Podcast - Too Dirty for Dirty Crime
A bipartisan coalition of seven AGs led by North Carolina AG Jeff Jackson said WeChat agreed to new cooperation measures aimed at helping U.S. law enforcement disrupt fentanyl-related money laundering on the platform....more
The 2026 statewide ballot for Colorado is picking up steam, with three citizen-initiated ballot measures already qualified for the statewide 2026 ballot and many more progressing toward inclusion....more
Enforcement and regulatory conditions observed during 2025 continue to influence cross border risk exposure across Latin America in 2026. These conditions are particularly relevant for financial institutions, illicit supply...more
Last week we reported on the Supreme Court’s ruling invaliding the “reciprocal tariffs” and “fentanyl/trafficking tariffs” rolled out in 2025 on the basis that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) did not...more
On February 18, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a significant decision in United States v. Cardenas, vacating a drug conspiracy conviction and remanding the case for a new trial. The opinion...more
OFAC's US$1.7 Million IMG Academy Settlement and FinCEN's New Whistleblower Portal Signal a Sharpened Enforcement Environment...more
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) recently announced a sweeping enforcement operation targeting money services businesses (MSBs) operating along the Southwest U.S. border....more
Highlights from January 2026 include OFAC authorizations for certain downstream activities involving Venezuelan oil, negotiations for the eventual acquisition of Lukoil’s international assets and a counternarcotics...more
In the wake of Nicolás Maduro’s capture and transfer to the United States for prosecution on drug‑trafficking–related charges, senior U.S. officials have made clear that Venezuela‑related sanctions will remain in place for...more
After months of escalating pressure, U.S. military and law enforcement personnel captured Venezuela's disputed ruler, Nicolás Maduro, in a nighttime raid on January 3, 2026. Hours later, with Maduro en route to face federal...more
The global maritime industry is experiencing a period of heightened regulatory scrutiny as U.S. enforcement agencies intensify their response to record drug trafficking levels. As traffickers shift their strategy to target...more
U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals - USA v. Bryan - criminal trial, interference with rights, kidnapping, evidence- Koletas v. USA - FTCA, sovereign immunity waiver, Transportation Security Officers - Watson v....more
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, the big story is the impending demise of the hemp industry. In addition, the state of Nebraska is feuding...more
On November 5, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the consolidated case of Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, Inc. and Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump. This case is about presidential power. Specifically, the...more
On November 4, 2025, President Trump issued two Executive Orders to carry out U.S. commitments pursuant to a trade arrangement reached October 30 with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Together, the orders (1) reduce by...more
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Oct. 24, 2025, designated the Republic of Colombia's sitting president, Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego (Petro), pursuant to Executive Order (EO)...more
Kansas AG Kris Kobach and the Director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) Tony Mattivi announced a statewide enforcement operation targeting the sale of products containing illegal concentrations of THC in vape shops...more
Civil forfeiture is becoming an increasingly important tool in the U.S. Justice Department’s (DOJ) campaign against Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs), Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), and other sanctioned...more
On August 28, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) released an advisory (FIN-2025-A003) alongside a comprehensive Financial Trend Analysis (“FTA”), shining a spotlight on...more
On July 16, 2025, President Trump signed into law the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act (HALT Fentanyl Act or the Act), which significantly reformed the 1970 Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The HALT Fentanyl Act...more
In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small talks about his experience prosecuting the Cammarata Organization while serving with the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ)...more
A group of 21 Republican AGs sent a letter to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration requesting emergency action to schedule bromazolam under the Controlled Substances Act....more
This year’s NAAG Presidential Initiative Summit held August 5-6, 2025 in Portsmouth, NH, was hosted by New Hampshire AG and NAAG President John Formella, brought together state AGs, law enforcement officials, federal...more
In early August, the National Association of Attorneys General, led by its 2025 President, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella, hosted the Presidential Initiative Summit in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. General...more
On August 4, 2025, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a notice warning financial institutions about escalating illicit activity involving convertible virtual currency (CVC) kiosks. The notice cites...more