Category: Smuggling

What to Know About the Cuban Mafia in Quintana Roo

The New York Times – On the Runway:
A group of Cuban men in Mexico was charged with smuggling people to the United States. One of its leaders said Raúl Castro’s grandson helped, according to interviews and court records.
How Raúl Castro’s Grandson, Raúl G. Rodríguez Castro, Became a Power Broker

The New York Times – On the Runway:
The Castro family envoy, Raúl G. Rodríguez Castro, who has been in talks with the Trump administration, was once named in a case targeting a Cuban smuggling ring.
Malaysian Pilot Smuggled 55 Pounds of Ecstasy Into Indonesia, Officials Say

The New York Times – Business:
The pilot, identified only by his initials, also tested positive for ecstasy and cocaine when he was arrested last week at the Jakarta airport, the Indonesian police said.
Even Without Internet Access, Prisoners Are Trying to Benefit From A.I.

The New York Times – Business:
Most prisons forbid online access. But inmates are finding ways to ask chatbots questions anyway.
A Seized Oil Tanker and the Big Business of Dark Fleet Smuggling

The U.S. seizure of a vessel off Venezuela is likely to squeeze the country’s government, but do little to counter the tankers that secretively move oil from sanctioned countries.
China Tries to Stop Smuggling of Rare Earths as Shortages Loom Abroad

Police officers, customs officials and spies are reinforcing China’s embargo on the critical minerals that it overwhelmingly controls.
Trump’s De Minimis Order Could Raise Costs on Clothes and Goods From China

The loophole has allowed retailers to send goods from China directly to U.S. shoppers without paying tariffs. Closing it could raise consumer prices.
Do DeepSeek’s A.I. Advances Mean US Tech Controls Have Failed?

DeepSeek’s A.I. models show that China is making rapid gains in the field, despite American efforts to hinder it.
With Smugglers and Front Companies, China Is Skirting American A.I. Bans

The U.S. is trying to stop China from getting Nvidia microchips to advance its military. The private sector is fighting back.
Handbag Designer Nancy Gonzalez Sentenced to 18 Months for Smuggling Exotic Skins

Nancy Gonzalez, whose clients included Britney Spears and Sofia Vergara, smuggled purses from her native Colombia to the United States using couriers. She will serve 18 months.
‘Jamaica Mistaica’: Jimmy Buffett Song Inspired After Plane Sprayed by Gunfire

In 1996, the police in Jamaica mistook Buffett for a drug smuggler after he landed his seaplane with the singer Bono and others on board and opened fire on it.
U.S.-Made Technology Is Flowing to Sanctioned Russian Airlines

Russian customs data shows that millions of dollars of aircraft parts made by Boeing, Airbus and others were sent to Russia last year despite sanctions.