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Secret Cartel War, Jho Low Pardon, and Market of Violence
Illicit Edge - Edition for May 13, 2026
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Hello! It’s May 13, and we’re tracking today’s top stories: CIA escalates secret war on cartels with deadly operations inside Mexico; Jho Low, Fugitive Behind 1MDB Scandal, Seeks Pardon From Trump; Violence-as-a-Service: Iran's Digital Recruitment Model and the Homeland Threat; Inside the Double Life of a Syrian Hairdresser Accused of Torture in Assad's Prisons; and much more…
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🎯 FEATURED STORY
CIA escalates secret war on cartels with deadly operations inside Mexico. The Beltran operation was part of an expanded CIA campaign inside Mexico — spearheaded by the agency’s elite and secretive Ground Branch — to dismantle the entrenched cartel networks. CNN
🔥 TOP STORIES
Jho Low, Fugitive Behind 1MDB Scandal, Seeks Pardon From Trump WSJ
Violence-as-a-Service: Iran's Digital Recruitment Model and the Homeland Threat Homeland Security Today
Inside the Double Life of a Syrian Hairdresser Accused of Torture in Assad's Prisons New Lines Magazine
Mayor of Southern California city to plead guilty to acting as agent of China NBC
US issues alert to banks on IRGC efforts to evade sanctions Reuters
The Insider-Trading Scandal That Is Rocking M&A Law Firms WSJ
Landmark terrorism case could finally prevent US groups from funding Hamas -- after 30-year-old murder New York Post
Zelensky's ex-chief of staff in court as Ukraine corruption probe escalates BBC
What is in the US Senate's landmark crypto bill? Reuters
Iran-born smuggler who helped terror-linked migrant enter US also stockpiled child abuse material Fox News
Russia's shadow fleet ships defying PM's threat and entering UK waters BBC
U.S. Intelligence Shows Iran Retains Substantial Missile Capabilities NYT
Former President and CEO of Failed Oklahoma Bank Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud U.S. Department of Justice
Inside LAUSD's alleged $22-million money-laundering scheme, 'the largest' in district history Los Angeles Times
PayPal to give up $30M after DOJ accusations of bias in favor of minority-owned businesses The Hill
IN THE NEWS
🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA
EU targets Kyrgyzstan as Brussels seeks to prevent Russian sanctions evasion Atlantic Council
Trump eyes MAGA-friendly fentanyl win in China Politico
China’s AI ascent leaves Trump a stark choice: escalate or relax chip controls? South China Morning Post
Chinese National and Las Vegas Man Charged in Scheme to Import Deadly Synthetic Opioid into US U.S. Department of Justice
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🚀 SANCTIONS & TERROR
October 7 barbarism beyond all imagination: New report details how terrorists performed almost unimaginable horrors Daily Mail
Oil smuggling is becoming the new normal because of Trump’s erratic sanctions policies The Globe and Mail
Iraq, Pakistan strike energy deals with Iran as Tehran flexes Hormuz control Reuters
The small team taking on war criminals with a laptop and the help of AI The Independent
How Hezbollah’s $300 drones are challenging Israeli military The Guardian
Spanish police fear Islamist terrorists are taking advantage of left-wing PM's decision to open the door to 500,000 migrants and creating fake identities Daily Mail
France arrests Tunisian suspected of planning 'jihad-inspired' attack in Paris AFP
💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME
Democratic congressman launches probe of DOJ settlements with Biden-era FBI whistleblowers Washington Times
Home repair scam company sued by Minnesota AG after posing as fake businesses Fox News
First Liberty founder pleads guilty in $140M fraud case Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ICE Makes New Major Fraud Discovery Involving 10,000 Foreign Students The Daily Wire
South Africa’s Ramaphosa faces down calls to resign over cash-in-sofa scandal Reuters
🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER
Deal reached with Canvas hackers to delete data stolen Associated Press
Pro-Iran hacking group targets California tech company in flurry of attacks New York Post
Twin brothers wipe 96 gov't databases minutes after being fired Ars Technica
Anthropic's Mythos sends US banks rushing to plug cyber holes Reuters
Canadian Illegal Alien and Co-Conspirator Charged in $13 Million Cryptocurrency Fraud U.S. Department of Justice
Fake OpenAI Repo Hit #1 on Hugging Face—And Stole Passwords While It Trended Decrypt
U.S. bank disclose security lapse after sharing customer data with AI app TechCrunch
🚚 TRAFFICKING
How America Can Coerce the Cartels: A Smarter War on Drugs Begins With Selective Punishment Foreign Affairs
Two Charged With Trafficking 260 Pounds of Meth to New Jersey U.S. Department of Justice
Authorities in east Libya say 120 migrants recovered from trafficking dens Reuters
Pawn Shop Owner Pleads Guilty to Purchasing, Trafficking Millions of Dollars of Stolen Goods U.S. Department of Justice
Mexican National Sentenced to Prison in Vast Alien Smuggling Conspiracy U.S. Department of Justice
“Carpe per diem - seize the check.” —Robin Williams
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