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Tehran Tricks, Kosovar Bank Burglar, and Crypto Crack
Illicit Edge - Edition for March 27, 2026
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Happy Friday! It’s March 27, and we’re tracking top stories to take you into the weekend: Iran Suspected of Creating Bogus Group to Claim Attacks in Europe, The Convicted Kosovar Bank Burglar With a Cameo in a Drake Video, Irish Police Crack First of 12 Bitcoin Wallets in $418M Drug Seizure, How a dirty money trail from Venezuela to Iran brought down a Swiss bank, and much more…
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🎯 FEATURED STORY
Iran Suspected of Creating Bogus Group to Claim Attacks in Europe. The apparent model mirrors tactics used by Russia, which has orchestrated sabotage attacks across Europe since invading Ukraine, often using unwitting recruits hired via social media. Wall Street Journal
🔥 TOP STORIES
The Convicted Kosovar Bank Burglar With a Cameo in a Drake Video OCCRP
Irish Police Crack First of 12 Bitcoin Wallets in $418M Drug Seizure Decrypt
How a dirty money trail from Venezuela to Iran brought down a Swiss bank Bloomberg
UK crackdown on vile scam centers steps up with sanctions on illicit crypto network GOV.UK
U.S. prosecutors argue Maduro 'plundered' Venezuelan wealth in court battle over legal fees BBC
$20 Billion Crypto Scam Market Faces a New Government Crackdown Wired
EU Faces Pressure to Close Irish Alumina Loophole After Russian Arms Link OCCRP
Taiwanese court jails former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je for 17 years for corruption SCMP
US indicts Chinese nationals using crypto in global fentanyl trafficking The Block
Alleged South American Kingpin Denied Bail After Extradition to U.S. OCCRP
Britain now 'ready' to seize Russian shadow fleet ships BBC
Intercepted, injected with substance, cash taken: Ukraine bank staff details Hungarian seizure Euronews
An American in Russia Is Linked to Neo-Nazi Terror Cells Across Europe New York Times
US official accuses China of supporting, exploiting cyber scam crisis in Southeast Asia The Record
Mysterious trading patterns follow Trump into war Axios
IN THE NEWS
🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA
Relatives Behind Russian Drone Company Involved in 'Illegal' Wheat Trade OCCRP
Tanker Carrying Russian Oil Arrives in Crisis-Struck Philippines The Moscow Times
Chinese National and Two U.S. Citizens Charged with Conspiring to Smuggle Artificial Intelligence Technology to China DOJ
She uncovered a terrifying lab hidden in California, with alleged ties to China Los Angeles Times
'They can reach me wherever': China using financial tactics to coerce people who flee The Guardian
AI rift widens as China urges boycott of top US conference over sanctions ban South China Morning Post
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🚀 SANCTIONS
US sanctions, silent allies: Where have Cuba's friends gone? DW
US ramps up fuel exports to Cuba's private sector Reuters
Iran, the $39 trillion national debt and dedollarization: How Trump exposed America's Achilles Heel in Hormuz Fortune
Meet the U.N.'s New Human-Rights Authority Wall Street Journal
Venezuela's 'chief torturer' takes over the military Financial Times
Isle of Man sanctions to crackdown on large-scale online fraud BBC
💥 TERROR
Iran's spies 'recruit UK teenagers on Telegram' The Times
How Trump's war on Iran is helping ISIS The Times
How ISIS and its affiliates might capitalize on the Iran war Atlantic Council
Brother, sister indicted in alleged IED plot at Florida base tied to Iran war; one suspect in China Fox News
The Islamic State's targeting of a Chinese mine in Congo proves the group is a resilient threat Long War Journal
Hezbollah member on U.S. terror list is arrested in Ecuador CBS News
Kuwait foils major terror plot linked to Hezbollah Kuwait Times
A jihadist cell planning an attack in Spain using a 'lone wolf' has been dismantled El País
💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME
Alpharetta firm executive pleads guilty in $380M Ponzi scheme Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cotton Introduces Bill to Ban Illegal Migrants from American Banking System Sen. Tom Cotton
Italy seizes millions in fraud against Bond star Ursula Andress Reuters
South Korean 'drug lord' running ring from Philippines jail extradited Reuters
Arizona gun dealer accused of selling firearms to two Mexican cartels The Guardian
U.S. brought back $100 million of gold from Venezuela CNBC
🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER
Tether says it selected a 'big four' firm for its first audit CoinDesk
Retirees Are More Vulnerable to Cyber Scams. The Reasons Why Are Complicated. Wall Street Journal
Why it's so hard to take down Cambodia's online scam industry NPR
A major hacking tool has leaked online, putting millions of iPhones at risk TechCrunch
The privacy paradox: regulating zero-knowledge finance in the EU and beyond CoinDesk
RedLine malware developer extradited to US, faces up to 30 years The Record
GlassWorm Malware Uses Solana Dead Drops to Deliver RAT and Steal Browser, Crypto Data Hacker News
Experts warn of a 'loud and aggressive' extortion wave following Trivy hack CyberScoop
🚚 TRAFFICKING
European Raids Bust Smugglers Giving Migrants Tire Tubes to Cross the Channel OCCRP
239 migrants found locked in trailer box, Mexico plans to repatriate adults Border Report
Strike in Caribbean Sea on drug boat kills 4 AP News
“We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive.” —Albert Einstein
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