’ as it expands globally, World Economic Forum opens new probe into founder Klaus Schwab, and much more…

Powered by

🎯 FEATURED STORY

'China Track' bank netting system shields Russia-China trade from Western eyes. The new system has been set up by major sanctioned banks and involves a web of intermediaries registered in countries that Russia considers friendly. Reuters

🔥 TOP STORIES

Unilever probes Ben & Jerry’s Foundation’s donations Semafor 

Southeast Asian cyber fraud industry at ‘inflection point’ as it expands globally Record

World Economic Forum Opens New Probe Into Founder Klaus Schwab WSJ 

Treasury Targets Iranian Liquified Petroleum Gas Magnate U.S. Treasury

Syria Makes Rare Arrests of Palestinian Militant Group Leaders NYT

Japan warns of hundreds of millions of dollars in unauthorized trades from hacked accounts Record

Senators Demand Federal Reserve Turn Over Records on Failed Fintech Synapse WSJ 

Stablecoin Giant Circle Is Launching a New Payments and Remittance Network CoinDesk 

Feds offer up to $5M for highest-ranking MS-13 leader's arrest, conviction USAT

New York City Corruption CATO 

Three prosecutors in corruption case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams resign Reuters

🚀 TRM Labs:

2025 Crypto Crime Report — A Year of Evolving Threats and Tactical Shifts

Illicit crypto activity fell sharply in 2024 — down 24% to $45B — but threat actors didn’t slow down. TRM Labs’ 2025 Crypto Crime Report reveals how ransomware demands hit record highs, terrorist financing grew more sophisticated, and illicit drug sales surged beyond darknet markets.

Explore the global trends shaping crypto risk exposure and the tools needed to mitigate it. 👉 Read the full report!

💥 RUSSIA & CHINA

China sanctions US congress members, officials and NGO heads Reuters 

China’s latest export controls on rare earth elements causing chaos in car supply chain NYP

Russia's role in trafficking, smuggling from Libya to EU DW 

Switzerland Adopts Further EU Sanctions Targeting Russian Media Bloomberg

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

Trump weighs banning nonprofits from sending grant money overseas — hitting groups founded by Zuckerberg, Gates and Soros NYP 

Columbia student suspended over interview cheating tool raises $5.3M to ‘cheat on everything’ TC

The rise of Brazil’s fuel mafias and their gas station money laundering machines Conversation 

Wife of ex-Sen. Bob Menendez found guilty in corruption case Roll Call

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

How Some Bitcoin Mining Firms Try to Game U.S. Customs Controls CoinDesk

WazirX eyes comeback from $230M hack, pending key May 13 court ruling Block 

SEC Still Plans on Charging Miami Crypto Company – But It's Vowing to Fight Back Decrypt

UK drug dealers create their own cryptocurrency to launder dirty money Daily Mail

Two-Thirds of Funds From $1.4B Lazarus Group Hack Still Traceable Decrypt

🚚 TRAFFICKING

‘I’m Not a Criminal’: The Mexican Politician Suspected of Being in Bed With Cartels WSJ

Amazon illegal miners bypass enforcement by smuggling gold into Venezuela Mongabay

Human trafficking-fueled fraud ring dismantled in joint Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana operation Interpol

‘Legal morphine’ is for sale in Florida. Will officials act? TBT

“However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.” —Winston Churchill

Share Illicit Edge with friends!

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