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Happy Monday!  It’s August 19, and we’re tracking top stories to start the week: Curry Alert issued nationwide after 17 products illegally imported from Myanmar, feds are still sending ‘mad scientist’ millions to China – and keeping it from Congress, Novatek set to dock second LNG unit at sanctioned arctic plant, Mexico's ruling party faces growing scandal surrounding kidnapped kingpin, and much more...   

Stay current with the latest news at Illicit Edge!

Featured Story

🎯 Curry Alert Issued Nationwide After 17 Products Illegally Imported from Myanmar. The products, eight of which are curry related, were first discovered by the FSIS during routine surveillance activities at a retailer. Newsweek

Top Stories

🌎 Feds are still sending ‘mad scientist’ millions to China – and keeping it from Congress. How many companies like WuXi are there, which agencies are paying them, and at what costs and risks to Americans? NYP

🌎 Novatek Set to Dock Second LNG Unit at Sanctioned Arctic Plant. Satellite images show two vessels recently left the plant, suggesting Russia has managed to circumvent the curbs using a shadow fleet. Bloomberg

📌 Russia readies for "decades" under Western sanctions Reuters

🌎 A gunshot, a murdered rival and a kidnapped drug lord: Mexico's ruling party faces growing scandal. It was surprising when Mexico's most-wanted drug lord landed at an airfield near El Paso, Texas in July. AP

🚀 INTRANA: Join us for the 4th Industrial Revolution

🌎 As DNC hits Chicago, Microsoft warns of deepfake artificial-intelligence attacks. As the eyes of the world turn to Chicago, Microsoft will be across town, warning of a threat to elections across the globe. CST

📌 In Florida, a fake voter guide spurs accusations of dirty tricks ABC

🌎 OpenAI deactivates ChatGPT accounts linked to Iranian disinformation operation. OpenAI linked the activity to a group known as Storm-2035, which is known for creating fake news websites to influence elections. Axios

🌎 Iran seeks China’s help with surveillance satellites. Tehran is chasing deals with two Chinese companies that specialize in small satellites with powerful cameras. WaPo

🌎 Armed and Underground: Inside the Turbulent, Secret World of an American Militia. AP3 has already sought to shape American life through armed vigilante operations – at the Texas border, outside ballot boxes and during Black Lives Matter protests. ProPublica

🌎 Libya's central bank suspends operations after kidnapping of official. An unknown party was behind the abduction of Musaab Muslam, head of the bank’s IT department. Reuters

🌎 How scammers convince Americans to drain their life savings into crypto fraud schemes. “Pig butchering” scams earned the name from the idea that scammers use flattery and fake bonding to “fatten up” their victims. CNBC

🌎 Argentina police thwart terror attack. Argentina Federal Police's anti-terror unit arrested seven members of an Islamist terrorist organization targeting Jews. DW

IN THE NEWS

Russia & China

🚩 Russia’s Kadyrov equips Tesla Cybertruck with machine gun for war Independent

🚩 Rosatom’s Dutch Subsidiary Boosts Russian Budget Despite EU Sanctions EU Today

🚩 The enemy within: Time to unmask the masqueraders preying on Americans Fox

🚩 Chinese nationals linked to foreign crime rings behind wave of burglaries in Singapore CNA

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Corruption & Financial Crime

💸 Scheme to Defraud Elvis Presley’s Family of Millions and Steal Ownership of Graceland Thwarted Variety

💸 The CEO Who Made a Fortune While His Hospital Chain Collapsed WSJ

💸 Diageo submits financial documents in Delhi police investigation Reuters

💸 NY weighs charging oil firms billions of dollars to fuel new climate change fund NYP

💸 India regulatory chief earned revenue in potential rules violation Reuters

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Crypto & Cyber

🔐 As much as $5.1B in illicit crypto transactions linked to UK annually DLN

🔐 Sam Altman’s Worldcoin Is Battling With Governments Over Your Eyes WSJ

🔐 How the ransomware attack at Change Healthcare went down TechCrunch

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Trafficking

🚚 NYC migrant crime, general riots ‘getting out hand,’ could drive residents from the city NYP

🚚 Police probe UAE trafficking ring after rescue Bangkok Post

🚚 REPORT: Environmental Crimes Pose Unique Illicit Finance Challenges and Require Specific Solutions FACT Coalition

"The spirit of envy can destroy; it can never build."
--Margaret Thatcher

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