EXCLUSIVE: NEW YORK - The FBI has warned it is getting ready to smash and dismantle the transnational gangs who have helped transform a busy commercial strip in Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's district into a crime-infested hot spot blighted by illegal prostitution, drugs, human trafficking and violence.
A former Riverside megachurch pastor has been accused of sexually abusing and trafficking children for years at a shelter he ran in Bucharest, according to lawsuits filed by two Romanian men in U.S. District Court in California. The complaints, filed Tuesday by 33-year-old Marian Barbu and 40-year-old Mihai-Constantin Petcu, said former Harvest Christian Fellowship pastor and missionary Paul Havsgaard severely abused them and dozens of other children at the shelter over eight years.
The judge, Mr Justice Sheldon, halted his removal after a decision came through during the court hearing that his claims to be a victim of trafficking required further investigation. The ruling is a significant blow to the government because many of those due to be removed under the scheme are potential victims of trafficking. Because they have only recently arrived in the UK they have not had an opportunity to have their trafficking claim fully investigated nor to obtain expert medical and psychological reports.
The UN issued an official warning on Thursday that transnational organised crime networks have infiltrated East Timor's Special Administrative Region of Oecusse Ambeno through foreign investment schemes. list of 4 itemsend of list Oecusse is an enclave of East Timor that lies entirely within Indonesian territory and is bordered by the Savu Sea. The government established a digital free trade zone there in December 2024, but a law enforcement raid in August points to emerging scam centre activity, according to the UNODC.
Southeast Asia's cyber scam industry not only threatens the well-being and financial security of Americans, but also subjects thousands of people to modern slavery, undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K Hurley said in a statement, adding that Americans last year lost more than $10bn from scam operations originating in the region. The department said it had issued sanctions against Tin Win, Saw Min Min Oo and Chit Linn Myaing Co for acting
Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos have in recent years become havens for transnational crime syndicates running scam centres such as KK Park, which use enslaved workers to run complex online fraud and scamming schemes that generate huge profits. For them, money is more important than human life Trafficking victim There have been some attempts to crack down on the centres and rescue the workers, who can be subjected to torture and trapped inside.
A vessel carrying more than 100 migrants is thought to have helped bring the number of small boat arrivals to 27,799 this year. Home Office figures show 325 migrants crossed the English Channel by small boat on Wednesday, in the same week that the number of arrivals since Labour won the election hit 50,000.
FBI officials announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the location of Heaven Desiree McGee, a 21-year-old believed to be a human trafficking victim.