criminal networks

At least 34 people died attempting to reach Spain's Ceuta from Morocco. Around 60,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta in 24 hours, with over 37,500 returning, as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez blamed criminal networks for the influx.

Spain's PM blames trafficking mafia for a surge of 40,000 migrants from Morocco to Ceuta, citing a court ruling that allows migrants arriving by sea to avoid immediate return.

The U.N.'s migration agency warns that criminal networks are trafficking hundreds of thousands of people, particularly educated English speakers, to work in online scam centers, with the problem growing. The caseload of such cases is increasing, according to the agency.

The UN’s migration agency warns that criminal networks are trafficking educated English speakers into online scam centers using fake job ads on social media. Victims are often locked up, have their documents seized, and are forced to work through violence, threats, and debt bondage.

Ghana's illegal gold mining sector, backed by criminal networks, poses a national security threat linked to terrorism risks. Revenue from small-scale mining exceeded $11 billion in 2023, surpassing large-scale mining, with much of the income smuggled out of the country. Ghana has agreed with the World Gold Council to formalize the artisanal sector.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is urging countries to accelerate enforcement of anti-money laundering (AML) regulations for cryptocurrencies. Criminal networks are exploiting stablecoins and proprietary tokens to bypass asset freezes, as governments face challenges in regulating crypto AML compliance.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Nigeria raised over N6.1 billion by auctioning properties confiscated from drug traffickers, signaling a financial setback for criminal networks. The agency emphasized the action as a warning to organized crime involved in drug trafficking.

Lula criticized the US for labeling Brazil's criminal networks as 'terrorists', warning that such a designation could undermine local law enforcement efforts.