Happy Friday! It’s January 23, and we’re tracking top stories to take you into the weekend: TD Bank Insider Pleads Guilty to Facilitating Colombian ATM Money Laundering Scheme, China, U.S. sign off on TikTok US spinoff, Mexican authorities arrest crime figure 'El Botox' in killing of lime growers' leader, VA Governor Spanberger Appoints Two Qatari Lobbyists To Serve on George Mason University Board, and much more…

🎯 FEATURED STORY

TD Bank Insider Pleads Guilty to Facilitating Colombian ATM Money Laundering Scheme. “This case shows how complex money laundering schemes often depend on insiders who are willing to bend — or break — basic safeguards...” U.S. Department of Justice

🔥 TOP STORIES

China, U.S. sign off on TikTok US spinoff Semafor

Mexican authorities arrest crime figure 'El Botox' in killing of lime growers' leader CBS News

VA Governor Abigail Spanberger Appoints Two Qatari Lobbyists To Serve on George Mason University Board Free Beacon

📘 Featured Report: A7A5 – The ruble-backed stablecoin crosses $100 billion in transactions Elliptic

Drug network, including beauty salon, sanctioned for trafficking cocaine to U.S. through Costa Rica CBS News

24 industrial-scale labs dismantled in the largest-ever operation against synthetic drugs Europol

France's navy intercepts an oil tanker in the Mediterranean sailing from Russia AP

Trump Seeks ‘Decisive’ Options for Iran as Assets Move Into Middle East Wall Street Journal

‘Rich kids’ of Iran flaunt wealth and incite rage — ‘partying’ in nightclubs as blood runs in the streets New York Post

Colombia imposes tariffs and halts energy sales to Ecuador as trade feud escalates AP

Trump sues JPMorgan, CEO Jamie Dimon for $5B over post-Jan. 6 ‘debanking’ USA Today

US sanctions British-based activist over ties to Hamas The Times

Hamas demands US walk back latest sanctions on Palestinian nonprofits AFP

EU To Target Iranian Minister, Security Chiefs Over Deadly Crackdown On Protesters RFE

After vanishing from view, two US-seized Venezuela oil tankers reappear near Puerto Rico Reuters

Report for Licensing Activities Undertaken Pursuant to the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act (TSRA) U.S. Treasury

🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA

EU Plans New Russia Sanctions As Loopholes Persist RFE

Why China Isn’t Worried About New US Sanctions on Iran The Diplomat

How Mamdani’s Democratic Socialists Sought Ties With Chinese Officials Newsweek

Russia, Ukraine and the race for Chinese drone components Financial Times

India's Reliance to buy sanctions-compliant Russian oil in February and March Reuters

The Chinese Spy Machine Infiltrating Taiwan’s Military Wall Street Journal

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

Cambodian businessman exposed in BBC Eye online scam investigation arrested BBC News

Financial Advisor Pleads Guilty to Orchestrating Massive $380M Ponzi Scheme U.S. Department of Justice

Barrio 18 gang attacks in Guatemala expose government impotence in the face of organized crime El País

Bombshell Footage Claims Judges Can Be Bought With Bribes in Ohio Immigration Courts Townhall

IRS green-lights DOGE overhaul, posing these risks to taxpayers Axios

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

Central Bank of Iran has acquired US dollar stablecoins worth at least half a billion dollars CoinDesk

Brazilian police seize $126M in major crypto money laundering operation raids DL News

South Korean prosecutors probe disappearance of seized bitcoin The Block

Boozman releases new GOP-only crypto draft Politico

🚚 TRAFFICKING

Arrests of drug lords reverberate in Sinaloa El País

Thousands of workers flee Cambodia scam centers The Guardian

Sheinbaum defends transfer of Mexican cartel members amid efforts to appease Trump The Guardian

2.2 million illegal immigrants ‘self-deported’ in past year as Trump admin ups ‘exit bonus’ incentive New York Post

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." —James Baldwin

Share Illicit Edge with friends!

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