Displaying items by tag: criminal activity

A concerning rise in online sextortion cases among children in the UK has been revealed, with nearly 400 incidents reported to the Report Remove helpline last year - a 23% increase. Alarmingly, 98% of these reports came from boys aged 14 to 17, highlighting a significant and growing vulnerability among young males. Sextortion involves criminals coercing children into sharing sexual images and then blackmailing them - either for money or further content - under threat of exposure. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) confirmed a sharp increase in overall reports of sexual imagery, with over 1,100 verified cases in 2025 alone. Experts warn that shame, fear, and isolation often prevent young people from seeking help, while the psychological impact can be severe and long-lasting. Encouragingly, increased reporting suggests growing awareness and willingness to seek support. There are calls for stronger safeguards, including technology to prevent image-sharing and better-targeted education to protect vulnerable children.

Federal prosecutors in Argentina are investigating allegations linking Javier Milei to the promotion of the LIBRA cryptocurrency in 2025. Phone records reportedly show seven calls between the president and entrepreneur Mauricio Novelli around the time of a social media post endorsing the token, raising questions about prior coordination. Recovered documents also suggest a financial arrangement tied to endorsements and advisory roles, though Milei has not been formally charged and has not publicly responded to these claims. After his endorsement, the value of the cryptocurrency soared but then crashed, leading to substantial investor losses. The investigation has also drawn attention to the disbanding of a government task unit which had been examining related issues. Parliamentary hearings are expected to explore the matter further, as concerns grow over transparency, accountability, and governance.

A major security deployment is underway across the Cape Flats, as the National Defence Force (SANDF) joins the police service to strengthen crime prevention efforts. The initiative, launched with the code name Operation Prosper at a joint parade in Belhar, aims to address persistent challenges including gang violence, extortion, and territorial conflict affecting communities in Cape Town. Coordinated operations will include patrols, roadblocks, and targeted interventions in high-risk areas, guided by intelligence and managed through joint command structures. Military personnel will support visible policing and stabilisation efforts while remaining under police leadership. The authorities have stated that this operation will seek to disrupt organised crime networks and reduce firearm-related offences, with a focus on restoring safety and stability in communities facing ongoing insecurity.

A nationwide fraud crackdown has led to 557 arrests in a single month, marking the most successful phase yet of Operation Henhouse. The initiative targets organised fraud networks operating both online and offline. Authorities also froze £9 million in bank accounts and seized £18.1 million in cash and assets during February alone. In South Yorkshire, more than three hundred people were deceived through fake online adverts for vans. Criminals persuaded victims to pay deposits, only for them to discover the vehicles did not exist. The scam relied on over 90 'money mules’, often recruited via social media, who allowed their bank accounts to be used to move stolen funds. Three men were jailed for their roles in the operation. Over five years, Operation Henhouse has resulted in nearly two thousand arrests and disrupted over £67 million linked to fraud.

In parts of Johannesburg and surrounding areas, residents are protesting ongoing water shortages that have left some communities without reliable supply for weeks. Even in well-developed suburbs, taps have run dry, disrupting daily life and raising health concerns. In poorer areas, inconsistent access to clean water has persisted for years, forcing reliance on water tankers. Frustration has grown as people report having to pay for water that should be free, with allegations of corruption and exploitation worsening the crisis. Experts point to ageing infrastructure and a lack of investment as the root causes, while criminal activity may be compounding the problem. Government leaders, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, have announced plans for coordinated action. However, for many residents, daily hardship continues as they struggle to access one of life’s most basic necessities, highlighting deep inequalities and urgent need for lasting solutions.

The government has deployed thousands of troops after deadly unrest followed the death of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho. Around 9,500 soldiers have been sent to western states, including 2,500 reinforcements to Jalisco, where he was captured. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, long regarded as one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organisations, responded with coordinated attacks. Roads were blocked with burning vehicles, spikes and debris, while banks and businesses were set alight. Clashes between cartel members and the National Guard left dozens dead, including security personnel and alleged gang members. El Mencho was seriously wounded on 22 February during a firefight with special forces and died while being transported to Mexico City. President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the operation and pledged to restore peace. Authorities say order is gradually returning, though tensions remain high in affected communities. The level of violence has been made worse by warfare between and even within different cartels: see

A wave of coordinated gang violence which left ten police officers dead has prompted the government of Guatemala to declare a thirty-day state of emergency. The attacks began with riots at three prisons, where members of the Barrio 18 gang took guards hostage, and quickly spread to targeted killings of police in and around Guatemala City. Violence escalated after authorities regained control of a prison holding the gang’s leader, Aldo ‘El Lobo’ Duppie. In response, emergency measures now allow expanded police powers, including arrests without warrants for suspected gang members and restrictions on movement and demonstrations. The nation has mourned fallen officers amid heightened security and widespread fear. The unrest highlights ongoing struggles with organised crime, prison control, and public safety, as gangs continue to exert influence both inside prisons and on the streets.

At least 64 people, including four police officers, have been killed during a massive law enforcement operation in Rio de Janeiro - the deadliest in the city’s history. Governor Claudio Castro hailed the raids as a decisive blow against organised crime, but the high civilian toll has sparked national and international alarm. Operation Containment targeted the powerful Comando Vermelho gang, deploying 2,500 officers with helicopters and armoured vehicles across the Alemao and Penha favelas. Bystanders were reportedly caught in the crossfire, reigniting debate over police tactics, human rights, and the heavy cost of Brazil’s drug war. For many residents of Rio’s poorest neighbourhoods, the tragedy underscores a grim reality - they are trapped between violent gangs and aggressive law enforcement. Human rights groups have questioned the timing of such a large-scale operation, less than two weeks before the UN climate summit COP30 begins. As Brazil heads for a national election in 2026, the threat of criminal violence and drug trafficking is expected to take centre stage.

In Malaysia, a pocket-sized multipurpose hacking device capable of reading and emulating credit cards, cloning simple RFID tags, and recording older car key fob codes is being sold openly on popular e-commerce platforms. Marketed variously as a novelty gadget, handheld gaming device, or robotic kit, prices range from £26 to £300; units are sourced locally and from overseas. Short videos show the tool opening hotel doors and mimicking access credentials, raising alarms about theft, fraud, and privacy breaches. Experts say it cannot copy modern rolling codes used in many new cars, but when paired with custom firmware or signal analysers it could probe vulnerable legacy systems. Researchers and academics stress legitimate uses for hobbyists and security testing while urging sensible regulation: clearer labelling, age verification, user guidance, and targeted laws that criminalise illegal use rather than impose blanket bans.

Customs officials have intercepted a shipment of over 1,620 live parrots and canaries at Lagos' international airport, bound for Kuwait without the required permits. The birds, including protected ring-necked parakeets and yellow-fronted canaries, were seized during a routine inspection on 31 July. A spokesman said that the airport remains under strict surveillance to prevent illegal trafficking. As a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Nigeria must ensure such exports have legal documentation, which this shipment did not have. Authorities are investigating those behind the attempted export. The rescued birds were handed over to the National Park Service for rehabilitation. Conservationists view this seizure as a major success in Nigeria’s ongoing struggle against wildlife trafficking. Although the country is a key transit hub due to porous borders, widespread corruption, and weak enforcement, the interception is a sign of positive change in the fight against illegal wildlife trade, which globally generates $8–10 billion annually.