NewzIntel.com

Category: Police

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Committee on Reserves Summer Plenary Meeting

    Source: NATO

    From 24 to 26 June, the NATO Committee on Reserves (NCR) convened its Summer Plenary Meeting in Kirkenes, Norway, at the invitation of the Norwegian military authorities.

    Highlights included a detailed presentation on Norway’s model for border protection, which features close cooperation between national entities such as the Border Commissioner, the Police, and the Armed Forces. Participants also visited the Parsvik Border Station, where they observed highly skilled and motivated young soldiers guarding the Norwegian-Russian border.

    One of the NCR’s key objectives is the sharing of best practices. Norway, Finland and Sweden presented their national approaches to Total Defence. They outlined how they involve the whole of society in conscription, mobilization, recruitment, education and training, with a strong focus on integrating Reserves into regular Armed Forces structures.

    The meeting also provided a timely opportunity to explore the growing strategic importance of NATO’s Nordic Region and the High North. Delegates left Kirkenes with valuable insights and practical knowledge to help further develop national Reserve capabilities. The Committee will reconvene for its Winter Plenary Meeting in Norfolk, USA, from 26 to 29 January 2026.

    The NCR serves as the Military Committee’s standing advisory body on Reserve matters. It is composed of national representatives along with liaison officers from the International Military Staff (IMS), Allied Command Operations (ACO), and Allied Command Transformation (ACT).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Committee on Reserves Summer Plenary Meeting

    Source: NATO

    From 24 to 26 June, the NATO Committee on Reserves (NCR) convened its Summer Plenary Meeting in Kirkenes, Norway, at the invitation of the Norwegian military authorities.

    Highlights included a detailed presentation on Norway’s model for border protection, which features close cooperation between national entities such as the Border Commissioner, the Police, and the Armed Forces. Participants also visited the Parsvik Border Station, where they observed highly skilled and motivated young soldiers guarding the Norwegian-Russian border.

    One of the NCR’s key objectives is the sharing of best practices. Norway, Finland and Sweden presented their national approaches to Total Defence. They outlined how they involve the whole of society in conscription, mobilization, recruitment, education and training, with a strong focus on integrating Reserves into regular Armed Forces structures.

    The meeting also provided a timely opportunity to explore the growing strategic importance of NATO’s Nordic Region and the High North. Delegates left Kirkenes with valuable insights and practical knowledge to help further develop national Reserve capabilities. The Committee will reconvene for its Winter Plenary Meeting in Norfolk, USA, from 26 to 29 January 2026.

    The NCR serves as the Military Committee’s standing advisory body on Reserve matters. It is composed of national representatives along with liaison officers from the International Military Staff (IMS), Allied Command Operations (ACO), and Allied Command Transformation (ACT).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ17: Combating online investment scams

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by Professor the Hon Priscilla Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (July 9):

    Question:

         According to the data provided by the Government in its reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council in June this year, the Police recorded a total of 1 534 cases of online investment scams involving an amount of about $1.02 billion in the first four months of this year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) given that the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has launched anti-scam publicity and education programmes targeting three common investment scam scenarios, whether the Government has formulated specific measures to support SFC’s anti-scam publicity programmes, so as to raise public vigilance against investment scams; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

    (2) whether it has plans to strengthen its co-operation with the SFC to update and enhance investor education, so as to ensure that investors can effectively identify and guard against emerging investment risks as well as evolving fraudulent practices and technologies; and

    (3) whether it has devised further strategies or allocated additional resources to extend the impact of the “Don’t be Sucker” anti-scam publicity campaign launched by the SFC, so as to enable more investors to benefit from the campaign and avoid becoming victims of online investment scams; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

    Reply:

    President,

         The Government attaches great importance to investor education, and is committed to supporting the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and its subsidiary, the Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC), in enhancing the financial literacy of the public through various means and channels. In consultation with the Security Bureau, the SFC and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), my reply to the various parts of the question is as follows.

    (1) and (2) In the first five months of 2025, there were 1 849 cases of online investment scams recorded by the Police, involving about $1.24 billion. The Government accords high priority to investor protection, and strives to combat online investment scams through two main directions, namely promotion and enforcement.

         On promotion, the Government, together with the SFC and the IFEC, has been striving to enhance investors’ anti-financial scam capabilities, raise the public’s knowledge in relevant financial products, and remind investors of the risks associated with digital finance.

         In March 2025, the IFEC in collaboration with various stakeholders organised the “Hong Kong Money Month” with the theme of “Guard against Fraud Thrive with Resilience” to comprehensively promote anti-scam messages by publicising anti-scam information targeting different segments of the community through cross-media promotion. The promotion videos recorded a total of 20.6 million views during the promotion period. In the face of ever-changing technology and evolving fraud tactics, the IFEC has also introduced various anti-financial scam education resources, animated videos, online seminars, etc to educate the public on safeguarding against investment scams including “ramp and dump” schemes, social media investment groups, fraudulent trading apps or investment platforms, impersonation scams, deepfake technology and phishing messages, etc. The IFEC website also features fraud prevention online games and an anti-scam online quiz, enabling the public to gain anti-scam knowledge through engaging and interactive games.

         The IFEC launched Hong Kong’s first digital financial education experiential learning centre, the IFEC FinEd Hub, in March 2024 to offer investment and anti-scam education to a wider audience through immersive and interactive learning experiences. The FinEd Hub features various interactive anti-scam games for visitors to learn how to identify and respond to various financial scams. As of end-June 2025, the FinEd Hub has recorded over 26 500 visits, with the vast majority of visitors indicating that their visit had enhanced their anti-scam knowledge.

         On the other hand, the HKMA has introduced “Money Safe” with banks to provide an extra layer of security to customers’ bank deposits. “Money Safe” enables customers to segregate a portion of their deposits maintained at banks, protecting them from fund outflows through online and other channels. When releasing the protected deposits, customers would need to undertake extra verification process by staff at bank branches. All retail banks will fully implement “Money Safe” by the end of this year.

         As regards enforcement actions against online investment scams, given that most fraud cases in Hong Kong currently involve the use of stooge accounts for receiving funds, targeting such accounts is an effective way to disrupt the fraud value chain. In the first five months of 2025, the Police arrested a total of 3 028 persons in connection with various fraud and money laundering offences, about 70 per cent of whom were holders of stooge accounts. Since the end of 2023, the Police have also applied to the courts to invoke section 27 of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 455) to seek enhanced penalties for cases involving stooge accounts, so as to strengthen deterrence. There have been cases where convicted stooge account holders received sentences increased by more than 30 per cent.

         The Hong Kong Police Force, together with the police authorities of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Malaysia, Maldives, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand, has also conducted the first joint operation under the anti-fraud cross-boundary co-operation platform “FRONTIER+” to jointly combat cross-boundary fraud criminal activity. The operation successfully identified and dismantled multiple cross-boundary fraud syndicates, resulting in the arrest of 1 858 persons and involving 9 268 fraud cases, including investment fraud. In addition, noting the increase in online investment scams at the beginning of 2025, the Hong Kong Police have, over the past few months, held press conferences from time to time and stepped up publicity through various channels to remind the public to remain vigilant.

    (3) The SFC launched a new anti-scam campaign “Don’t be Sucker” in December 2024 to caution the public against common tactics used in fraudulent schemes. An original cartoon character “Shui Yu”, symbolising an impulsive and gullible personality that easily fall prey to investment scams, debuted in the campaign.

         Complementing the SFC’s focused promotion of three common scams that the public should avoid (namely online romance scams, impersonation, and deceptive tips from financial influencers), the SFC has rolled out an original campaign theme song and a music video featuring “Shui Yu”, which has recorded over one million views within about three months since its launch. As of end-June 2025, the SFC has published about 50 posts on the social media platform of “Shui Yu”, which has attracted more than 1 500 followers and over 423 000 views by unique users.

         To further promote anti-scam messages through “Shui Yu”, the SFC has produced “Shui Yu”-themed messaging app stickers to spread anti-scam messages in a light-hearted way. Apart from various online and offline advertisements, the SFC extended the “Don’t be Sucker” anti-scam publicity campaign through MTR station commercials and a TV infotainment programme in May to June 2025, garnering more than 1.6 million views in estimate.

         In fact, the Government has been proactively enhancing public awareness of various kinds of scams. The Police have set up the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre since July 2017 to consolidate the efforts of the Police in combating and preventing scams, and have introduced various initiatives including the 24-hour enquiry hotline “Anti-Scam Helpline 18222”, and the “Upstream Scam Intervention” scheme to actively identify potential scam victims.

         In addition, the Police have introduced an anti-scam mascot “The Little Grape” since June 2020 to explain the latest tactics of scammers and disseminate simple anti-scam messages in a friendly and interactive manner. Various “The Little Grape” anti-scam promotional campaigns have also been organised over the past five years. Thanks to these initiatives and the collective efforts of the community, the annual growth rate of scam cases has significantly decelerated from nearly 90 per cent in 2020 to 11.7 per cent last year, indicating a rise in public awareness of scam prevention.

         Going forward, the Government will continue to support relevant organisations and stakeholders in collaboratively launching targeted promotion activities to raise the anti-scam awareness of the public.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ6: Indecent assault cases on public transport

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by the Hon Lam San-keung and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (July 9):

    Question:

    In recent years, there have been sporadic cases of indecent assault on public transport which arouse public concern. On the other hand, there are views that physical contact between individuals is difficult to be avoided in crowded vehicle compartments and could be mistaken for indecent assault. Moreover, society’s expectations for safety, comfort and mutual respect among passengers on public transport are increasing. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the number of indecent assault cases occurred on public transport that the Police received in each of the past five years, and the percentage of these cases out of the total number of cases occurring on public transport; the number of convictions among these indecent assault cases; whether it knows the average time taken by the courts to adjudicate these indecent assault cases; and

    (2) whether it will consider introducing women-only or men-only zones or compartments on public transport mass-carriers (e.g. the MTR and franchised buses); if so, of the implementation timetable; if not, the reasons for that?

    Reply:

    President,
     
    The Police attach great importance to all cases involving sexual offences and are dedicated to investigating each of them thoroughly, with particular focus on offences taking place on public transport. At present, sexual offences occurred on public transport are mainly indecent assault cases (i.e. offence of indecent assault under the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200)), for which offenders shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for 10 years. There are also cases of voyeurism and unlawful recording or observation of intimate parts (commonly known as “upskirt photography”), both of which carry a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment under the Crimes Ordinance.

    The Police will continue to strengthen patrols by uniformed and plain-clothes officers in relevant areas, and will work closely with public transport operators to jointly combat indecent assault and its related offences on public transport. In parallel, the Police will step up publicity and education efforts to enhance public awareness and encourage members of the public to report crimes.

    In consultation with the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the reply to the Member’s question is as follows:

    (1) In the past five years, the number of reports received by the Police on sexual offences occurred on public transport/interchanges/transport stations, including offences of indecent assault, voyeurism and unlawful recording or observation of intimate parts under the Crimes Ordinance, accounted for about seven per cent to 21 per cent of all offences occurred on public transport. Please refer to the Annex for details. For the first five months of 2025, the Police received a total of 141 relevant reports, which accounted for about 14 per cent of the total number of offences occurred on public transport/interchanges/transport stations.

    The Government maintains neither a breakdown on the number of convictions of the above sexual offences by place of occurrence nor relevant statistics on the time taken by courts to adjudicate such cases.

    (2) As to whether women-only or men-only zones or compartments shall be introduced on various mass public transport modes (such as MTR and franchised buses), a number of considerations are relevant. The public transport system in Hong Kong carries a total patronage of more than 11 million passenger trips daily, with the MTR and franchised buses being the main travelling means handling over 5 million and 3.7 million passenger trips per day respectively.

    The MTR is one of the railway systems with the most frequent services in the world. In 2024, the heavy rail and light rail operated over 2.71 million trips, with train services reaching about one train in every two minutes during peak hours.

    The MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) has made reference to some overseas experience but assessed that it would not be appropriate to introduce women-only or men-only compartments in the MTR network. At present, during peak hours, the MTR system is generally crowded at platforms (especially at interchange stations), and the MTRCL has to make good use of the space on platform as well as inside train compartment to ease the passenger flow. Introducing dedicated train compartments would affect the management of passenger flow at stations and platforms, as well as the flow of passengers between train compartments. In addition, most of the MTR train compartments are of open design and it is operationally difficult to control passengers to follow the arrangement. Therefore, the MTRCL has no plan at this stage to introduce dedicated train compartments.

    To prevent crimes of indecent assaults in the railway premises, the MTRCL has put up posters at stations to step up the promotion of anti-crime messages on indecent assaults. Passengers are encouraged not to remain silent, and report incidents or crimes of indecent assaults immediately to the Police or station staff.  The MTR station staff are properly trained to assist the Police in combating crimes.  In addition, the MTRCL and the Police hold regular anti-crime meetings to share information about the latest crime trend and intelligence, and to deliberate on specific strategies to combat crimes. The MTRCL also organises publicity activities in collaboration with the Police (including regular anti-crime publicity activities organised annually) so as to raise passengers’ anti-crime awareness.

    In respect of franchised buses, many routes have high occupancy rates during peak hours. As there is limited space in the compartments and passengers board and alight in the same aisle, setting up dedicated areas inside the compartments will affect the passenger-carrying efficiency of buses. In addition, it will be operationally difficult to ensure that passengers follow the arrangements. Franchised bus companies will co-operate with the police to enhance efforts in combating crimes.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • Over 1.11 lakh pilgrims perform Amarnath Yatra in first six days

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    More than 1.11 lakh devotees have undertaken the annual Amarnath Yatra in just six days since the pilgrimage began on July 3, officials confirmed on Wednesday. Another batch of 7,579 pilgrims departed from Jammu earlier today, continuing the spiritual journey to the holy cave shrine nestled in the Kashmir Himalayas.

    According to officials, a total of 1,11,000 pilgrims have had ‘darshan’ at the sacred cave shrine so far. The latest group left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in two heavily guarded convoys. The first convoy, comprising 133 vehicles carrying 3,031 pilgrims, departed at 3:25 a.m. en route to the Baltal base camp. The second convoy of 169 vehicles, with 4,548 pilgrims aboard, left at 3:40 a.m. for the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam.

    Officials from the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), which oversees the yatra, said that in addition to those traveling from Jammu, a significant number of pilgrims have been registering on-site directly at Baltal and Nunwan.

    The Meteorological Department has forecast rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir over the next 24 hours, with the possibility of isolated intense showers and thunderstorms.

    Security arrangements remain at their highest alert level in light of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow, where Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 civilians. In response, authorities have deployed an additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), reinforcing existing personnel from the Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and local police. All transit camps and routes—from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar to the base camps and onwards to the shrine—are under multi-tier security coverage.

    Despite the shadow of past violence, the Yatra has witnessed strong local support. Residents have welcomed pilgrims warmly, with many standing at entry points such as the Navyug Tunnel near Qazigund, offering garlands and placards.

    This year’s Amarnath Yatra will run for 38 days, concluding on August 9, coinciding with the sacred festivals of Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

    The cave shrine, located 3,888 meters above sea level, is accessible via two primary routes: the traditional 46-km trail from Pahalgam, which passes through Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni; and the shorter 14-km Baltal route, which allows pilgrims to complete the round trip within a single day.

    Due to heightened security concerns, helicopter services have been suspended for this year’s Yatra.

    (With agencies inputs)

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Police and council achieve positive change in Glenorchy

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Police and council achieve positive change in Glenorchy

    Wednesday, 9 July 2025 – 4:08 pm.

    Tasmania Police and Glenorchy City Council Mayor Sue Hickey have today championed the positive impact high-visibility policing is having in the community.
    At a joint media event in Glenorchy on Wednesday, Inspector Jason Klug and Ms Hickey highlighted recent police data which showed a 16 per cent reduction in total offences in the Glenorchy division over the past 12 months.
    There were 4578 total offences in the 2023-24 financial year, compared with 3848 total offences in the 2024-25 financial year.
    Youth offences in 2023-24 were 928 and fell to 731 in 2024-25, a reduction of 21 per cent.
    Audio and photographs from Wednesday’s media event are available here.
    Inspector Klug said results since the implementation of Taskforce Respect in mid-May had been particularly encouraging.
    “What we’ve seen in regard to calls for police assistance in the CBD is that our calls have reduced by about 40 per cent since the introduction of Taskforce Respect, so these are some really positive figures,” Inspector Klug said.
    “But we’re not going to take our foot off the pedal.
    “We’re going to continue the hard work that we’re doing. We’re going to continue working with our partners across the Glenorchy area to ensure that our community is safe, and feels safe, and enjoys the wonderful public spaces we have.”
    Inspector Klug said community engagement and collaboration with local business and the Glenorchy City Council was key to making a positive change.
    Supporting police, Ms Hickey thanked officers from Taskforce Respect and the wider police service for their work in targeting anti-social behaviour and retail crime in Glenorchy, and backed the continuation of the taskforce.
    Ms Hickey said the council would continue to deliver programs to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, including a youth engagement program with additional activities on offer in the school holiday period.
    “Seeing our youth engagement officers and police working directly with young people, whether it’s by having a game of street basketball or just being available for a quiet chat and understanding any issues they may be dealing with, is something I am particularly proud of as Mayor,” she said.
    “Our young people are part of our community too, and they do not deserve to be tarnished by the same brush wielded by a minority of their peers who do the wrong thing.”
    Ms Hickey said council youth engagement staff would be running basketball sessions in the Glenorchy CBD each day of the school holidays, with other school holiday activities available at the Moonah Arts Centre, ranging from beatboxing workshops to art programs.
    These activities can be accessed by visiting the Moonah Arts Centre website – www.moonahartscentre.org.au
    As part of the council’s ongoing collaboration with Tasmania Police, Crime Stoppers and Neighbourhood Watch, a pop-up stall focusing on community safety will be held at Northgate Shopping Centre on Thursday, from 11am to 3pm.
    Attendees will have the opportunity to speak directly with Inspector Klug and Glenorchy Council’s Safe City Lead, Ben Hughes.
    If you need to report a crime, contact police on 131 444 or you can report anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au
    CAPTIONS:
    Glenorchy City Council Mayor Sue Hickey and Tasmania Police Glenorchy Inspector Jason Klug, with members of Taskforce Respect, working to target anti-social behaviour and retail crime in Glenorchy. (Picture: Tasmania Police)
    Tasmania Police Constable Emily Griggs, from Taskforce Respect, has been working with the community to bring positive change to incidents of retail crime and anti-social behaviour in Glenorchy. (Picture: Tasmania Police)

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Drugs taken off Waikato streets

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police have seized a gun, cash and over half a kilogram of cocaine in an operation targeting drug suppliers in Matamata-Piako today.

    Officers found more than half a kilogram of cocaine, a pump action shotgun and $20,000 dollars when they visited properties in Matamata and Cambridge this morning.

    “The two warrants executed today are the result of an investigation into the supply of drugs in the area,” says Detective Sergeant Ben Norman.

    “Police will remain focused on targeting gang members involved in the distribution of illicit drugs, aiming to remove these harmful drugs from our communities.”

    A half-kilo bag and five 1-ounce bags of cocaine were located at a Matamata address, as well as a pump action shotgun. One ounce is 28 grams.

    A further 3 ounces of cocaine and $20,000 were seized from a Cambridge address.

    “Police simply will not tolerate gangs making money from inflicting misery on our communities.

    “They feed people’s addiction, and that in turn fuels crime, with people stealing to feed their habit.

    The supply of illegal drugs causes untold harm and we will do everything we can to tackle it.

    A 39-year-old man has been remanded in custody and is due to re-appear in the Hamilton District Court on 28 July, facing drug and firearms charges.

    Further charges are being considered for a person found at the Cambridge address.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre.
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, Whitiora

    Source: New Zealand Police

    The intersection of Willoughby Street and Mill Street is closed following a serious crash.

    At around 3:30pm emergency services received reports of a two-vehicle crash.

    Motorists are asked to avoid the area.

    Updates will be provided proactively.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Targeting criminals, not Kiwi businesses

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee today announced further steps in the Government’s overhaul of the AML/CFT regime, strengthening efforts to combat serious financial crime.

    “This Government is serious about targeting criminals, not tying up legitimate businesses in unnecessary red tape,” Mrs McKee says.

    “Cabinet has agreed to introduce a bill to strengthen enforcement powers for Police and regulators to crack down on those involved in money laundering.

    “It will also establish a new financial sanctions supervisory regime and initiate engagement on a sustainable levy to fund AML/CFT system improvements.

    “The new approach will deliver more clarity and consistency for businesses while maintaining a strong focus on preventing criminal misuse of the financial system.

    “An upper limit will be set on how much cash can be transferred internationally ($5,000 per transfer), reducing the ability of the criminal organisation to move its funds offshore.

    “We will also make it more difficult for criminals to convert cash to high-risk assets such as crypto currencies by banning crypto ATMs.

    “We will also enable the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to order banks and other businesses subject to the AML/CFT Act to provide ongoing relevant information on persons of interest. The FIU will also be able to order the production of important contextual information other businesses on the financial activities of persons of interest. This will enable the more effective development of the financial intelligence needed to bring the criminals to justice.

    “Since 2019, the global financial and regulatory landscape has shifted significantly. We need a smarter, more agile AML/CFT system – one that targets criminals ability to launder money, while enabling New Zealand businesses to operate efficiently and competitively.

    “Already, progress is being made. Two amendment bills currently before Parliament will remove some of the most burdensome compliance requirements, delivering practical relief for businesses by the end of the year.

    “I have also this week announced plans to remove address verification requirements for many lower-risk customers and relax due diligence requirements for lower-risk trusts. 

    “This means businesses can focus their time and resources where the real risks lie, rather than being stuck chasing paperwork from low-risk clients.

    “These are the types of issues businesses have raised with us, and we’re acting. This is not about dropping standards, it’s about applying them intelligently.

    “We want New Zealand to be one of the easiest places in the world to do legitimate business and one of the hardest for criminals to hide. By cutting unnecessary red tape, we’re giving honest businesses room to grow, while sharpening our focus on serious threats,” Mrs McKee says.

    Targeted consultation with industry and stakeholders will begin shortly to inform the new national strategy and levy framework.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Targeting criminals, not Kiwi businesses

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee today announced further steps in the Government’s overhaul of the AML/CFT regime, strengthening efforts to combat serious financial crime.

    “This Government is serious about targeting criminals, not tying up legitimate businesses in unnecessary red tape,” Mrs McKee says.

    “Cabinet has agreed to introduce a bill to strengthen enforcement powers for Police and regulators to crack down on those involved in money laundering.

    “It will also establish a new financial sanctions supervisory regime and initiate engagement on a sustainable levy to fund AML/CFT system improvements.

    “The new approach will deliver more clarity and consistency for businesses while maintaining a strong focus on preventing criminal misuse of the financial system.

    “An upper limit will be set on how much cash can be transferred internationally ($5,000 per transfer), reducing the ability of the criminal organisation to move its funds offshore.

    “We will also make it more difficult for criminals to convert cash to high-risk assets such as crypto currencies by banning crypto ATMs.

    “We will also enable the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to order banks and other businesses subject to the AML/CFT Act to provide ongoing relevant information on persons of interest. The FIU will also be able to order the production of important contextual information other businesses on the financial activities of persons of interest. This will enable the more effective development of the financial intelligence needed to bring the criminals to justice.

    “Since 2019, the global financial and regulatory landscape has shifted significantly. We need a smarter, more agile AML/CFT system – one that targets criminals ability to launder money, while enabling New Zealand businesses to operate efficiently and competitively.

    “Already, progress is being made. Two amendment bills currently before Parliament will remove some of the most burdensome compliance requirements, delivering practical relief for businesses by the end of the year.

    “I have also this week announced plans to remove address verification requirements for many lower-risk customers and relax due diligence requirements for lower-risk trusts. 

    “This means businesses can focus their time and resources where the real risks lie, rather than being stuck chasing paperwork from low-risk clients.

    “These are the types of issues businesses have raised with us, and we’re acting. This is not about dropping standards, it’s about applying them intelligently.

    “We want New Zealand to be one of the easiest places in the world to do legitimate business and one of the hardest for criminals to hide. By cutting unnecessary red tape, we’re giving honest businesses room to grow, while sharpening our focus on serious threats,” Mrs McKee says.

    Targeted consultation with industry and stakeholders will begin shortly to inform the new national strategy and levy framework.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Traffic delays southbound at Tristram Ave

    Source: New Zealand Police

    A three-vehicle-collision is causing delays for southbound traffic on SH1 at Tristram Ave.

    A car towing a caravan is blocking one of two access lanes onto the motorway.

    Emergency services are onsite and working to move the vehicles.

    Motorists are advised to take an alternative route.

    ENDS

    Nicole Bremner/NZ Police 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Traffic delays southbound at Tristram Ave

    Source: New Zealand Police

    A three-vehicle-collision is causing delays for southbound traffic on SH1 at Tristram Ave.

    A car towing a caravan is blocking one of two access lanes onto the motorway.

    Emergency services are onsite and working to move the vehicles.

    Motorists are advised to take an alternative route.

    ENDS

    Nicole Bremner/NZ Police 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How do coronial inquests work? Here’s what they can and can’t do

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marc Trabsky, Associate Professor of Law, Monash University

    Northern Territory Coroner Elizabeth Armitage’s inquest findings into the death of Kumanjayi Walker have sparked conversations across Australia.

    The coroner found the NT police officer who shot Walker, Zachary Rolfe, was “racist”, and she couldn’t exclude the possibility that his “values […] contributed to his decision to pull the trigger”.

    For many, the findings have raised questions about the history, role, purpose and limitations of coronial inquests. So what are they, and what do they do?

    What is a coroners court?

    The office of coroner emerged in England in 1194. Coroners were powerful officers of the realm – collecting taxes, adjudicating treasure troves and investigating deaths.

    During the industrial revolution, they became known as the “Magistrates of the Poor”, holding governments and corporations to account for causing sudden, unnatural or violent deaths.

    In the 21st century, each state and territory in Australia has its own coroners court. A coroners court consists of a state coroner or chief coroner, who is the equivalent of a judge, and other coroners, who hold the position of a magistrate (beneath a judge in the court hierarchy).

    All coroners are legally trained. In the 19th century, all coroners in Australia were doctors. There is no longer a requirement for coroners to have medical qualifications.

    The office of the coroner came about in England centuries ago.
    Getty

    Coroners investigate unexpected, unnatural, violent and accidental deaths. In Victoria, for instance, this is about 7,400 deaths each year.

    Legislation requires coroners to determine the who, when, where, what and how of such “reportable” deaths.

    This means they need to determine the identity of the deceased, when and where that person died, what caused their death, and the circumstances or manner in which they died. In many instances, they make recommendations for reducing preventable deaths in the future.

    Police help coroners in their investigations by providing a brief of evidence, but the coroners court is separate from the police, just as other law courts are. Forensic pathologists assist coroners in finding the medical cause of death.



    Read more:
    What happens in an autopsy? A forensics expert explains

    Since 2005, first in Victoria and then elsewhere in Australia, forensic pathologists and radiologists have used postmortem CT scans to determine cause of death. This has greatly reduced the need for invasive autopsies.

    Coroners can make findings “on the papers” – which means investigations won’t proceed to an inquest – or deliver findings at the conclusion of an inquest.

    So what is a coronial inquest?

    A coronial inquest is a formal public hearing into why someone (or sometimes a group of people) died. It’s often held across multiple days, during which the facts can be examined, witnesses can be questioned, and the community can come together to understand how a person died.

    What is unique about the Coroners Court is that it’s inquisitorial, not adversarial. This means there shouldn’t be any warring parties.

    In addition, inquests have an expansive scope compared to a criminal trial. They can investigate the wider institutional, social and economic contexts of a death, examining what may have contributed to it, and comment on factors connected to the death, such as public health and safety.

    Not all investigations proceed to an inquest. In fact, the number of inquests across Australia has been steadily declining since the early 2000s. In New South Wales there were 142 held in 2013 and only 103 in 2023. This is despite the number of investigations over that period increasing by 37%.

    The former Deputy State Coroner of NSW, Hugh Dillon, cites a lack of funding, delays due to backlog, and structural design flaws as some reasons for the decline in holding inquests into reportable deaths.

    Juries were a feature of inquests in Australia in the 19th century. They were no longer compulsory in the early 20th century, and were formally abolished in NSW in 1999.

    Coroners must hold an inquest in certain circumstances. For example:

    • where the deceased was in custody or care immediately before death

    • where the identity of the deceased is unknown

    • or where there is suspicion that the death was due to homicide (though in this situation an inquest will most likely be superseded by a criminal trial).

    Coroners are prohibited from making findings of guilt or liability. The purpose of the investigation is to issue findings of facts about unnatural deaths, not to determine questions of law.

    Researcher Rebecca Scott Bray points out that coronial proceedings have the potential to be positive experiences, especially for grieving families.

    But these processes can fail to live up to that potential, particularly with respect to inquests into deaths in custody.

    Why does all this matter?

    There is little understanding of the purpose of the Coroners Court in Australian society. More research is required to ascertain why this is the case, but even law graduates have a low level of literacy about the powers and limitations of coroners. They are seldom taught about the coroner in law school.

    This results in misunderstandings that coroners can find someone guilty of causing a death, or that coronial recommendations for preventing similar deaths in the future must be implemented.

    It isn’t mandatory, for instance, for the NT government to implement any of Coroner Armitage’s 32 recommendations for preventing deaths in custody in the future.

    Coronial investigations matter for families and friends of the bereaved: discovering the “truth” of how a person died, memorialising their life, and hoping their death prevents similar deaths from occurring in future.

    It also matters for Australian society: improving health and safety for all, healing a community amid tragedy, and giving voice to the dead.

    Marc Trabsky’s research for this article received funding from an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DE220100064).

    – ref. How do coronial inquests work? Here’s what they can and can’t do – https://theconversation.com/how-do-coronial-inquests-work-heres-what-they-can-and-cant-do-260692

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE study visit on Small Arms and Light Weapons strengthens co-operation between Sweden and Ukraine

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE study visit on Small Arms and Light Weapons strengthens co-operation between Sweden and Ukraine

    Ukrainian specialists working on small arms and light weapons (SALW) control during a study visit to the Swedish National Police Force, Stockholm, 26 June 2025. (OSCE) Photo details

    From 24 to 26 June 2025, the OSCE’s Conflict Prevention Centre facilitated a study visit to the Swedish National Police Force in Stockholm for Ukrainian specialists working on small arms and light weapons (SALW) control. Participants included representatives from the National Police of Ukraine, State Border Guard Service, State Customs Service and Security Service.
    Hosting the visit, Swedish specialists presented their national firearms legislation and shared good practices on border management, detection methods, forensic analysis and investigations of cases of illicit trafficking of SALW. The visit strengthened collaboration and professional relationships between Ukraine and Sweden in firearms control, countering smuggling, and border security.
    By enhancing the authorities’ skills and capacities, this initiative boosted the co-ordination efforts within the National Firearms Focal Points and the National Coordination Centre of Ukraine, recently established to strengthen collaboration and improve response to security threats.
    The visit was organized under the OSCE’s extrabudgetary project supporting Ukrainian authorities in preventing and combating illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition, and explosives. It aimed to foster international collaboration and enhance Ukrainian authorities’ expertise in this field.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Aggravated robbery – Rapid Creek

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    NT Police are calling for information in relation to an aggravated robbery that occurred in Rapid Creek early this morning.

    Around 2:15am, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of a stolen motor vehicle on Aralia Street. It is alleged that when the victim was exiting his parked car, he was approached by a male who was armed with a knife and demanding his vehicle keys.

    The victim subsequently surrendered his keys, and the alleged offender entered the victim’s Mitsubishi X-Trail and fled the scene. The victim observed multiple other unknown individuals enter the vehicle a short distance away.

    Police attended and patrols of the area were conducted; however, the stolen vehicle and offenders remain outstanding.

    Crime have carriage and investigations are ongoing.

    Police urge anyone with information or CCTV in the area to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number P25183138. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces Additional Funding Available for Law Enforcement Recruits with Missouri Blue Scholarship

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JULY 8, 2025

    Jefferson City — Building on his public safety priorities, Governor Mike Kehoe today announced the maximum benefit of the Missouri Blue Scholarship for law enforcement academy recruits has been increased from $5,000 to $6,000, made possible by a funding increase of $1 million in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget. The scholarship program has awarded a total of $4.49 million to 995 law enforcement recruit scholarship recipients since its introduction in October 2022 through June 2025.

    “The Missouri Blue Scholarship Program has made law enforcement training more accessible to Missourians interested in joining the profession and helped bolster the number of licensed peace officers in Missouri,” Governor Kehoe said. “We appreciate the General Assembly approving our administration’s recommended $1 million increase in the scholarship fund. This increased investment allows the Missouri Department of Public Safety to raise the maximum scholarship award and make the scholarship available to more recruits who want to join the ranks of law enforcement and serve their communities.”

    The State of Missouri FY26 budget, which took effect July 1, included increased funding for the scholarship from $2 million to $3 million. In FY25, $1,917,942 was awarded for 420 recruits.

    While some Missouri law enforcement agencies, including the Highway Patrol, St. Louis Metropolitan Police and others, have their own basic training academies and pay recruits, many Missouri agencies do not have the funding to pay a salary or the cost of an academy. These graduating non-sponsored recruits are essential to staffing many sheriffs’ offices, smaller police departments, and even some larger departments. The Missouri Blue Scholarship expands the applicant pool and makes it easier for more young officers to stay in law enforcement without the burden of loans to repay once hired. Law enforcement academy tuition can be as high as $11,725.

    “Given the price of attending some of Missouri’s law enforcement academies and the shortage of officers around the state, raising the maximum scholarship amount to $6,000 is another way we can support recruitment efforts and will further allow DPS to provide scholarships to qualifying academy recruits this fiscal year,” Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Mark James said.

    Prior to the introduction of the Missouri Blue Scholarship in October 2022, an average of 1,025 peace officers were licensed annually in Missouri from 2020 to 2022. In 2023, the year the scholarship was first available before recruits started academy training, 1,050 peace officers were licensed; and in 2024, 1,099 peace officers were licensed.

    The impact of the Missouri Blue Scholarship is also evident in the number of scholarship recipients staffing Missouri law enforcement agencies. As of June 30, 2025, the Camden County Sheriff’s Office had 81 commissioned officers and 11 were Missouri Blue Scholarship recipients; the Fulton Police Department had 25 commissioned officers and 10 were Missouri Blue Scholarship recipients; the Henry County Sheriff’s Office had 29 commissioned officers and nine were Missouri Blue Scholarship recipients; and the University City Police Department had 62 commissioned officers and nine were Missouri Blue Scholarship recipients.

    The Missouri Department of Public Safety administers the scholarship, and law enforcement academy recruits can apply at this link. The $6,000 maximum scholarship is possible because of the FY26 appropriation by the Missouri General Assembly. Future scholarship awards will be determined by appropriations going forward.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Felon who Conspired to Distribute Drugs and Possessed Firearms Sentenced to Over Twenty-Five Years in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A Cedar Rapids man who conspired to distribute controlled substance was sentenced July 7, 2025, to more than 25 years in federal prison.

    James Colquhoun, age 40, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 10, 2025, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance after a prior conviction for a serious drug felony, carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that between January 2024 and February 13, 2024, Colquhoun knowingly conspired with others to distribute significant quantities of methamphetamine in the Cedar Rapids area.  On February 13, 2024, officers stopped Colquhoun’s vehicle and searched it.  During the search, officers located over 500 grams of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, over $25,000, and a firearm.  Colquhoun knowingly possessed those controlled substances with the intent to distribute them.  After the traffic stop, officers searched Colquhoun’s hotel room where he resided.  During the search of his hotel room, investigators located over 600 grams of heroin, over 50 grams of methamphetamine, and another firearm.  In 2014, Colquhoun was convicted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa of distribution of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and carrying a firearm during and relation to a drug trafficking crime.  

    Colquhoun was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.  Colquhoun was sentenced to 336 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    Colquhoun is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson, and it was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Marion Police Department.  

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

    The case file number is 24-CR-00029-001.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lummi Nation member indicted for assault by strangulation of ex-partner

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Seattle – A 48-year-old member of the Lummi Nation was arraigned in federal court today on an indictment charging him with assault by strangulation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Marc Cagey Oreiro entered a plea of not guilty. Trial is scheduled in front of U.S. District Judge Lauren King on August 25, 2025.

    According to records filed in the case, on May 23, 2025, Oreiro assaulted the victim in the master bedroom of a home on Lummi Nation tribal land. Oreiro pushed the victim onto the bed and alternated strangling her with his hands and forearm causing the victim to experience difficulty breathing. While she was pinned to the bed, Oreiro hit her multiple times, punching her in the head, back, stomach, side, and ear. He struck her in the ribs with his knee and knelt on her chest and repeatedly threatened to kill her.

    Lummi Police officers arrived at the door after a housemate called police. After searching the home, police arrested Oreiro who physically fought with officers. The victim was found crying in the master bedroom closet where Oreiro had ordered her to hide from police. The victim was transported by medics for treatment of her injuries. She had bruises on her face, ears, and bruising and abrasions on her neck.

    Oreiro was originally charged in tribal court. Following the initial FBI investigation, Oreiro was charged by criminal complaint, and on June 25, 2025, the grand jury returned an indictment.

    Assault by strangulation is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

    The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    The case is being investigated by the FBI Safe Trails Task Force and the Lummi Nation Police.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Celia Lee. Ms. Lee serves as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Finds Father Guilty of First-Degree Child Sexual Abuse of His 12-Year-Old

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON –A Washington, D.C. resident, 33, has been found guilty by a jury on seven felony charges, including first-degree child sexual abuse, second-degree child sexual abuse, and incest for sexually abusing his 12-year-old daughter between April and May of 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

                The verdict was returned today, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Todd Edelman scheduled sentencing for October 10, 2025. The defendant faces a maximum sentence up to life in prison for the crimes.

                According to the government’s evidence, on May 27, 2023, the twelve-year-old victim was spending Memorial Day weekend with her father (the defendant) and the defendant’s girlfriend and slept in the bed with them.  In the early morning of May 28, 2023, the defendant’s girlfriend pulled back the covers and saw that the defendant’s hand was inside of the front of the victim’s pants. Later that night the defendant texted the victim, first asking her to lie to her mother about him touching her, then asking the victim if she wanted him to touch her. The defendant raped the victim after sending the text messages. On Monday, May 29, the defendant’s girlfriend took the victim home, and she disclosed to her mother. The defendant’s DNA was on swabs collected during the victim’s sexual assault examination, and spermatozoa was confirmed on the vaginal/cervical swab collected from the victim. The victim told the jury that this was not the first time that the defendant had abused her, and that the same things that happened on Memorial Day weekend happened to her at the defendant’s house.

                This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.

                This case was prosecuted by the Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Folse and Richard Kelley.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE: Missing person located – Tennant Creek

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police have located the 25-year-old man who went missing from Tennent Creek last week.

    He was located safe and well in Renner Springs and police would like to thank the members of the public who provided assistance.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Murder Suspects Arrested in Memphis by U.S. Marshals

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Memphis, TN – The U.S. Marshals (USMS) Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) arrested 1st degree murder suspect Kemarion Ward, age 19, in Memphis, Tennessee today. In an unrelated case they also arrested Thaddius Brown, age 29, for Murder 2.

    On December 10, 2023, Germaniee Stephens was found shot to death in Indianola, Mississippi. Sunflower County, Mississippi, issued an arrest warrant for Kemarion Ward on January 24, 2024, for this crime. The fugitive investigation was adopted on February 9, 2024, by the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, Oxford, Mississippi office.

    It came to light that Ward was in the Memphis, Tennessee area. The Gulf Coast Task Force immediately began working with the U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force. The Two Rivers Task Force went to a residence in the 3100 block of Duke Ellington Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. Ward was found there and taken into custody without incident. At the time of this release, he is at the Shelby County Detention Center awaiting extradition.

    The U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force based out of Brooklyn, New York, began a fugitive investigation on Thaddius Brown on June 24, 2025. Brown was wanted by New York for Murder 2. When the investigation revealed that Brown had fled to the Memphis area, investigators with the New York/New Jersey Task Force traveled to Memphis and joined hands with the Two Rivers Task Force to locate the fugitive.

    Approximately one hour after Ward was taken into custody, members of the Two Rivers Task Force located Brown at a residence at the 6400 block of Crossbrook. He was taken into custody without incident and at the time of this release awaits extradition at the Shelby County Detention Center back to New York City.

    The U.S. Marshals Service Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force is a multi-agency task force within Western Tennessee. The TRVFTF has offices in Memphis and Jackson, and its membership is primarily composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Gibson County Sheriff’s Deputies, Memphis and Jackson Police Officers, Tennessee Department of Correction Special Agents and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Since 2021, the TRVFTF has captured over 3,000 violent offenders and sexual predators.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dan Goldman Shares New Details About Conditions for Detainees at 26 Federal Plaza Detention Facility

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    New Accounts by Detained Individuals Detail Dozens of Immigrants in Cramped Holding Area with No Showers, Denied Health Care, One Bathroom, Limited Food and Water 

     

    DHS Has Prevented Rep. Goldman from Conducting Oversight of Detention Facilities 

     

    View the Press Conference Here 

    New York, NY –Today, Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined a press conference with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, City Comptroller Brad Lander, and New Sanctuary Coalition to discuss the surge in immigration enforcement activity in New York City under the Trump administration. The Congressman shared the stories of two individuals who were held in the 10th floor detention area of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) facilities at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, both of whom were either subject to or witnessed dozens of immigrants detained in horrifying conditions, with little accountability or oversight.  

    DHS has prevented Congressman Goldman from exercising his right to conduct oversight of the DHS facilities at 26 Federal Plaza, likely due to the conditions the federal government is subjecting detainees to.  

    “The horrific conditions on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza are exactly why the Trump administration has blocked me and my colleagues from inspecting these facilities,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Law-abiding, nonviolent immigrants have been crammed into overcrowded rooms with no showers, inadequate food and water, and no way to contact their families to tell them where they are. It’s not just illegal — it’s un-American and inhumane. As Trump continues to illegally obstruct congressional oversight and cover up the truth about these egregious conditions, I will continue exposing the abuses enabled by our own government and amplifying the voices of those who have endured them.” 

    Over the past week, Rep. Goldman has spoken with multiple individuals who have been detained in the facilities at 26 Federal Plaza, and shared details of their stories today.  

    One individual the Congressman spoke with had lawfully sought asylum and appeared in immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, where they were granted a postponement to secure legal counsel. However, upon leaving the courtroom, ICE agents with a print-out of their photo ignored the judge’s order and detained them on the spot. Shackled at the waist, arms, and legs, they were taken to the 10th floor of the building and held for days in a cramped, cage-like room with no beds, limited food and water, and only one bathroom, which was only partially shielded by a hanging sheet, for the roughly 140 individuals held there. They slept on the concrete floor for three days before being shackled again and transferred to an unknown facility, where they witnessed a visibly ill detainee vomiting who was not given medical care. A few days later, they were shackled and returned to 26 Federal Plaza, where they were released for a previously scheduled medical procedure. The day after their medical procedure, ICE sent the individual a message through a tracking app that had been installed on their phone while in detention, instructing them to return to 26 Federal Plaza the next day. Despite a doctor’s note recommending 4–6 weeks of recovery, ICE continues to demand weekly photos of the procedure site, apparently to confirm the veracity of their recovery. Their family member remains in ICE custody, shackled and transferred across multiple detention centers nationwide.

    Another individual with a pending immigration case was mistakenly detained by ICE agents at 26 Federal Plaza immediately after their court hearing. As they exited the courtroom, they were surrounded by agents and taken to the building’s 10th floor, where they were held in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions alongside 30 to 40 others—many of whom had also been detained after routine court appearances and had no idea why they were being held. The floor had just one toilet, no showers, and repeated requests for food were ignored. The individual spoke with multiple other detainees who had been held there for multiple weeks. The individual was ultimately released after ICE acknowledged they had mistaken him for someone else, but many others remain in prolonged detention under similarly disturbing circumstances. 

    Congressman Dan Goldman has been fighting the Trump administration’s authoritarian immigration enforcement tactics since the start of his second term. 

    Last month, Goldman and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat introduced the ‘No Secret Police Act,’ which would require law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) engaged in border security and civil immigration enforcement to clearly display identification and insignia when detaining or arresting individuals and to ban them from using home-made, non-tactical masks.     
    Last month, Goldman led 8 of his New York City House Democratic colleagues in sending an oversight letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons demanding ICE comply with Section 527(a) of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 and stop denying members of Congress access to facilities that ICE is using to house immigrants.  
    Days before, Goldman and Congressman Nadler hosted a press conference after observing court proceedings at 26 Federal Plaza and being denied access to the federal building’s 10th floor, where immigrants are being detained for days and sleeping on the floor and benches in inhumane conditions.   
    A rush transcript of Rep. Goldman’s remarks is below. View his remarks here.  

    Rep. Dan Goldman: Thank you very much to the Comptroller, to the Public Advocate, and to all of the faith leaders here. I know that Jumanne and Brad have been regularly observing these proceedings. I, too, have been observing them in both buildings. I want to underscore a couple of things that are new and that are very important to recognize. 

    First, last Thursday, the Republicans rammed through a horrific bill that will take health care, food assistance, school loans away from everyday Americans in order to pay for not only tax cuts for the billionaires, but to increase the budget for ICE to $175 billion. And that includes bonuses for every single ICE agent waiting to yank someone from court of an average of $40,000 a year.  

    We saw yesterday that the Department of Homeland Security and ICE are being militarized now with the National Guard in Los Angeles. It literally looks like some kind of internal military takeover that you would see in another country that is not a democracy, but instead it’s right here in the United States.  

    And what we are seeing that’s different, as Brad put it very well, is that for a while, ICE policy was very deceitful, very deceptive. Essentially, the government, the Department of Homeland Security, was trying to dismiss cases that already existed for people’s removal process in order for them not to have status here as a lawful immigrant. These are law-abiding immigrants pursuing asylum, which is a lawful pathway to come into this country, it is a legal pathway to come into the United States. 

    And so, without that status, they are arresting them and putting them in expedited removal. There are many issues with that, as Brad pointed out, but they’re not even pretending to do that anymore.  

    They are now literally arresting people who are coming to court, who are following the law, who are doing things the right way. These are the exact opposite of convicted criminals and not the “worst of the worst” that Donald Trump said he was going to deport. 

    These are people doing it the right way, like 40% of New York City. 40% of New York City are immigrants. And what I want to focus on now is what happens after these folks are yanked from their courthouses illegally, unlawfully, and put in detention. Because over the past couple weeks, I’ve spoken now to two people who have been in the 10th floor detention center of 26 Federal Plaza. 

    One was wrongly arrested. ICE at least acknowledged that he was wrongly arrested. And after an hour or so, he was let go. But his story of what he learned when he was in there is frightening.  

    There are 100 people in cramped holding cells. Very little access to food and water, no beds, no showers. One toilet shared among the 20 or 30 or even more detainees with very little privacy. No change of clothes. It absolutely reeks inside, and nobody is being told why they are there. He said there were people who had stayed there for as many as two weeks. Two weeks in those conditions. 

    They are shackled by their arms, their legs, and their waist. Remember, these are people going to court for a civil immigration case, and they’re being shackled as if they’re alleged murderers. 

    And then this morning, I spoke to another woman who had been detained in there for about four days. She’s Ukrainian. She went through the CBP, went up and made an affirmative asylum claim. She went into court with her husband there on a joint claim, and they got their case moved to March of 2026. They walked out of the courthouse, and they were snatched and detained and arrested not only by ICE agents, but also by FBI agents. 

    Yes. The law enforcement agents charged with investigating and prosecuting violent crimes, counterintelligence, keeping our homeland secure are now being taken off of those cases so that they can join with a dozen or so ICE agents to arrest nonviolent, non-criminal, law-abiding immigrants trying to come into this country.  

    The conditions that she described are very similar. She had to sleep on the floor. She had no blanket. She was given an aluminum sheet, very little food, very little medical evaluation. There was one nurse there. She ultimately was released because she had a serious abdominal surgery. The day after her surgery, she got a text message that she had to appear within two hours in person in court. 

    She was still in the hospital. She was able to extend it. Now she’s been pushed back to 4 to 6 weeks recovery so that she can check in by phone. But her husband is not so lucky. Her husband has been transferred down to Texas. Remember, he is a lawful asylum applicant who came in through the CBP One App from Ukraine. Obviously we know what’s going on in Ukraine. And he has a court case.  

    So what we’re talking about here is not just these draconian measures, not just this military state, not just the secret police abducting non-criminal, nonviolent immigrants, trying to do things the right way. We are talking about illegal deportations, a whole other level of illegality, illegal deportations. 

    Alexander sits in Texas right now, having no idea whether he’s going to be deported. He’s in line for expedited removal, even though that would be patently illegal. So this is about who we are as a country. Yes, we are a country founded by immigrants. We all have an immigrant story from our descendants. That’s what makes this country and this city, especially, so unique. 

    And what also makes this country unique is that we have the rule of law. We are in a democracy where due process is required. And I don’t care whether Donald Trump or Kristi Noem don’t like our immigration laws. They don’t get to decide whether or not to abide by them. They are responsible. They take an oath to abide by our laws. And if you don’t like asylum laws, then come talk to the Democrats, because we’d be happy to work on asylum reform with you, as we had done a year ago in a bipartisan immigration reform bill.  

    But do not go treating people, sub-humanly, treating immigrants simply because they are not born here as if they are second class, as if they are not human beings. That is not what this country is about. That is why we are here.  

    And the last thing I will say is, I have tried several times to get into that detention center. As a member of Congress, I not only have a constitutional obligation, but I have a statutory right to go and conduct oversight over any homeland security facility that is being used to detain or otherwise house immigrants. 

    If people staying on the 10th floor of this building for two weeks does not count as being detained or housed, then clearly we don’t live in the United States of America. They are illegally obstructing my ability to conduct oversight. And the reason why I want to conduct oversight is exactly because of these stories. They are hiding the terrible, terrible conditions that exist there, and they are hiding the terrible, terrible treatment of people who are trying to do things the right way. 

    It is unacceptable, and we will continue to fight until this stops. Until we regain who we are as a country, who we are as people. And until this administration follows the law. Thank you. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dan Goldman Shares New Details About Conditions for Detainees at 26 Federal Plaza Detention Facility

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    New Accounts by Detained Individuals Detail Dozens of Immigrants in Cramped Holding Area with No Showers, Denied Health Care, One Bathroom, Limited Food and Water 

     

    DHS Has Prevented Rep. Goldman from Conducting Oversight of Detention Facilities 

     

    View the Press Conference Here 

    New York, NY –Today, Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined a press conference with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, City Comptroller Brad Lander, and New Sanctuary Coalition to discuss the surge in immigration enforcement activity in New York City under the Trump administration. The Congressman shared the stories of two individuals who were held in the 10th floor detention area of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) facilities at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, both of whom were either subject to or witnessed dozens of immigrants detained in horrifying conditions, with little accountability or oversight.  

    DHS has prevented Congressman Goldman from exercising his right to conduct oversight of the DHS facilities at 26 Federal Plaza, likely due to the conditions the federal government is subjecting detainees to.  

    “The horrific conditions on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza are exactly why the Trump administration has blocked me and my colleagues from inspecting these facilities,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Law-abiding, nonviolent immigrants have been crammed into overcrowded rooms with no showers, inadequate food and water, and no way to contact their families to tell them where they are. It’s not just illegal — it’s un-American and inhumane. As Trump continues to illegally obstruct congressional oversight and cover up the truth about these egregious conditions, I will continue exposing the abuses enabled by our own government and amplifying the voices of those who have endured them.” 

    Over the past week, Rep. Goldman has spoken with multiple individuals who have been detained in the facilities at 26 Federal Plaza, and shared details of their stories today.  

    One individual the Congressman spoke with had lawfully sought asylum and appeared in immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, where they were granted a postponement to secure legal counsel. However, upon leaving the courtroom, ICE agents with a print-out of their photo ignored the judge’s order and detained them on the spot. Shackled at the waist, arms, and legs, they were taken to the 10th floor of the building and held for days in a cramped, cage-like room with no beds, limited food and water, and only one bathroom, which was only partially shielded by a hanging sheet, for the roughly 140 individuals held there. They slept on the concrete floor for three days before being shackled again and transferred to an unknown facility, where they witnessed a visibly ill detainee vomiting who was not given medical care. A few days later, they were shackled and returned to 26 Federal Plaza, where they were released for a previously scheduled medical procedure. The day after their medical procedure, ICE sent the individual a message through a tracking app that had been installed on their phone while in detention, instructing them to return to 26 Federal Plaza the next day. Despite a doctor’s note recommending 4–6 weeks of recovery, ICE continues to demand weekly photos of the procedure site, apparently to confirm the veracity of their recovery. Their family member remains in ICE custody, shackled and transferred across multiple detention centers nationwide.

    Another individual with a pending immigration case was mistakenly detained by ICE agents at 26 Federal Plaza immediately after their court hearing. As they exited the courtroom, they were surrounded by agents and taken to the building’s 10th floor, where they were held in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions alongside 30 to 40 others—many of whom had also been detained after routine court appearances and had no idea why they were being held. The floor had just one toilet, no showers, and repeated requests for food were ignored. The individual spoke with multiple other detainees who had been held there for multiple weeks. The individual was ultimately released after ICE acknowledged they had mistaken him for someone else, but many others remain in prolonged detention under similarly disturbing circumstances. 

    Congressman Dan Goldman has been fighting the Trump administration’s authoritarian immigration enforcement tactics since the start of his second term. 

    Last month, Goldman and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat introduced the ‘No Secret Police Act,’ which would require law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) engaged in border security and civil immigration enforcement to clearly display identification and insignia when detaining or arresting individuals and to ban them from using home-made, non-tactical masks.     
    Last month, Goldman led 8 of his New York City House Democratic colleagues in sending an oversight letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons demanding ICE comply with Section 527(a) of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 and stop denying members of Congress access to facilities that ICE is using to house immigrants.  
    Days before, Goldman and Congressman Nadler hosted a press conference after observing court proceedings at 26 Federal Plaza and being denied access to the federal building’s 10th floor, where immigrants are being detained for days and sleeping on the floor and benches in inhumane conditions.   
    A rush transcript of Rep. Goldman’s remarks is below. View his remarks here.  

    Rep. Dan Goldman: Thank you very much to the Comptroller, to the Public Advocate, and to all of the faith leaders here. I know that Jumanne and Brad have been regularly observing these proceedings. I, too, have been observing them in both buildings. I want to underscore a couple of things that are new and that are very important to recognize. 

    First, last Thursday, the Republicans rammed through a horrific bill that will take health care, food assistance, school loans away from everyday Americans in order to pay for not only tax cuts for the billionaires, but to increase the budget for ICE to $175 billion. And that includes bonuses for every single ICE agent waiting to yank someone from court of an average of $40,000 a year.  

    We saw yesterday that the Department of Homeland Security and ICE are being militarized now with the National Guard in Los Angeles. It literally looks like some kind of internal military takeover that you would see in another country that is not a democracy, but instead it’s right here in the United States.  

    And what we are seeing that’s different, as Brad put it very well, is that for a while, ICE policy was very deceitful, very deceptive. Essentially, the government, the Department of Homeland Security, was trying to dismiss cases that already existed for people’s removal process in order for them not to have status here as a lawful immigrant. These are law-abiding immigrants pursuing asylum, which is a lawful pathway to come into this country, it is a legal pathway to come into the United States. 

    And so, without that status, they are arresting them and putting them in expedited removal. There are many issues with that, as Brad pointed out, but they’re not even pretending to do that anymore.  

    They are now literally arresting people who are coming to court, who are following the law, who are doing things the right way. These are the exact opposite of convicted criminals and not the “worst of the worst” that Donald Trump said he was going to deport. 

    These are people doing it the right way, like 40% of New York City. 40% of New York City are immigrants. And what I want to focus on now is what happens after these folks are yanked from their courthouses illegally, unlawfully, and put in detention. Because over the past couple weeks, I’ve spoken now to two people who have been in the 10th floor detention center of 26 Federal Plaza. 

    One was wrongly arrested. ICE at least acknowledged that he was wrongly arrested. And after an hour or so, he was let go. But his story of what he learned when he was in there is frightening.  

    There are 100 people in cramped holding cells. Very little access to food and water, no beds, no showers. One toilet shared among the 20 or 30 or even more detainees with very little privacy. No change of clothes. It absolutely reeks inside, and nobody is being told why they are there. He said there were people who had stayed there for as many as two weeks. Two weeks in those conditions. 

    They are shackled by their arms, their legs, and their waist. Remember, these are people going to court for a civil immigration case, and they’re being shackled as if they’re alleged murderers. 

    And then this morning, I spoke to another woman who had been detained in there for about four days. She’s Ukrainian. She went through the CBP, went up and made an affirmative asylum claim. She went into court with her husband there on a joint claim, and they got their case moved to March of 2026. They walked out of the courthouse, and they were snatched and detained and arrested not only by ICE agents, but also by FBI agents. 

    Yes. The law enforcement agents charged with investigating and prosecuting violent crimes, counterintelligence, keeping our homeland secure are now being taken off of those cases so that they can join with a dozen or so ICE agents to arrest nonviolent, non-criminal, law-abiding immigrants trying to come into this country.  

    The conditions that she described are very similar. She had to sleep on the floor. She had no blanket. She was given an aluminum sheet, very little food, very little medical evaluation. There was one nurse there. She ultimately was released because she had a serious abdominal surgery. The day after her surgery, she got a text message that she had to appear within two hours in person in court. 

    She was still in the hospital. She was able to extend it. Now she’s been pushed back to 4 to 6 weeks recovery so that she can check in by phone. But her husband is not so lucky. Her husband has been transferred down to Texas. Remember, he is a lawful asylum applicant who came in through the CBP One App from Ukraine. Obviously we know what’s going on in Ukraine. And he has a court case.  

    So what we’re talking about here is not just these draconian measures, not just this military state, not just the secret police abducting non-criminal, nonviolent immigrants, trying to do things the right way. We are talking about illegal deportations, a whole other level of illegality, illegal deportations. 

    Alexander sits in Texas right now, having no idea whether he’s going to be deported. He’s in line for expedited removal, even though that would be patently illegal. So this is about who we are as a country. Yes, we are a country founded by immigrants. We all have an immigrant story from our descendants. That’s what makes this country and this city, especially, so unique. 

    And what also makes this country unique is that we have the rule of law. We are in a democracy where due process is required. And I don’t care whether Donald Trump or Kristi Noem don’t like our immigration laws. They don’t get to decide whether or not to abide by them. They are responsible. They take an oath to abide by our laws. And if you don’t like asylum laws, then come talk to the Democrats, because we’d be happy to work on asylum reform with you, as we had done a year ago in a bipartisan immigration reform bill.  

    But do not go treating people, sub-humanly, treating immigrants simply because they are not born here as if they are second class, as if they are not human beings. That is not what this country is about. That is why we are here.  

    And the last thing I will say is, I have tried several times to get into that detention center. As a member of Congress, I not only have a constitutional obligation, but I have a statutory right to go and conduct oversight over any homeland security facility that is being used to detain or otherwise house immigrants. 

    If people staying on the 10th floor of this building for two weeks does not count as being detained or housed, then clearly we don’t live in the United States of America. They are illegally obstructing my ability to conduct oversight. And the reason why I want to conduct oversight is exactly because of these stories. They are hiding the terrible, terrible conditions that exist there, and they are hiding the terrible, terrible treatment of people who are trying to do things the right way. 

    It is unacceptable, and we will continue to fight until this stops. Until we regain who we are as a country, who we are as people. And until this administration follows the law. Thank you. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Arrest made in Chingford murder investigation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Officers have arrested a man on suspicion of murder following a large police operation in Kent.

    The 22-year-old was arrested at the Port of Dover this evening (Tuesday, 8 July) on suspicion of the murder of Tyler Hayward in Waltham Forest.

    An investigation was launched after we were called to reports of a stabbing in Chingford Mount Road at 21:14hrs on Sunday, 6 July.

    Met officers responded with paramedics and a 26-year-old man was found with a stab wound. Despite the efforts of emergency services, he sadly died at the scene.

    In a statement, Tyler’s family said: “We are struggling with the tragic loss of Tyler, a beautiful soul with the kindest of heart’s. A much loved son, grandson and brother, that will be missed immensely. We would appreciate privacy at this time whilst we come to terms with our loss.”

    Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Woodsford, who is leading the investigation from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “The thoughts of the investigation team remain with Tyler’s family and our specially trained officers continue to support them at this difficult time.

    “Since Sunday we have been making extensive enquiries and this resulted in searches being carried out at the Port of Dover today.

    “I’d like to thank Kent Police and other agencies for their support as we carried out these checks, as well as members of the public who were disrupted while this vital work took place.”

    We continue to appeal for information about the incident. Any witnesses who haven’t yet spoken to officers are asked to call 101 quoting CAD 7174/06Jul.

    Information can also be shared anonymously with the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police locate offender after unit rammed

    Source: New Zealand Police

    An Auckland man faces a slew of charges after allegedly repeatedly ramming a Police vehicle in the early hours of Tuesday.

    Police have been investigating since the incident occurred during a traffic stop in Mt Wellington at around 2.20am on 8 July.

    Relieving Counties Manukau East Area Commander, Inspector Rakana Cook, says the stolen vehicle was seen running a red light near Carbine Road.

    “One of our frontline units signalled this vehicle to stop, and after driving erratically it came to a stop,” he says.

    “It’s at this point the four-wheel drive was allegedly used to repeatedly ram our patrol vehicle before fleeing the scene.”

    Fortunately, no Police staff were injured.

    A determined Police investigation was soon underway with positive lines of enquiry on the driver.

    “Our enquiries led a team of Police to an address on Puhinui Road in Papatoetoe yesterday evening, locating the person of interest,” he says.

    “The man attempted to flee on foot from our staff but he was all out of options.”

    The 44-year-old man was arrested.

    Inspector Cook says the man faces serious charges in the Manukau District Court today.

    Those charges include two counts of assault with a blunt instrument, resisting Police, failing to stop, unlawfully taking a vehicle and reckless driving.

    “We have no tolerance for such reckless and violent behaviour directed at our staff,” Inspector Cook says.

    “I’d like to acknowledge our staff involved who were going about their duties in keeping our community safe.”

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Four in Sex Trafficking Ring

    Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

    CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a 15-count indictment against four from the Charleston area in connection with sex trafficking. The charges stem from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and Charleston Police Department that uncovered sex trafficking, money laundering, conspiracy offenses, and related charges.

    The individuals charged include:

    • Johnathan Dais, 33, of Charleston, for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; attempted sex trafficking of a child; use of a facility of interstate commerce to promote an unlawful activity; false statements; conspiracy to commit money laundering; and money laundering.
    • Calvin Wolfe, 54, of Charleston, for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.
    • Rose Stoner a/k/a Rose Wolfe, 50, of Charleston, for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.
    • Alexis McInnis, 20, of Charleston, for use of a facility of interstate commerce to promote an unlawful activity; false statements; and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

    The indictment alleges that between 2016 and 2025, Dais, and at times his co-conspirators, Wolfe and Stoner a/k/a Wolfe, recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, …. And sex trafficked at least five victims by force, fraud, or coercion, including one minor victim. The indictment also alleges Dais and McInnis used facilities of interstate commerce to promote prostitution activity, and that they each made false statements to law enforcement during the investigation. Dais and McInnis are also charged with laundering the funds derived from such unlawful activities.

    Sex trafficking carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

    Johnathan Dais, Calvin Wolfe, and Rose Stoner a/k/a Wolfe are currently detained pending trial, and Alexis McInnis was granted a $5,000 unsecured bond on July 7 by the Honorable Molly Cherry.

    Authorities with Homeland Security Investigations and the Charleston Police Department are seeking information that may help identify additional victims exploited by these individuals. If you, or someone you know, was a victim, please provide a name and contact information to the following email address, with subject line referencing Johnathan Dais: Charleston_ExploitationTips@hsi.dhs.gov.

    The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Charleston Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Orville is prosecuting the case.

    All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Catches Up With Suspected Maryland Murderer in Auburn, Maine

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Portland, ME – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in Maine, announce the arrest of Ja’bril Roynell Walters, 31, in Auburn, ME for first-degree murder, second-degree murder, use of a firearm in commission of a violent crime, and 5 counts of first degree assault. All warrants were issued out of the State of Maryland.

    The USMS led, Maine Violent Offender Task Force (MVOTF), received a collateral lead from the USMS Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) in Maryland. They believed Walters had fled to Maine and maybe be hiding under an alias. Walters had been wanted since July of 2024.

    Task Force members, through thorough investigative efforts, which spanned the towns of Durham, Lewiston, and Auburn, developed significant information which led investigators to a residence in Auburn, ME. Task Force members were able to identify Walters inside a house and safely apprehend him without incident.

    Walters was charged as a Fugitive from Justice, pending his extradition back to Maryland.

    The District of Maine’s, Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal, Josh Taylor said, “The Maine Violent Offender Task Force will go to unlimited lengths to bring dangerous fugitives to justice in order to keep communities in Maine safe.” The USMS MVOTF was also assisted by the Lewiston Police Department.

    The USMS, Maine Violent Offender Task Force is comprised of members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Maine Department of Corrections, Biddeford Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Maine National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, and the Coast Guard Investigative Service.

    If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of any state or federal fugitive, please contact the United States Marshals Service, District of Maine at MED.TIPLINE@usdoj.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Catches Up With Suspected Maryland Murderer in Auburn, Maine

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Portland, ME – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in Maine, announce the arrest of Ja’bril Roynell Walters, 31, in Auburn, ME for first-degree murder, second-degree murder, use of a firearm in commission of a violent crime, and 5 counts of first degree assault. All warrants were issued out of the State of Maryland.

    The USMS led, Maine Violent Offender Task Force (MVOTF), received a collateral lead from the USMS Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) in Maryland. They believed Walters had fled to Maine and maybe be hiding under an alias. Walters had been wanted since July of 2024.

    Task Force members, through thorough investigative efforts, which spanned the towns of Durham, Lewiston, and Auburn, developed significant information which led investigators to a residence in Auburn, ME. Task Force members were able to identify Walters inside a house and safely apprehend him without incident.

    Walters was charged as a Fugitive from Justice, pending his extradition back to Maryland.

    The District of Maine’s, Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal, Josh Taylor said, “The Maine Violent Offender Task Force will go to unlimited lengths to bring dangerous fugitives to justice in order to keep communities in Maine safe.” The USMS MVOTF was also assisted by the Lewiston Police Department.

    The USMS, Maine Violent Offender Task Force is comprised of members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Maine Department of Corrections, Biddeford Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Maine National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, and the Coast Guard Investigative Service.

    If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of any state or federal fugitive, please contact the United States Marshals Service, District of Maine at MED.TIPLINE@usdoj.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Egypt: Release people detained over expressing support for Gaza March  

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Egyptian authorities must unconditionally and immediately release anyone detained solely for expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amidst Israel’s ongoing genocide, including at least seven Egyptian nationals detained for expressing support for the Gaza March, Amnesty International said today. The organization is also calling on the authorities to investigate allegations of torture and other ill-treatment related to the arrests and deportations of international activists in connection with the planned solidarity march.

    Hundreds of international activists travelled to Egypt in June to take part in a global march to the city of Rafah in a bid to break Israel’s illegal blockade on the occupied Gaza Strip, but Egyptian authorities responded by arresting scores of Egyptian and foreign nationals and deporting non-Egyptians.  

    Amnesty International documented the arbitrary detention, incommunicado detention, and ill-treatment of three Egyptians and five foreign nationals in connection with the Gaza March between 10 and 16 June. Amnesty International obtained a testimony that at least one Egyptian national was subjected to torture during their detention. The organization is calling for all those still being held solely for expressing solidarity with Palestinians to be unconditionally and immediately released, including those detained for expressing solidarity with Palestinians since October 2023. 

    It is unthinkable that Egyptian authorities are arresting and punishing activists for showing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza while Israel is committing genocide against them.

    Mahmoud Shalaby, Egypt and Libya Researcher at Amnesty International.

    “The world has seen a glimpse of the brutality that Egyptian authorities continue to inflict on dissidents. The arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment that these activists have been subjected to represents just a fraction of the ongoing repression faced by virtually anyone who expresses views not condoned by the government,” said Mahmoud Shalaby, Egypt and Libya Researcher at Amnesty International.  

    “It is unthinkable that Egyptian authorities are arresting and punishing activists for showing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza while Israel is committing genocide against them. Egypt’s authorities should instead be facilitating the right to peaceful assembly and expression, starting by releasing anyone arbitrarily detained for demonstrating in solidarity with Palestinians and investigating all allegations of torture and other ill-treatment.”  

    On 11 June, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an official statement that foreign nationals must receive prior authorization to visit areas bordering Gaza through, among other means, submitting a request to Egyptian embassies. Organizers of the Gaza March told Amnesty International that they had submitted authorization requests to over 30 Egyptian embassies abroad, approximately two and a half months ahead of the march’s scheduled date. Embassy officials informed them that the requests had been forwarded to authorities in Cairo, but the organizers never received a response. 

    Egyptian security forces later shut down the march by arresting Egyptian and foreign activists upon their arrival at the airport, from hotels or at checkpoints on the way to Rafah, before deporting hundreds of non-Egyptians. 

    Arbitrary detention and torture or other ill-treatment of Egyptian nationals 

    According to a lawyer at the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF), between 10 and 12 June 2025, security forces arrested three Egyptian nationals (two men and one woman) from their homes in Cairo and al-Sharkia governorates. The three were part of a Telegram group that supported the Gaza March. 

    Upon their arrest, they were reportedly held in incommunicado detention at undisclosed National Security Agency (NSA) facilities for periods ranging from nine to ten days. NSA agents then brought the three to the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) in Cairo on 21, 22, and 23 June.  

    SSSP prosecutors accused them of charges including “joining a terrorist group [the Muslim Brotherhood],” “publishing false news,” and “funding a terrorist group,” according to the ECRF lawyer. Prosecutors then ordered their pretrial detention for 15 days pending investigations. 

    During the SSSP questioning, one of the men said that NSA agents had subjected him to electric shocks on his hands and a sensitive part of his body, and beat him with kicks and slaps to the face. The other man told the prosecutor that NSA agents beat him and forced him to strip naked. These acts constitute ill-treatment and may amount to torture. 

    In June, SSSP prosecutors questioned four other Egyptian nationals (three men and one woman) and ordered their detention for 15 days in connection with the same charges pending the same case, according to ECRF’s lawyer. 

    Arbitrary arrest and ill-treatment of foreign nationals 

    Amnesty International spoke to five foreign nationals who had travelled to attend the Gaza March including Stefanie Crisostomo, a Croatian-Peruvian activist, and Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish national and the Gaza March spokesperson. They told Amnesty that Egyptian police subjected them to severe beatings and other acts of violence when they arrested them. They also said that they had been held in incommunicado detention in police stations, NSA facilities, and Cairo Airport.  

    Crisostomo told Amnesty International that on 14 June, plain-clothed NSA agents arrested her and her husband at a hotel in Cairo without providing any reason or allowing them to contact their embassies or anyone else after confiscating their phones. They were then transferred to an undisclosed security facility, where police detained her French husband for 30 hours, while transferring Stefanie to Cairo Airport. At the airport, she refused to be deported until the police released her husband. The police then handcuffed her and grabbed her arms tightly, causing bruising. Amnesty International reviewed photographs of her arms in which the bruises are clearly visible and is concerned that this may amount to ill-treatment. 

    One of the other foreign nationals, who chose not to disclose his nationality, said that on 13 June police arrested him, along with approximately 15 others, at a checkpoint in Ismailia Governorate on their way to Rafah. During the arrest, police beat him with batons, striking him on his face and neck. He said that during the arrest, one of the police officers attempted to put their finger in his anus. Police took the group to an Ismailia police station and detained them until the following morning, before transferring him to Cairo Airport for deportation. 

    The two other men, both Norwegians, as well as Saif said that on 16 June, plain-clothed police arrested them at a coffee shop in Cairo without showing a warrant. The police then blindfolded them and drove them to an undisclosed security facility in an unmarked van. NSA officers questioned the two Norwegian men, while still blindfolded and handcuffed, about the number of participants in the Gaza March, their identities, and their accommodation. One of the men told Amnesty International that when he refused to answer, an NSA agent slapped him twice on the face and kneed him in the chest. According to the man, the blow caused a minor rib fracture. 

    The second man said that when he refused to answer certain questions an NSA agent slapped him on the face and kicked him in the chest.  

    Saif Abukeshek said that police deliberately slammed his body into walls and doors while moving him between different rooms at the facility, blindfolded and handcuffed with his hands behind his back. “I could clearly hear them laughing at me crashing into the walls,” he said. 

    The three were later transferred to Cairo Airport to be deported after spending between two to 25 hours at the facility. None of the four men were allowed at any point to contact their embassy or anyone else to inform them about their arrest, until their deportation. 

    Background: 

    Between October 2023 and June 2024, Amnesty International and Egyptian human rights groups have documented the arrests of over 123 people who had expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza by peacefully protesting, posting comments online, hanging signs or writing slogans on walls. At least scores remain in pre-trial detention facing investigation over bogus charges of involvement in terrorism, spreading false news or illegal assembly. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Egypt: Release people detained over expressing support for Gaza March  

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Egyptian authorities must unconditionally and immediately release anyone detained solely for expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amidst Israel’s ongoing genocide, including at least seven Egyptian nationals detained for expressing support for the Gaza March, Amnesty International said today. The organization is also calling on the authorities to investigate allegations of torture and other ill-treatment related to the arrests and deportations of international activists in connection with the planned solidarity march.

    Hundreds of international activists travelled to Egypt in June to take part in a global march to the city of Rafah in a bid to break Israel’s illegal blockade on the occupied Gaza Strip, but Egyptian authorities responded by arresting scores of Egyptian and foreign nationals and deporting non-Egyptians.  

    Amnesty International documented the arbitrary detention, incommunicado detention, and ill-treatment of three Egyptians and five foreign nationals in connection with the Gaza March between 10 and 16 June. Amnesty International obtained a testimony that at least one Egyptian national was subjected to torture during their detention. The organization is calling for all those still being held solely for expressing solidarity with Palestinians to be unconditionally and immediately released, including those detained for expressing solidarity with Palestinians since October 2023. 

    It is unthinkable that Egyptian authorities are arresting and punishing activists for showing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza while Israel is committing genocide against them.

    Mahmoud Shalaby, Egypt and Libya Researcher at Amnesty International.

    “The world has seen a glimpse of the brutality that Egyptian authorities continue to inflict on dissidents. The arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment that these activists have been subjected to represents just a fraction of the ongoing repression faced by virtually anyone who expresses views not condoned by the government,” said Mahmoud Shalaby, Egypt and Libya Researcher at Amnesty International.  

    “It is unthinkable that Egyptian authorities are arresting and punishing activists for showing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza while Israel is committing genocide against them. Egypt’s authorities should instead be facilitating the right to peaceful assembly and expression, starting by releasing anyone arbitrarily detained for demonstrating in solidarity with Palestinians and investigating all allegations of torture and other ill-treatment.”  

    On 11 June, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an official statement that foreign nationals must receive prior authorization to visit areas bordering Gaza through, among other means, submitting a request to Egyptian embassies. Organizers of the Gaza March told Amnesty International that they had submitted authorization requests to over 30 Egyptian embassies abroad, approximately two and a half months ahead of the march’s scheduled date. Embassy officials informed them that the requests had been forwarded to authorities in Cairo, but the organizers never received a response. 

    Egyptian security forces later shut down the march by arresting Egyptian and foreign activists upon their arrival at the airport, from hotels or at checkpoints on the way to Rafah, before deporting hundreds of non-Egyptians. 

    Arbitrary detention and torture or other ill-treatment of Egyptian nationals 

    According to a lawyer at the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF), between 10 and 12 June 2025, security forces arrested three Egyptian nationals (two men and one woman) from their homes in Cairo and al-Sharkia governorates. The three were part of a Telegram group that supported the Gaza March. 

    Upon their arrest, they were reportedly held in incommunicado detention at undisclosed National Security Agency (NSA) facilities for periods ranging from nine to ten days. NSA agents then brought the three to the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) in Cairo on 21, 22, and 23 June.  

    SSSP prosecutors accused them of charges including “joining a terrorist group [the Muslim Brotherhood],” “publishing false news,” and “funding a terrorist group,” according to the ECRF lawyer. Prosecutors then ordered their pretrial detention for 15 days pending investigations. 

    During the SSSP questioning, one of the men said that NSA agents had subjected him to electric shocks on his hands and a sensitive part of his body, and beat him with kicks and slaps to the face. The other man told the prosecutor that NSA agents beat him and forced him to strip naked. These acts constitute ill-treatment and may amount to torture. 

    In June, SSSP prosecutors questioned four other Egyptian nationals (three men and one woman) and ordered their detention for 15 days in connection with the same charges pending the same case, according to ECRF’s lawyer. 

    Arbitrary arrest and ill-treatment of foreign nationals 

    Amnesty International spoke to five foreign nationals who had travelled to attend the Gaza March including Stefanie Crisostomo, a Croatian-Peruvian activist, and Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish national and the Gaza March spokesperson. They told Amnesty that Egyptian police subjected them to severe beatings and other acts of violence when they arrested them. They also said that they had been held in incommunicado detention in police stations, NSA facilities, and Cairo Airport.  

    Crisostomo told Amnesty International that on 14 June, plain-clothed NSA agents arrested her and her husband at a hotel in Cairo without providing any reason or allowing them to contact their embassies or anyone else after confiscating their phones. They were then transferred to an undisclosed security facility, where police detained her French husband for 30 hours, while transferring Stefanie to Cairo Airport. At the airport, she refused to be deported until the police released her husband. The police then handcuffed her and grabbed her arms tightly, causing bruising. Amnesty International reviewed photographs of her arms in which the bruises are clearly visible and is concerned that this may amount to ill-treatment. 

    One of the other foreign nationals, who chose not to disclose his nationality, said that on 13 June police arrested him, along with approximately 15 others, at a checkpoint in Ismailia Governorate on their way to Rafah. During the arrest, police beat him with batons, striking him on his face and neck. He said that during the arrest, one of the police officers attempted to put their finger in his anus. Police took the group to an Ismailia police station and detained them until the following morning, before transferring him to Cairo Airport for deportation. 

    The two other men, both Norwegians, as well as Saif said that on 16 June, plain-clothed police arrested them at a coffee shop in Cairo without showing a warrant. The police then blindfolded them and drove them to an undisclosed security facility in an unmarked van. NSA officers questioned the two Norwegian men, while still blindfolded and handcuffed, about the number of participants in the Gaza March, their identities, and their accommodation. One of the men told Amnesty International that when he refused to answer, an NSA agent slapped him twice on the face and kneed him in the chest. According to the man, the blow caused a minor rib fracture. 

    The second man said that when he refused to answer certain questions an NSA agent slapped him on the face and kicked him in the chest.  

    Saif Abukeshek said that police deliberately slammed his body into walls and doors while moving him between different rooms at the facility, blindfolded and handcuffed with his hands behind his back. “I could clearly hear them laughing at me crashing into the walls,” he said. 

    The three were later transferred to Cairo Airport to be deported after spending between two to 25 hours at the facility. None of the four men were allowed at any point to contact their embassy or anyone else to inform them about their arrest, until their deportation. 

    Background: 

    Between October 2023 and June 2024, Amnesty International and Egyptian human rights groups have documented the arrests of over 123 people who had expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza by peacefully protesting, posting comments online, hanging signs or writing slogans on walls. At least scores remain in pre-trial detention facing investigation over bogus charges of involvement in terrorism, spreading false news or illegal assembly. 

    MIL OSI NGO –