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Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Announces Arrest of Serial Criminal Behind Molotov Cocktail Attack on ICE and CBP Officers in Los Angeles

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    “If you threaten or attempt to harm a law enforcement officer, we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.” – Secretary Noem 

    WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement on the arrest of Eric Anthony Rodriguez for attempting to attack Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers with a Molotov cocktail.

    On June 21, 2025, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) reported Rodriguez threw a Molotov cocktail at a hotel near Los Angeles International Airport where 15 ICE and 12 CBP law enforcement officers were staying.

    Rodriguez has a lengthy criminal history including convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, second degree robbery, falsifying checks, theft and vandalism. He also had an outstanding felony warrant for violating parole.

    On June 23, 2025, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Los Angeles presented the investigation to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

    “Anthony Rodriguez is a serial criminal who will face justice for threatening the lives of federal law enforcement. On June 21, this coward threw a Molotov cocktail at a hotel in Los Angeles where 27 DHS law enforcement officers were staying. Thankfully, the attack was unsuccessful, and no one was injured,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Dangerous rhetoric by sanctuary politicians has fanned the flames of violence against federal law enforcement—and it has led to a 500% increase in assaults against ICE. Secretary Noem has been perfectly clear: Anyone who threatens the lives of federal officers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law—and that is exactly what will happen to Rodriguez.”

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Around the Air Force: Human-Machine Teaming, Sonic Boom Research, Survivable Communication Networks

    Source: United States Air Force

    In this week’s look Around the Air Force, human-machine teaming for better decision-making in battle sprints forward, researchers study the impact of sonic booms, and Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal system enhances warfighting with a strategic communication network.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Around the Air Force: Human-Machine Teaming, Sonic Boom Research, Survivable Communication Networks

    Source: United States Air Force

    In this week’s look Around the Air Force, human-machine teaming for better decision-making in battle sprints forward, researchers study the impact of sonic booms, and Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal system enhances warfighting with a strategic communication network.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Publication of financial reports: Federal Office of Justice imposes disciplinary fine on Vivanco Gruppe AG

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    The disciplinary fine order related to a breach of section 325 of the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch – HGB). Vivanco Gruppe AG failed to submit its consolidated accounting documents for the financial year 2023 for the purpose of disclosure to the operator of the German Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger) in electronic form within the prescribed period. The legal basis for the sanction is section 335 of the HGB.

    The company lodged an appeal against the Federal Office of Justice’s decision to impose a disciplinary fine.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Publication of financial reports: Federal Office of Justice imposes disciplinary fine on Vivanco Gruppe AG

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    The disciplinary fine order related to a breach of section 325 of the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch – HGB). Vivanco Gruppe AG failed to submit its consolidated accounting documents for the financial year 2023 for the purpose of disclosure to the operator of the German Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger) in electronic form within the prescribed period. The legal basis for the sanction is section 335 of the HGB.

    The company lodged an appeal against the Federal Office of Justice’s decision to impose a disciplinary fine.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Checking in on New England’s fishing industry 25 Years after ‘The Perfect Storm’ hit movie theaters

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Stephanie Otts, Director of National Sea Grant Law Center, University of Mississippi

    Filming ‘The Perfect Storm’ in Gloucester Harbor, Mass.
     The Salem News Historic Photograph Collection, Salem State University Archives and Special Collections, CC BY

    Twenty-five years ago, “The Perfect Storm” roared into movie theaters. The disaster flick, starring George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg, was a riveting, fictionalized account of commercial swordfishing in New England and a crew who went down in a violent storm.

    The anniversary of the film’s release, on June 30, 2000, provides an opportunity to reflect on the real-life changes to New England’s commercial fishing industry.

    Fishing was once more open to all

    In the true story behind the movie, six men lost their lives in late October 1991 when the commercial swordfishing vessel Andrea Gail disappeared in a fierce storm in the North Atlantic as it was headed home to Gloucester, Massachusetts.

    At the time, and until very recently, almost all commercial fisheries were open access, meaning there were no restrictions on who could fish.

    There were permit requirements and regulations about where, when and how you could fish, but anyone with the means to purchase a boat and associated permits, gear, bait and fuel could enter the fishery. Eight regional councils established under a 1976 federal law to manage fisheries around the U.S. determined how many fish could be harvested prior to the start of each fishing season.

    Fishing has been an integral part of coastal New England culture since its towns were established. In this 1899 photo, a New England community weighs and packs mackerel.
    Charles Stevenson/Freshwater and Marine Image Bank

    Fishing started when the season opened and continued until the catch limit was reached. In some fisheries, this resulted in a “race to the fish” or a “derby,” where vessels competed aggressively to harvest the available catch in short amounts of time. The limit could be reached in a single day, as happened in the Pacific halibut fishery in the late 1980s.

    By the 1990s, however, open access systems were coming under increased criticism from economists as concerns about overfishing rose.

    The fish catch peaked in New England in 1987 and would remain far above what the fish population could sustain for two more decades. Years of overfishing led to the collapse of fish stocks, including North Atlantic cod in 1992 and Pacific sardine in 2015.

    As populations declined, managers responded by cutting catch limits to allow more fish to survive and reproduce. Fishing seasons were shortened, as it took less time for the fleets to harvest the allowed catch. It became increasingly hard for fishermen to catch enough fish to earn a living.

    Saving fisheries changed the industry

    In the early 2000s, as these economic and environmental challenges grew, fisheries managers started limiting access. Instead of allowing anyone to fish, only vessels or individuals meeting certain eligibility requirements would have the right to fish.

    The most common method of limiting access in the U.S. is through limited entry permits, initially awarded to individuals or vessels based on previous participation or success in the fishery. Another approach is to assign individual harvest quotas or “catch shares” to permit holders, limiting how much each boat can bring in.

    In 2007, Congress amended the 1976 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to promote the use of limited access programs in U.S. fisheries.

    Ships in the fleet out of New Bedford, Mass.
    Henry Zbyszynski/Flickr, CC BY

    Today, limited access is common, and there are positive signs that the management change is helping achieve the law’s environmental goal of preventing overfishing. Since 2000, the populations of 50 major fishing stocks have been rebuilt, meaning they have recovered to a level that can once again support fishing.

    I’ve been following the changes as a lawyer focused on ocean and coastal issues, and I see much work still to be done.

    Forty fish stocks are currently being managed under rebuilding plans that limit catch to allow the stock to grow, including Atlantic cod, which has struggled to recover due to a complex combination of factors, including climatic changes.

    The lingering effect on communities today

    While many fish stocks have recovered, the effort came at an economic cost to many individual fishermen. The limited-access Northeast groundfish fishery, which includes Atlantic cod, haddock and flounder, shed nearly 800 crew positions between 2007 and 2015.

    The loss of jobs and revenue from fishing impacts individual family income and relationships, strains other businesses in fishing communities, and affects those communities’ overall identity and resilience, as illustrated by a recent economic snapshot of the Alaska seafood industry.

    When original limited-access permit holders leave the business – for economic, personal or other reasons – their permits are either terminated or sold to other eligible permit holders, leading to fewer active vessels in the fleet. As a result, the number of vessels fishing for groundfish has declined from 719 in 2007 to 194 in 2023, meaning fewer jobs.

    A fisherman unloads a portion of his catch for the day of 300 pounds of groundfish, including flounder, in January 2006 in Gloucester, Mass.
    AP Photo/Lisa Poole

    Because of their scarcity, limited-access permits can cost upward of US$500,000, which is often beyond the financial means of a small businesses or a young person seeking to enter the industry. The high prices may also lead retiring fishermen to sell their permits, as opposed to passing them along with the vessels to the next generation.

    These economic forces have significantly altered the fishing industry, leading to more corporate and investor ownership, rather than the family-owned operations that were more common in the Andrea Gail’s time.

    Similar to the experience of small family farms, fishing captains and crews are being pushed into corporate arrangements that reduce their autonomy and revenues.

    Consolidation can threaten the future of entire fleets, as New Bedford, Massachusetts, saw when Blue Harvest Fisheries, backed by a private equity firm, bought up vessels and other assets and then declared bankruptcy a few years later, leaving a smaller fleet and some local business and fishermen unpaid for their work. A company with local connections bought eight vessels from Blue Harvest along with 48 state and federal permits the company held.

    New challenges and unchanging risks

    While there are signs of recovery for New England’s fisheries, challenges continue.

    Warming water temperatures have shifted the distribution of some species, affecting where and when fish are harvested. For example, lobsters have moved north toward Canada. When vessels need to travel farther to find fish, that increases fuel and supply costs and time away from home.

    Fisheries managers will need to continue to adapt to keep New England’s fisheries healthy and productive.

    One thing that, unfortunately, hasn’t changed is the dangerous nature of the occupation. Between 2000 and 2019, 414 fishermen died in 245 disasters.

    Stephanie Otts receives funding from the NOAA National Sea Grant College Program through the U.S. Department of Commerce. Previous support for fisheries management legal research provided by The Nature Conservancy.

    – ref. Checking in on New England’s fishing industry 25 Years after ‘The Perfect Storm’ hit movie theaters – https://theconversation.com/checking-in-on-new-englands-fishing-industry-25-years-after-the-perfect-storm-hit-movie-theaters-255076

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • India to host 2029 World Police and Fire Games in Ahmedabad, says Union Home Minister Amit Shah

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah on Friday expressed immense pride and joy as India has been selected to host the prestigious 2029 World Police and Fire Games. In a post on X , Shah highlighted that this achievement is a matter of great pride for every Indian citizen and a testament to the country’s growing stature in the global sporting arena.

    The minister attributed India’s successful bid to host the event to the robust sports infrastructure developed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The World Police and Fire Games, a biennial event that brings together police, fire, and disaster services personnel to compete in over 50 sports, will be held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

    Shah emphasized that the selection of Ahmedabad as the venue underscores the city’s rising prominence as a key sporting destination in India.

  • India to host 2029 World Police and Fire Games in Ahmedabad, says Union Home Minister Amit Shah

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah on Friday expressed immense pride and joy as India has been selected to host the prestigious 2029 World Police and Fire Games. In a post on X , Shah highlighted that this achievement is a matter of great pride for every Indian citizen and a testament to the country’s growing stature in the global sporting arena.

    The minister attributed India’s successful bid to host the event to the robust sports infrastructure developed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The World Police and Fire Games, a biennial event that brings together police, fire, and disaster services personnel to compete in over 50 sports, will be held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

    Shah emphasized that the selection of Ahmedabad as the venue underscores the city’s rising prominence as a key sporting destination in India.

  • MIL-OSI USA: A History of Self-Representation and How H.H. Holmes Represented Himself in His Criminal Trial

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    The following is a guest post by Emily Tejada, a former intern with the Digital Resources Division of the Law Library of Congress. She is a recent graduate from Southern New Hampshire University.

    One interesting aspect of the United States’ judicial law is defendants’ right to represent themselves in court. Many may ask, “Why would someone choose to represent themselves in court?” This mainly concerns defendants wanting to manage their own court proceedings as they see fit and the belief that exercising the right to self-represent offers them the best chance of achieving their goals. Self-representation in court proceedings is a constitutional right continuously protected under the United States’ judicial law. The right to represent oneself in court has resulted in a plethora of criminal cases in which defendants chose to waive the right to an attorney and conduct their own defense. One fascinating self-representation case pertains to America’s first serial killer, H.H. Holmes. Following Holmes’ court case, three major cases solidified the legal precedent for a defendant’s right to represent themself in a criminal case and the regulations that dictate these types of court proceedings.

    Self-Representation is also known as proceeding pro se, which is Latin for “for oneself, on one’s own behalf.” This term refers to a defendant’s right to advocate on their own behalf before a court by waiving their right to attorney representation. This judicial right has been strongly protected since the United States’ founding under the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the national judicial court system and was signed into law by President George Washington himself. Section 35 of the Judiciary Act, which can be found in Statutes at Large Volume One, set forth into law the right for parties to manage their own court cases. Section 35 states “[a]nd be it further enacted, that in all the courts of the United States, the parties may plead and manage their own causes personally or by the assistance of such counsel or attorneys at law as by the rules of the said courts respectively shall be permitted to manage and causes therewithin. …”

    U.S. Statutes at Large, Volume 1 (1789-1799), 1st through 5th Congress. Law Library of Congress. https://lccn.loc.gov/mm80001287.

    The right of defendants to represent themselves in court is further protected under the Sixth Amendment, as it guarantees the rights of defendants, which include the right to a lawyer. Under this amendment, there is a basis that a defendant may acquire counsel representation by their own choice. The Judiciary Act of 1789 and the Sixth Amendment protect a defendant’s right to represent themselves in court.

    One fascinating case of self-representation in criminal court deals with America’s first serial killer, H.H. Holmes. H.H. Holmes was born in 1861 as Herman Webster Mudgett in New Hampshire. Holmes developed a gruesome fascination with death – this included stealing corpses from graves and morgues during his college years at the University of Michigan, where Holmes would either sell these corpses to medical schools or burn and disfigure them to commit insurance fraud. Holmes would take out life insurance policies on these bodies before staging accidents to collect the money. He moved to Chicago in 1884 under the alias Dr. Henry H. Holmes, where he constructed a three-story hotel that would later become known as the “Murder Castle.” Holmes insisted that his guests, employees, and romantic partners were required to have life insurance policies and to list him as the beneficiary. He took advantage of the 1893 Chicago World Fair to target and lure guests to his hotel, many of whom disappeared. Once the fair ended, he and his accomplice, Benjamin Pitezel, traveled the United States, where a trail of homicides and disappearances followed Holmes, including the murder of Pitzel.

    The Ogden Standard. [volume] July 4, 1914. Library of Congress Chronicling America. https://lccn.loc.gov/sn85058396.

    Holmes was arrested in Boston in 1894 as he was suspected of committing fraud. However, through a thorough investigation, the police soon connected Holmes to the murder of Benjamin Pitzel and his three children. Holmes eventually confessed to murdering 28 people; however, it is believed he could be responsible for up to 200 murders. Holmes was only formally charged with the murder of Benjamin Pitezel, and he requested to represent himself in court. Holmes’s choice to represent himself was quite unprecedented since no accused murderer had ever done so. Holmes refused to accept the services of attorneys Everett A. Schofield and Joseph R. Fahy, who were appointed to his case by the court of Philadelphia. According to court records, Holmes was nasty to the prosecutor, asked for scientific analysis on all evidence, claimed Benjamin Pitzel had committed suicide, and often deflected questions. He made a grave error when he requested a lunch break after a detailed and grotesque description of Pitzel’s corpse, and he continuously failed to support his claims of innocence. He eventually requested the assistance of his defense attorneys but was ultimately convicted of Pitzel’s murder and was subsequently hanged for his crimes on May 7, 1896. H.H. Holmes represents America’s first recorded serial killer and the first murderer to utilize his constitutional right to represent himself.

    The Evening Times. [volume] Oct. 28, 1895. Library of Congress Chronicling America. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024441/1895-10-28/ed-1/seq-1/

    The three major court cases that have set Constitutional standards for self-representation are Faretta v. California (1975), McKaskle v. Wiggins (1982 – 1984), and Indiana v. Edwards (2008). Anthony Faretta was charged with grand theft and requested to represent himself in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Faretta stated that he was literate, had previously represented himself in criminal court, and did not wish to accept a public defender. While the presiding judge originally accepted his request, he soon determined Faretta was unable to adequately represent himself after questioning him on California state law and appointed a public defender. While the California court of appeals affirmed the judge’s ruling, stating that Faretta had no constitutional right to represent himself, the Supreme Court held that under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments, defendants in state criminal trials have a constitutional right to represent themselves when they “voluntarily and intellectually” elect to do so and that the California State courts denied Faretta that right. This 1975 decision set forth that the Sixth Amendment implies a constitutional right to represent oneself in the United States’ courts, and pro se proceedings are based on this decision.

    In the case of McKaskle v. Wiggins, Carl Edwin Wiggins was charged with robbing a Piggly Wiggly in San Antonio, Texas, and chose to waive his right to counsel. The court, however, chose to appoint Wiggins a standby counsel to assist him in understanding the basic rules of the courtroom. Wiggins frequently contested the role of his standby counsel and, after his conviction, argued for a new trial because his standby counsel interfered with his defense and deprived him of his constitutional right to represent himself, which was guaranteed under Faretta v. California. While the court of appeals held that Wiggins’ sixth amendment right to represent himself was violated by unsolicited participation of the standby counsel, the Supreme Court held that Wiggins’ constitutional right was not violated due to his ability to conduct his own defense as he saw fit and that the unsolicited intervention of the standby counsel was within reasonable limits. This case set the basic foundation for standby counsel to be allowed to participate in self-representation cases.

    In Indiana v. Edwards, Ahmad Edwards was charged with attempted murder after shooting an FBI agent, a security guard, and a bystander after stealing a pair of shoes. Edwards’s mental competency to stand trial was called into question, but after five years of psychiatric evaluation, he was deemed competent enough to stand trial. Edwards requested to represent himself in court; however, his medical records stated that he suffered from schizophrenia, and his requests were systematically denied. The

    Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it is free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $200M Boost for Critical Water Infrastructure

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that the Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors approved nearly $200 million in financial assistance for water infrastructure improvement projects across New York State. The Board’s approval authorizes municipal access to low-cost financing and grants to get shovels in the ground for critical water and sewer infrastructure projects, from treatment processes to remove emerging contaminants from drinking water, to replacing lead service lines and modernizing aging systems. These investments protect public health and make projects more affordable, reducing the need for higher rate increases to fund improvements, while also creating good-paying jobs.

    “Clean water is a fundamental right, and New York is leading the way in making sure communities have the resources they need to protect it,” Governor Hochul said. “This funding will help New York City and communities across the state make critical upgrades to aging infrastructure, reduce pollution, and deliver safe, reliable water, while protecting the pockets of New Yorkers.”

    The Board approved a major $50 million investment in New York City, including a $25 million grant from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding. The grant will be used by New York City exclusively for affordability programs that provide financial assistance to low-income water and sewer customers. The $25 million in interest-free financing will support a stormwater and resiliency project that is a key component of the larger Gowanus Canal Superfund Site cleanup. Construction of underground tanks and a network of improvements will fortify the City’s sewers and reduce combined sewage and stormwater overflows that have polluted the canal for a century.

    Today’s announcement builds on a longstanding State-City partnership that has advanced transformative water and sewer improvements. EFC’s financial assistance over the past 15 years has saved City ratepayers more than $2.7 billion on water infrastructure projects, including more than $400 million in direct grants. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, the State continues to deliver critical financial resources to complete essential projects, ease the burden on local ratepayers, and build stronger, more resilient neighborhoods for generations to come.

    EFC’s Board approved grants and financings to local governments from the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds – a mix of federal and state dollars dedicated to financing community water infrastructure projects. State Revolving Fund interest rates are below market rate, and with long repayment periods, communities may save significantly on debt service compared to traditional financing. IIJA funding bolstered the State Revolving Funds and accelerated progress on essential clean water and drinking water projects.

    The Board also approved executing previously awarded State grants from the Water Infrastructure Improvement and Lead Infrastructure Forgiveness and Transformation programs. EFC Board approval is a critical step in the funding process and will allow communities to access these funds for project implementation. Leveraging federal funding with state investments maximizes the impact of each dollar spent, empowering local communities to make critical system improvements they need to keep their residents safe and ensuring cost is not a barrier for project implementation.

    Environmental Facilities Corporation President & CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, we are making historic investments that help communities take on complex, long-needed infrastructure projects without overburdening local ratepayers. Today’s announcement underscores the State’s unwavering commitment to affordable drinking water and wastewater service in New York City and communities statewide. We’re not just financing construction—we’re helping to deliver a cleaner, greener, more resilient future that New Yorkers deserve.”

    New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Investing in local water infrastructure and ensuring all communities have access to clean water is a top priority for New York. Across the state, municipalities large and small are challenged by aging water mains, crumbling wastewater treatment facilities, and outdated sewer systems. Governor Hochul continues to make generational investments that will help communities address critical infrastructure needs and protect water quality, water quantity, and our environment while keeping costs down for cash-strapped municipalities and New Yorkers.”

    New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Governor Hochul has made it clear that access to safe, clean drinking water is a top priority. This latest round of funding helps ensure those critical projects—like removing emerging contaminants—are both an affordable and achievable reality for communities across New York State. The State Health Department will continue to work with local municipalities and our state partners to make sure the water coming from the tap is safe and healthy for all New Yorkers.”

    New York State Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “Governor Hochul recognizes that clean water infrastructure is vital to public health, economic development and community quality of life. The Governor’s visionary commitment of $200 million in low-cost financing and grants provides local governments with the support they need to become more resilient, sustainable and prosperous well into the future.”

    Senator Charles Schumer said, “Everyone deserves access to clean drinking water. These major federal investments will ensure families from Chautauqua to Port Washington have safe drinking water and our beautiful waterways stay clean, all while creating new good-paying jobs, jobs, jobs. I am proud to deliver millions in federal funding and will fight to preserve funding to modernize drinking water and water-sewer systems in the upcoming budget. I am grateful for Governor Hochul’s partnership in the fight to turn the tide on our state’s aging water infrastructure to keep our communities safe and healthy.”

    Representative Grace Meng said, “From combating flooding to ensuring clean drinking water, upgrading our water infrastructure is a crucial investment in our state’s future, and I’m always proud to fight for funding that makes these types of projects possible. I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership and helping to make needed improvements happen across New York.”

    Representative Joe Morelle said, “Everyone deserves to have confidence that the water from their kitchen faucet is clean and safe to use. In Washington, I’m always fighting for projects that support our community’s health and wellbeing. I’m grateful to Governor Hochul for her continued leadership and partnership in building a healthier New York for all.”

    Representative Tom Suozzi said, “The Governor and the state are effectively delivering essential funds to New York’s local water providers from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which I helped negotiate as a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus. The Port Washington project is a crucial investment that will enhance and protect our water infrastructure for future generations while reducing the financial burden on our local taxpayers. I will continue to work with the state to try and bring vital federal resources back to New York.”

    Representative Pat Ryan said, “The freedom to drink clean water is fundamentally American. Our community has been pushing hard to ensure that every Hudson Valley family – especially our kids – has access to clean, safe drinking water. We’ve made real progress, including in Poughkeepsie. Last year, I was proud to work with the Governor to secure critical funds for lead pipe removal in Poughkeepsie. This funding is another step towards ensuring clean water for all, and I thank the Governor and all our partners for their advocacy and commitment to Hudson Valley public health.”

    State Senator Pete Harckham said, “This major investment from the state ensures public health standards while supporting local municipalities. Maintaining safe, accessible drinking water sources and supply systems is integral to future growth and prosperity, and I thank Governor Hochul, my colleagues in the State Legislature and the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation for making the financial commitment to see this through.”

    Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick said, “Communities across New York are facing mounting challenges when it comes to water infrastructure—whether it’s combating contaminants like PFAS, repairing aging water and sewer systems, or replacing lead service lines. This critical funding provides much-needed support to local governments working to protect public health and ensure clean, safe water. I’m especially grateful that $50 million has been directed to support infrastructure improvements in New York City, and I thank Governor Hochul for her continued leadership in prioritizing these essential investments.”

    New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala said, “New York City is home to nearly half of the State’s population and will make full and beneficial use of this grant and financing, which will help the people of Gowanus as well as low-income water customers across the five boroughs. This commitment from the State represents a new and positive development in the collaboration between EFC and DEP and I’m grateful for this partnership.”

    Funding was approved for projects in the following regions:

    Finger Lakes

    • Town of Leroy – $5 million grant for the formation of Water District No. 12, including installation of approximately 173,000 linear feet of water mains and appurtenances including hydrants, valves, and service meters.
    • Town of Milo – $366,000 grant for the installation of 4,600 linear feet of water main, gate valves, hydrants, meters, and additional appurtenances along NYS Route 54 to form Water District No. 4.
    • City of Rochester – $24 million for the replacement of 3,269 lead service lines, approximately 14% of the total lead and galvanized services lines in the water system. Rochester is one of 12 municipalities to receive a State grant as well as federal IIJA grants and interest-free financing for lead service line replacement. The State grant will reimburse costs that were not fully covered by IIJA grants, so upon completion of this project, the City won’t have to pay back the financing.

    Long Island

    • Village of Farmingdale – $4.6 million grant for the installation of an advanced oxidation process treatment system for the removal of 1,4-dioxane and a granular activated carbon treatment system for removal of PFOA and PFOS at the Ridge Road Well Site Plant No. 2.
    • Port Washington Water District – $5 million in grants for the construction of a granular activated carbon treatment system for the removal of PFOA and PFOS from Hewlett Well No. 4.
    • Suffolk County Water Authority – $1.5 million grant for the installation of approximately 7,500 linear feet of water main, gate valves, hydrants, meters, and additional appurtenances to provide public water to homes with contaminated private wells along Old Country Road.

    Mid-Hudson

    • City of Poughkeepsie – $6.7 million grant and low-cost financing package for the rehabilitation of the Fallkill Trunk portion of the sanitary sewer collection system.

    North Country

    • Village of Port Leyden – $8 million grant and interest-free financing package for the replacement of approximately 18,000 linear feet of water main and associated appurtenances, replacement of water meters, and water treatment plant upgrades.

    New York City

    • New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority – $50 million grant and interest-free financing package for the planning, design, and construction of the Gowanus Canal combined sewer overflow abatement facilities.

    Western New York

    • Village of Andover – $1.4 million grant for the development of a new groundwater well to provide needed source redundancy and replace an existing noncompliant spring source. The Board previously approved an interest-free financing in addition to the grant to support this project.
    • Town of Chautauqua – $7.7 million grant and interest-free financing package for the development of two new groundwater wells and a new treatment plant to replace the existing water source and treatment plant, and installation of approximately 14,000 linear feet of transmission and distribution water mains to extend the water district and serve 345 new residences that are currently dependent on private wells.
    • Town of Clymer – $10.5 million grant and interest-free financing package for the development and installation of a new ground water well to provide additional source capacity, replacement of approximately 26,000 linear feet of watermains, valves, hydrants, and appurtenances and a new 200,000-gallon water storage tank to replace a deteriorated tank.
    • Town of Ellicott – $6.4 million in grants for the design and construction of a sewer district extension.
    • Town of Randolph – $4.5 million grant and low-cost financing package for the planning, design, and construction of wastewater treatment plant improvements.
    • Town of Westfield – $9.5 million grant and interest-free financing for the design and construction of wastewater treatment plant and collection system improvements.

    Refinancing Completed Projects Will Achieve Long-Term Debt Service Savings
    The Board also took action to help ensure continued, long-term affordability of existing projects. EFC provides short-term financing for design and construction of projects. Once project construction is completed, the short-term financing is typically refinanced to long-term financing for up to 30 years. Based on current market conditions, these long-term interest-free financings are projected to save local ratepayers an estimated $51 million in interest payments over the life of the financings.

    The Board approved long-term financing for projects undertaken by communities in the following regions:

    Mohawk Valley

    • Village of Middleburgh – $2.5 million long-term interest-free financing for the planning, design, and construction of upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant.

    New York City

    • New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority – $42 million long-term interest-free financing for the design and construction of new engine generators to utilize digester gas and natural gas to cogenerate power and heat for on-site use at the North River Water Resource Recovery Facility.

    North Country

    • Village of Lowville – $9.3 million long-term interest-free financing for the planning, design, and construction of wastewater treatment plant improvements.

    New York’s Commitment to Water Quality
    New York State continues to increase its nation-leading investments in water infrastructure, including more than $2.2 billion in financial assistance from EFC for local water infrastructure projects in State Fiscal Year 2024 alone. The next round of EFC’s Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grants is now open at www.efc.ny.gov. Governor Hochul has announced $325 million for this round.

    With $500 million allocated for clean water infrastructure in the FY26 Enacted Budget announced by Governor Hochul, New York will have invested a total of $6 billion in water infrastructure between 2017 and this year. Any community needing assistance with water infrastructure projects is encouraged to contact EFC. New Yorkers can track projects benefiting from EFC’s investments using the interactive project impact dashboard.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man arrested for murder following death of a woman in east London

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of a woman in Tower Hamlets.

    On Thursday, 26 June at 23:01hrs, police were called to an address in Monier Road, Tower Hamlets to reports of a stabbing.

    Officers attended the scene alongside the London Ambulance Service, who treated a woman in her 40s for stab wounds.

    Sadly, despite the best efforts of the emergency services, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

    Her next of kin have been made aware and are currently being supported by specialist officers.

    A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of murder and he remains in police custody. It’s believed he was known to the victim.

    A murder investigation has been launched.

    Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney, who leads policing in Tower Hamlets, said: “We are currently supporting the family of a woman who was sadly killed in the early hours of this morning.

    “I understand the local community will feel understandably shocked by this news, but I want to reassure residents we believe this to be an isolated incident, with no wider threat to the public.

    “Although we have made significant progress by making an arrest, I would like to make it clear that our investigation does not stop here. Specialist officers are working at pace to make enquiries and understand exactly what took place.

    “Local people may notice a higher police presence within the area today and would encourage anyone with concerns to speak to officers.”

    Anyone with information which could assist with the investigation is asked to call 101 stating CAD9509/26JAN. Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or by submitting an online form.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Gunpoint Carjacking

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Kelly Stanton, 55, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 144 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and restitution in the amount of $12,500 by United States District Judge R. Barclay Surrick for carjacking a woman at gunpoint in January of 2023.

    Stanton was charged by indictment in March 2023 and pleaded guilty to the carjacking in October of last year.

    As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, around 11 p.m. on January 26, 2023, a woman had parked her car on the 1600 block of Cecil B. Moore Avenue in Philadelphia to pick up a pizza. After she exited the pizza shop and was getting back in her car, Stanton approached. He put a firearm to her head and said, “give me the f[***]ing keys or I’m going to shoot you.”

    After struggling with Stanton, the victim was eventually able to get her keys out of her pocket, give them to him, and run away from the car. The defendant drove off in the vehicle, heading west on Cecil B. Moore. The victim’s car has still not been recovered.

    “The victim in this case was just going about her night when Stanton ambushed and terrorized her, putting his gun to her head and threatening to shoot,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Anyone who would violently accost a stranger like this for their car, or any other possession, is a clear threat to our community. My office will continue to work with our partners on the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force to bring these dangerous offenders to justice.”

    “Kelly Stanton’s victim was picking up a pizza when he stuck a gun to her head and demanded her car keys — he’s now facing a dozen years in federal prison,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Philadelphia Field Division. “Carjacking is a violent and dangerous crime. Together with our Carjacking Task Force partners we are using ATF’s unique forensic and investigative tools to stop criminals like this from terrorizing our neighborhoods. We hope this case deters those willing to use violence in our community.”

    The case was investigated by the ATF and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Meagan Gordon and Assistant United States Attorney Priya De Souza.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Twelve Defendants Sentenced for Drug and Firearm Offenses Related to Springfield, Vermont Drug Conspiracy

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that twelves defendants have been sentenced in connection with drug and firearm charges related to a conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl between March  and November 2022 in Springfield, Vermont. The last sentencing occurred June 16, 2025. All twelve defendants previously pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents, the drug conspiracy involved distribution of controlled substances on Valley Street in Springfield, Vermont and elsewhere. The conspirators armed themselves with firearms in furtherance of the conspiracy. At certain times, firearms were discharged in Springfield in connection with the drug trafficking activity. Several of the conspirators were arrested on November 30, 2022 following the execution of federal search warrants on several addresses on Valley Street.

    Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss imposed the following sentences, each followed by a three-year term of federal supervised release:

    Anibal Castro, Sr.  – 108 months 
    Jonathan Castro – 98 months
    Alex Barnes – 47 months
    James Hines – 38 months 
    Jessica Auclair – 8 months
    Jennifer Armstrong – Time Served

    United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford imposed the following sentences, each followed by a three-year term of federal supervised release:

    Anibal Castro, Jr.  – 72 months 
    Martine Protas – Time Served

    United States District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. imposed the following sentence, followed by a three-year term of federal supervised release:

    Kerri Yaqoob – 75 months

    United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier imposed the following sentence, followed by a three-year term of federal supervised release:

    Todd Amell – Time Served

    United States District Judge William K. Sessions, III imposed the following sentences:

    Michael Cotter – Time Served to be followed by 2 years of supervised release
    Derek Arie  – Time Served to be followed by 1 year of supervised release

    Acting U.S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory and collaborative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Vermont State Police, the Vermont Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Massachusetts State Police, the Springfield Police Department, and the Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office.

    The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig.  Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew Gilman and Joe Perella offered valuable assistance.

    Anibal Castro, Sr. is represented by Natasha Sen, Esq.; Jonathan Castro is represented by Robert Behrens, Esq.; Anibal Castro, Jr. is represented by Karen Shingler, Esq.; Derek Arie is represented by Kevin Henry, Esq.; Martine Protas is represented by Michael Shklar, Esq.; Michael Cotter is represented by Mark Oettinger, Esq.; Jessica Auclair is represented by Peter Langrock, Esq.; Kerri Yaqoob is represented by Richard Bothfeld, Esq.; Alex Barnes is represented by John-Claude Charbonneau, Esq.; James Hines is represented by Stephanie Greenlees, Esq.; Todd Amell is represented by Chandler Matson, Esq.; Jennifer Armstrong is represented by Jason Sawyer, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Toxic algae blooms are lasting longer in Lake Erie − why that’s a worry for people and pets

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Gregory J. Dick, Professor of Biology, University of Michigan

    A satellite image from Aug. 13, 2024, shows an algal bloom covering approximately 320 square miles (830 square km) of Lake Erie. By Aug. 22, it had nearly doubled in size. NASA Earth Observatory

    Federal scientists released their annual forecast for Lake Erie’s harmful algal blooms on June 26, 2025, and they expect a mild to moderate season. However, anyone who comes in contact with the blooms can face health risks, and it’s worth remembering that 2014, when toxins from algae blooms contaminated the water supply in Toledo, Ohio, was considered a moderate year, too.

    We asked Gregory J. Dick, who leads the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, a federally funded center at the University of Michigan that studies harmful algal blooms among other Great Lakes issues, why they’re such a concern.

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s prediction for harmful algal bloom severity in Lake Erie compared with past years.
    NOAA

    1. What causes harmful algal blooms?

    Harmful algal blooms are dense patches of excessive algae growth that can occur in any type of water body, including ponds, reservoirs, rivers, lakes and oceans. When you see them in freshwater, you’re typically seeing cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae.

    These photosynthetic bacteria have inhabited our planet for billions of years. In fact, they were responsible for oxygenating Earth’s atmosphere, which enabled plant and animal life as we know it.

    The leading source of harmful algal blooms today is nutrient runoff from fertilized farm fields.
    Michigan Sea Grant

    Algae are natural components of ecosystems, but they cause trouble when they proliferate to high densities, creating what we call blooms.

    Harmful algal blooms form scums at the water surface and produce toxins that can harm ecosystems, water quality and human health. They have been reported in all 50 U.S. states, all five Great Lakes and nearly every country around the world. Blue-green algae blooms are becoming more common in inland waters.

    The main sources of harmful algal blooms are excess nutrients in the water, typically phosphorus and nitrogen.

    Historically, these excess nutrients mainly came from sewage and phosphorus-based detergents used in laundry machines and dishwashers that ended up in waterways. U.S. environmental laws in the early 1970s addressed this by requiring sewage treatment and banning phosphorus detergents, with spectacular success.

    How pollution affected Lake Erie in the 1960s, before clean water regulations.

    Today, agriculture is the main source of excess nutrients from chemical fertilizer or manure applied to farm fields to grow crops. Rainstorms wash these nutrients into streams and rivers that deliver them to lakes and coastal areas, where they fertilize algal blooms. In the U.S., most of these nutrients come from industrial-scale corn production, which is largely used as animal feed or to produce ethanol for gasoline.

    Climate change also exacerbates the problem in two ways. First, cyanobacteria grow faster at higher temperatures. Second, climate-driven increases in precipitation, especially large storms, cause more nutrient runoff that has led to record-setting blooms.

    2. What does your team’s DNA testing tell us about Lake Erie’s harmful algal blooms?

    Harmful algal blooms contain a mixture of cyanobacterial species that can produce an array of different toxins, many of which are still being discovered.

    When my colleagues and I recently sequenced DNA from Lake Erie water, we found new types of microcystins, the notorious toxins that were responsible for contaminating Toledo’s drinking water supply in 2014.

    These novel molecules cannot be detected with traditional methods and show some signs of causing toxicity, though further studies are needed to confirm their human health effects.

    Blue-green algae blooms in freshwater, like this one near Toledo in 2014, can be harmful to humans, causing gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, fever and skin irritation. They can be lethal for pets.
    Ty Wright for The Washington Post via Getty Images

    We also found organisms responsible for producing saxitoxin, a potent neurotoxin that is well known for causing paralytic shellfish poisoning on the Pacific Coast of North America and elsewhere.

    Saxitoxins have been detected at low concentrations in the Great Lakes for some time, but the recent discovery of hot spots of genes that make the toxin makes them an emerging concern.

    Our research suggests warmer water temperatures could boost its production, which raises concerns that saxitoxin will become more prevalent with climate change. However, the controls on toxin production are complex, and more research is needed to test this hypothesis. Federal monitoring programs are essential for tracking and understanding emerging threats.

    3. Should people worry about these blooms?

    Harmful algal blooms are unsightly and smelly, making them a concern for recreation, property values and businesses. They can disrupt food webs and harm aquatic life, though a recent study suggested that their effects on the Lake Erie food web so far are not substantial.

    But the biggest impact is from the toxins these algae produce that are harmful to humans and lethal to pets.

    The toxins can cause acute health problems such as gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, fever and skin irritation. Dogs can die from ingesting lake water with harmful algal blooms. Emerging science suggests that long-term exposure to harmful algal blooms, for example over months or years, can cause or exacerbate chronic respiratory, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal problems and may be linked to liver cancers, kidney disease and neurological issues.

    The water intake system for the city of Toledo, Ohio, is surrounded by an algae bloom in 2014. Toxic algae got into the water system, resulting in residents being warned not to touch or drink their tap water for three days.
    AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari

    In addition to exposure through direct ingestion or skin contact, recent research also indicates that inhaling toxins that get into the air may harm health, raising concerns for coastal residents and boaters, but more research is needed to understand the risks.

    The Toledo drinking water crisis of 2014 illustrated the vast potential for algal blooms to cause harm in the Great Lakes. Toxins infiltrated the drinking water system and were detected in processed municipal water, resulting in a three-day “do not drink” advisory. The episode affected residents, hospitals and businesses, and it ultimately cost the city an estimated US$65 million.

    4. Blooms seem to be starting earlier in the year and lasting longer – why is that happening?

    Warmer waters are extending the duration of the blooms.

    In 2025, NOAA detected these toxins in Lake Erie on April 28, earlier than ever before. The 2022 bloom in Lake Erie persisted into November, which is rare if not unprecedented.

    Scientific studies of western Lake Erie show that the potential cyanobacterial growth rate has increased by up to 30% and the length of the bloom season has expanded by up to a month from 1995 to 2022, especially in warmer, shallow waters. These results are consistent with our understanding of cyanobacterial physiology: Blooms like it hot – cyanobacteria grow faster at higher temperatures.

    5. What can be done to reduce the likelihood of algal blooms in the future?

    The best and perhaps only hope of reducing the size and occurrence of harmful algal blooms is to reduce the amount of nutrients reaching the Great Lakes.

    In Lake Erie, where nutrients come primarily from agriculture, that means improving agricultural practices and restoring wetlands to reduce the amount of nutrients flowing off of farm fields and into the lake. Early indications suggest that Ohio’s H2Ohio program, which works with farmers to reduce runoff, is making some gains in this regard, but future funding for H2Ohio is uncertain.

    In places like Lake Superior, where harmful algal blooms appear to be driven by climate change, the solution likely requires halting and reversing the rapid human-driven increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

    Gregory J. Dick receives funding for harmful algal bloom research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the United States Geological Survey, and the National Institutes for Health. He serves on the Science Advisory Council for the Environmental Law and Policy Center.

    – ref. Toxic algae blooms are lasting longer in Lake Erie − why that’s a worry for people and pets – https://theconversation.com/toxic-algae-blooms-are-lasting-longer-in-lake-erie-why-thats-a-worry-for-people-and-pets-259954

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DHS Cyber Crimes Center tip leads to arrest of criminal alien convicted child sex offender

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    WASHINGTON — A tip from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Crimes Center led to the May 29 arrest of Rafael Romeiro Rodriguez, a dangerous child sex offender, as he was attempting to travel internationally.

    DHS C3, which is led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, works to prevent child sex tourism and other crimes of child exploitation by notifying destination countries of convicted child predators who intend to travel abroad, and by supporting domestic enforcement actions like the one that led to Rodriguez’s arrest.

    Rodriguez, a Colombian national who is in the United States illegally, was convicted in 2014 of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years old.

    “Thanks to the targeted intelligence work of the Cyber Crimes Center, a convicted child sex offender will no longer pose a threat to the community,” said Deputy Assistant Director for the DHS Cyber Crimes Center Mike Prado. “This case is a powerful reminder of how proactive targeting of dangerous convicted sex offenders can lead to real world arrests that protect children and enhance public safety.”

    Officers with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston with support from ICE HSI, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives apprehended the criminal alien in Boston without incident.

    “This arrest is a direct result of the critical coordination between ERO Boston, the DHS Cybercrimes Center, and our federal and law enforcement partners,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “This case underscores exactly why we must remain vigilant and united across government agencies to find, arrest, and remove dangerous predators who pose a threat to our children and our neighborhoods.”

    Rodriguez remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

    Early intervention is critical. If you believe a child has been abducted or is in immediate danger, contact local law enforcement or dial 911.

    If you suspect a child may be a victim of online child sexual exploitation and abuse, call the Know2Protect Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline.

    Join the fight against online child sexual exploitation and abuse by learning more — schedule a Project iGuardian presentation for your school, youth group, corporation, law enforcement agency or other community event. Email iGuardian.hq@hsi.dhs.gov to request an iGuardian presentation.

    To schedule an interview, please contact Public Affairs Officer Tanya Roman at Tanya.Roman@hsi.dhs.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DHS Cyber Crimes Center tip leads to arrest of criminal alien convicted child sex offender

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    WASHINGTON — A tip from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Crimes Center led to the May 29 arrest of Rafael Romeiro Rodriguez, a dangerous child sex offender, as he was attempting to travel internationally.

    DHS C3, which is led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, works to prevent child sex tourism and other crimes of child exploitation by notifying destination countries of convicted child predators who intend to travel abroad, and by supporting domestic enforcement actions like the one that led to Rodriguez’s arrest.

    Rodriguez, a Colombian national who is in the United States illegally, was convicted in 2014 of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years old.

    “Thanks to the targeted intelligence work of the Cyber Crimes Center, a convicted child sex offender will no longer pose a threat to the community,” said Deputy Assistant Director for the DHS Cyber Crimes Center Mike Prado. “This case is a powerful reminder of how proactive targeting of dangerous convicted sex offenders can lead to real world arrests that protect children and enhance public safety.”

    Officers with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston with support from ICE HSI, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives apprehended the criminal alien in Boston without incident.

    “This arrest is a direct result of the critical coordination between ERO Boston, the DHS Cybercrimes Center, and our federal and law enforcement partners,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “This case underscores exactly why we must remain vigilant and united across government agencies to find, arrest, and remove dangerous predators who pose a threat to our children and our neighborhoods.”

    Rodriguez remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

    Early intervention is critical. If you believe a child has been abducted or is in immediate danger, contact local law enforcement or dial 911.

    If you suspect a child may be a victim of online child sexual exploitation and abuse, call the Know2Protect Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline.

    Join the fight against online child sexual exploitation and abuse by learning more — schedule a Project iGuardian presentation for your school, youth group, corporation, law enforcement agency or other community event. Email iGuardian.hq@hsi.dhs.gov to request an iGuardian presentation.

    To schedule an interview, please contact Public Affairs Officer Tanya Roman at Tanya.Roman@hsi.dhs.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New expertise joins NI Public Sector Transformation Board

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    New expertise joins NI Public Sector Transformation Board

    Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP welcomes the news of the appointment of two new members to the Public Sector Transformation Board.

    • The expansion of the Board follows a productive agreement with the Finance Minister John O’Dowd MLA to update the Terms of Reference for the Transformation Board.
    • The two new expert board members are; Gareth Hetherington, Director of Ulster University Economic Policy; and, Professor Helen McCarthy, the NI Executive’s Chief Scientific Officer.
    • The Second Call has now launched to allocate the remaining £102 million of UK Government funding which will help improve public services, and address many of the challenges faced by people across Northern Ireland.

    Hilary Benn MP said:

    The significant progress made since the establishment of the Board has been really important. I was delighted to welcome the first tranche of funding in March this year when £129m was confirmed to help fund six transformation projects across the Departments of Health, Justice, Education and Infrastructure.

    The appointment of Gareth Hetherington and Professor Helen McCarthy will bolster the expertise of the Board as it assesses projects eligible for the remaining £102m allocation for transformation of public services in Northern Ireland. This funding will help build more resilient and responsive public services that better meet the needs of people across Northern Ireland.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New expertise joins NI Public Sector Transformation Board

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    New expertise joins NI Public Sector Transformation Board

    Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP welcomes the news of the appointment of two new members to the Public Sector Transformation Board.

    • The expansion of the Board follows a productive agreement with the Finance Minister John O’Dowd MLA to update the Terms of Reference for the Transformation Board.
    • The two new expert board members are; Gareth Hetherington, Director of Ulster University Economic Policy; and, Professor Helen McCarthy, the NI Executive’s Chief Scientific Officer.
    • The Second Call has now launched to allocate the remaining £102 million of UK Government funding which will help improve public services, and address many of the challenges faced by people across Northern Ireland.

    Hilary Benn MP said:

    The significant progress made since the establishment of the Board has been really important. I was delighted to welcome the first tranche of funding in March this year when £129m was confirmed to help fund six transformation projects across the Departments of Health, Justice, Education and Infrastructure.

    The appointment of Gareth Hetherington and Professor Helen McCarthy will bolster the expertise of the Board as it assesses projects eligible for the remaining £102m allocation for transformation of public services in Northern Ireland. This funding will help build more resilient and responsive public services that better meet the needs of people across Northern Ireland.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The ‘Godfather of Human Rights’ Ken Roth on genocide, Trump and standing up for democracy

    By Richard Larsen, RNZ News producer — 30′ with Guyon Espiner

    The former head of Human Rights Watch — and son of a Holocaust survivor — says Israel’s military campaign in Gaza will likely meet the legal definition of genocide, citing large-scale killings, the targeting of civilians, and the words of senior Israeli officials.

    Speaking on 30′ with Guyon Espiner, Ken Roth agreed Hamas committed “blatant war crimes” in its attack on Israel on October 7 last year, which included the abduction and murder of civilians.

    But he said it was a “basic rule” that war crimes by one side do not justify war crimes by the other.

    There was indisputable evidence Israel had committed war crimes in Gaza and might also be pursuing tactics that fit the international legal standard for genocide, Roth said.

    30′ with Guyon Espiner Kenneth Roth    Video: RNZ

    “The acts are there — mass killing, destruction of life-sustaining conditions. And there are statements from senior officials that point clearly to intent,” Roth said.

    He cited comments immediately after the October 7 attack by Hamas from Israel’s former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who referred to Gazans as “human animals”.

    Israeli President Isaac Herzog also said “an entire nation” was responsible for the attack and the notion of “unaware, uninvolved civilians is not true,” referring to the Palestinean people. Herzog subsequently said his words were taken out of context during a case at the International Court of Justice.

    The accusation of genocide is hotly contested. Israel says it is fighting a war of self-defence against Hamas after it killed 1200 people, mostly civilians. It claims it adheres to international law and does its best to protect civilians.

    It blames Hamas for embedding itself in civilian areas.

    But Roth believes a ruling may ultimately come from the International Court of Justice, especially if a forthcoming judgment on Myanmar sets a precedent.

    “It’s very similar to what Myanmar did with the Rohingya,” he said. “Kill about 30,000 to send 730,000 fleeing. It’s not just about mass death. It’s about creating conditions where life becomes impossible.”

    ‘Apartheid’ alleged in Israel’s West Bank
     Roth has been described as the ‘Godfather of Human Rights’, and is credited with vastly expanding the influence of the Human Rights Watch group during a 29-year tenure in charge of the organisation.

    In the full interview with Guyon Espiner, Roth defended the group’s 2021 report that accused Israel of enforcing a system of apartheid in the occupied West Bank.

    “This was not a historical analogy,” he said, implying it was a mistake to compare it with South Africa’s former apartheid regime.

    “It was a legal analysis. We used the UN Convention against Apartheid and the Rome Statute, and laid out over 200 pages of evidence.”

    Kenneth Roth appears via remote link in studio for an interview on season 3 of 30′ with Guyon Espiner. Image: RNZ

    He said the Israeli government was unable to offer a factual rebuttal.

    “They called us biased, antisemitic — the usual. But they didn’t contest the facts.”

    The ‘cheapening’ of antisemitism charges
     Roth, who is Jewish and the son of a Holocaust refugee, said it was disturbing to be accused of antisemitism for criticising a government.

    “There is a real rise in antisemitism around the world. But when the term is used to suppress legitimate criticism of Israel, it cheapens the concept, and that ultimately harms Jews everywhere.”

    Roth said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had long opposed a two-state solution and was now pursuing a status quo that amounted to permanent subjugation of Palestinians, a situation human rights groups say is illegal.

    “The only acceptable outcome is two states, living side by side. Anything else is apartheid, or worse,” Roth said.

    While the international legal process around charges of genocide may take years, Roth is convinced the current actions in Gaza will not be forgotten.

    “This is not just about war,” he said. “It’s about the deliberate use of starvation, displacement and mass killing to achieve political goals. And the law is very clear — that’s a crime.”

    Roth’s criticism of Israel saw him initially denied a fellowship at Harvard University in 2023. The decision was widely seen as politically motivated, and was later reversed after public and academic backlash.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The number of private sector businesses is growing in China

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) — The number of private sector businesses in China reached 185 million by the end of May, up 2.3 percent year on year, official data showed Friday.

    According to the State Administration for Market Regulation of the People’s Republic of China, the private sector, which includes private enterprises and sole proprietors, accounted for 96.76 percent of the total number of business entities in the country.

    The number of private enterprises has exceeded 58 million, up 5.2 percent year-on-year. These enterprises have been steadily increasing investment in technological innovation and actively developing strategic new industries such as new energy and high-tech mechanical engineering, becoming a key pillar of industrial modernization and stable economic growth.

    The number of individual entrepreneurs by the end of May this year increased by 1% year-on-year to 127 million. The department noted that flexible and diverse business models in the areas of retail, catering and household services make it possible to meet the diverse needs of the population.

    In 2024, private enterprises accounted for more than half of China’s foreign trade and tax revenue, and more than 80 percent of urban employment. More importantly, they play a major role in strengthening the country’s innovation capacity, accounting for more than 70 percent of technological achievements.

    To optimize the private sector development environment, ensure fair market competition, and promote the growth of both the private economy and entrepreneurs, China passed the Law on Encouraging the Development of the Private Sector earlier this year. The law strengthens legal guarantees and gives new impetus to the key driver of the world’s second-largest economy. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • Ukraine calls for EU sanctions on Bangladeshi entities for import of ‘stolen grain’

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Ukraine plans to ask the European Union to sanction Bangladeshi entities it says are importing wheat taken from Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, after its warnings to Dhaka failed to stop the trade, a top Ukrainian diplomat in South Asia said.

    Russian forces have occupied large parts of Ukraine’s southern agricultural regions since 2014 and Kyiv has accused Russia of stealing its grain even before the 2022 invasion. Russian officials say there is no theft of grain involved as the territories previously considered part of Ukraine are now part of Russia and will remain so forever.

    According to documents provided to Reuters by people familiar with the matter, the Ukraine Embassy in New Delhi sent several letters to Bangladesh’s foreign affairs ministry this year, asking them to reject more than 150,000 tonnes of grain allegedly stolen and shipped from Russian port of Kavkaz.

    Asked about the confidential diplomatic communication, Ukraine’s ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, said Dhaka had not responded to the communication and Kyiv will now escalate the matter as its intelligence showed entities in Russia mix grain procured from occupied Ukrainian territories with Russian wheat before shipping.

    “It’s a crime,” Polishchuk said in an interview at Ukraine’s embassy in New Delhi.

    “We will share our investigation with our European Union colleagues, and we will kindly ask them to take the appropriate measures.”

    Ukraine’s diplomatic tussle with Bangladeshi authorities has not been previously reported.

    The Bangladesh and Russian foreign ministries did not respond to requests for comment.

    A Bangladeshi food ministry official said Dhaka bars imports from Russia if the origin of the grain is from occupied Ukrainian territory, adding that the country imports no stolen wheat.

    Amid the war with Russia, the agricultural sector remains one of the main sources of export earnings for Ukraine, supplying grain, vegetable oil and oilseeds to foreign markets.

    In April, Ukraine detained a foreign vessel in its territorial waters, alleging it was involved in the illegal trade of stolen grain, and last year seized a foreign cargo ship and detained its captain on similar suspicions.

    The EU has so far sanctioned 342 ships that are part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, which the bloc says enable Moscow to circumvent Western restrictions to move oil, arms and grain. Russia says Western sanctions are illegal.

    ‘NOT DIAMONDS OR GOLD’

    A Ukraine official told Reuters Ukrainian law prohibits any voluntary trade between Ukrainian producers, including grain farmers in the occupied territories, and Russian entities.

    The Ukraine Embassy has sent four letters to Bangladesh’s government, reviewed by Reuters, in which it shared vessel names and their registration numbers involved in the alleged trade of moving the grain from the Crimean ports of Sevastopol and Kerch, occupied by Russia since 2014, and Berdiansk, which is under Moscow’s control since 2022, to Kavkaz in Russia.

    The letters stated the departure and tentative arrival dates of the ships that left from Kavkaz for Bangladesh between November 2024 and June 2025.

    The June 11 letter said Bangladesh can face “serious consequences” of sanctions for taking deliveries of “stolen grain”, and that such purchases fuel “humanitarian suffering.”

    The sanctions “may extend beyond importing companies and could also target government officials and the leadership of ministries and agencies who knowingly facilitate or tolerate such violations,” the letter added.

    In a statement to Reuters, Anitta Hipper, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said the vessels in question were not currently subject to any restrictive measures.

    The sanctions regime was designed to act against activities that undermine the food security of Ukraine including transportation of “stolen Ukrainian grain” and “any proven involvement of vessels in shipping stolen Ukrainian grain could provide the basis for future restrictive measures,” she added.

    The Russia-controlled territories, excluding Crimea, accounted for about 3% of the total Russian grain harvest in 2024, according to Reuters’ estimates based on official Russian data. Russian grain transporter Rusagrotrans says Bangladesh was the fourth largest buyer of Russian wheat in May.

    Ambassador Polishchuk told Reuters their intelligence shows Russia mixes its grain with that from occupied Ukrainian territories to avoid detection.

    A Russian trader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that when the grain is loaded for export at a Russian port, it is very difficult to track its origin.

    “These are not diamonds or gold. The composition of impurities does not allow for identification,” the person said.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Stronger Health Through Smarter Taxes in Mauritius


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    WHO has joined forces with VISA NGO and the University of Cape Town to assess the impact of increasing health taxes in Mauritius. Using a simulation tool, the study examined how tax hikes affect tobacco use, government revenues, and premature deaths.

    A 15% annual cigarette tax increase could:

    • Boost excise revenue by 55%
    • Reduce smoking prevalence from 18.1% to 17.4%
    • Prevent 11,600 premature deaths by 2029

    Even more ambitious action—a 25% annual increase—could:

    • Double excise revenues
    • Lower smoking prevalence to 16.3%
    • Save 19,300 lives by 2029

    On 20 June 2025, WHO convened high-level officials from the Ministries of Health and Finance to discuss the findings, presented by the University of Cape Town’s Research Unit on the Economics of Excisable Products and a WHO taxation expert.

    WHO and VISA echoed the study’s call for regular, significant tax increases—one of the most effective ways to curb noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) 

    Earlier, on 26 May, VISA and WHO presented the findings to key stakeholders including the Mauritius Revenue Authority, Ministries of Education and Youth, the University of Mauritius, NGOs, and consumer groups.

    WHO also applauded the Government’s recent decision to raise taxes by 10% on tobacco and alcohol, and 100% on sugary drinks, extending it to products like chocolate and ice cream.

    “This is a gift to public health,” said Dr. Anne Ancia, WHO Representative. “Higher prices on unhealthy products help reduce consumption—especially in a country where obesity, diabetes and cardio-vascular diseases are leading causes of death and disability.”

    Dr. Ancia also stressed the urgent need to enforce the Tobacco Law 2022, particularly the ban on single-stick sales, which undermines progress in reducing tobacco use through higher prices.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Mauritius.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE – Concern for welfare – Berry Springs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The NT Police no longer holds concerns for the welfare of the 15-year-old boy who went missing this afternoon.

    He was located safe and well a short time ago.

    The Police would like to thank the members of the public for their assistance.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: France’s Ballestrazzi becomes first female President of INTERPOL

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    8 November 2012

    ROME, Italy – INTERPOL’s 81st General Assembly has closed with delegates electing as the new President of INTERPOL Mireille Ballestrazzi, Deputy Central Director of the French Judicial Police.

    In a symbolic gesture, the INTERPOL flag is handed to a Colombian official, looking ahead to the 2013 General Assembly in Cartagena.

    Mireille Ballestrazzi said she felt a great sense of pride and joy to have been elected as the INTERPOL President and looked forward to serving all of INTERPOL’s 190 member countries.

    Outgoing INTERPOL President Khoo Boon Hui reflects on his time with the Organization.

    Delegates endorsed a series of resolutions on issues including maritime piracy, illicit trafficking in cultural property, the INTERPOL Travel Document, cybercrime and trafficking in illicit goods.

    Current members of the INTERPOL Executive Committee.

    The Italian authorities hosted a successful General Assembly.

    Elected as Vice President for the Americas was Alan Bersin, Assistant Secretary of International Affairs for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (right).

    Nobuyuki Kawai, Director of the Organized Crime Department of the National Police Academy of Japan, was elected as Vice President for Asia.

    Mireille Ballestrazzi, Deputy Central Director of the French Judicial Police, was elected as the new President of INTERPOL by delegates at the 81st General Assembly.

    Italian Minister of Interior Annamaria Cancellieri, left, and INTERPOL President Mireille Ballestrazzi. 

    INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble thanks outgoing President Khoo Boon Hui for his four years of service to the Organization.

    Mrs Ballestrazzi said she felt a great sense of pride and joy to have been elected as the President of INTERPOL and looked forward to serving all of INTERPOL’s 190 member countries in ‘an unfailing spirit to promote mutual assistance and solidarity’.

    “I am wholly committed to the fundamental role INTERPOL must play in global police cooperation. By establishing the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation and leading other recent initiatives, INTERPOL has placed itself at the forefront of innovation which I will continue to fully support. There is no doubt that this direction will open up drastically new perspectives for INTERPOL and its member countries worldwide as we face together the challenges of today and tomorrow.”

    The President of the Organization heads its Executive Committee and is elected by the General Assembly for a period of four years.

    INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble welcomed President Ballestrazzi’s appointment as another example of INTERPOL’s evolution, reflecting the active role of both men and women in the international law enforcement community.

    “As the world’s largest police organization, it is essential that INTERPOL’s leadership offers the best policing and expertise to its 190 member countries in order to meet their needs,” said Mr Noble.

    “Mireille Ballestrazzi’s appointment as President of INTERPOL comes at a time when countries are adapting to the realities of the changing nature of transnational organized crime in the 21st century.

    “She brings invaluable experience in cross-border police collaboration to her role, as well as proven leadership abilities, and I look forward to working closely with her to ensure that INTERPOL continues to provide innovative responses to meet the needs of our member countries, ” added the INTERPOL Chief.

    Paying a warm tribute to outgoing President Khoo Boon Hui of Singapore, Mr Noble said Mr Khoo would be remembered as ‘a champion and driving force of international law enforcement cooperation’.

    Also elected to the Executive Committee were Alan Bersin, Assistant Secretary of International Affairs for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Vice President for the Americas), Nobuyuki Kawai, Director of the Organized Crime Department of the National Police Academy of Japan (Vice President for Asia), Algeria’s Abdelkader Kara Bouhadba, Commissaire Divisionnaire de Police, Directeur de la  Police Judiciaire (Delegate for Africa), Bob Paulson, Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Delegate for the Americas), Jong Yang Kim of the Korean National Police Agency and Head of INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Seoul (Delegate for Asia), Brigadier General Saoud Abdallah Al-Mahmoud, Director of the International Cooperation Department of Qatar’s Ministry of Interior (Delegate for Asia), and Filippo Dispenza, Brigadier General of the Italian National Police (Delegate for Europe).

    The four-day conference (5 – 8 November) in Rome was  launched with a Ministerial meeting attended by close to 100 global leaders who endorsed a joint declaration recognizing the need to identify viable strategies to effectively address the changing modes of contemporary criminal violence.

    During the conference, more than 1,000 delegates from some 170 countries endorsed a series of resolutions to build a modern framework for collective action, including on maritime piracy, illicit trafficking in cultural property, the INTERPOL Programme to Combat Trafficking in Illicit Goods launched earlier this year, the INTERPOL Travel Document and cybercrime.

    A groundbreaking initiative by INTERPOL to support the safety and security of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and other major sporting events over the next 10 years was also launched following an agreement with the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee worth USD 10 million.

    With Cartagena, Colombia, hosting INTERPOL’s next General Assembly in 2013, conference delegates closed the event by selecting Monaco as the venue for INTERPOL’s 83rd General Assembly in 2014, which will mark the 100th anniversary of the first International Criminal Police Congress.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nearly 400 victims of child trafficking rescued across Burkina Faso in INTERPOL-led operation

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    22 November 2012

    OUGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso – Nearly 400 child trafficking victims, some as young as six years old, forced to work in illegally-operated gold mines and cotton fields have been rescued following an operation by police in Burkina Faso coordinated by INTERPOL.

    As well as a ‘breathing bag’ (top), a water extraction pipe (bottom left) is needed as the shafts sometimes fill with water. When it rains, the ground becomes unstable and sandbags at the top of the mine can fall in and crush the child below. The bodies of those who cannot be rescued are left down the mines.

    This young boy had been working in the mines for nearly two years. He told police he was grateful to have been rescued and he wanted to go back to school to study.

    The mines are narrow, airless and can be up to 70 metres in depth. Bags are used to form a tube down to the bottom of the mine, with a person at the top fanning air to enable the child at the bottom to breathe.

    Henri Guida Blemin, specialist officer with INTERPOL’s Trafficking in Human Beings unit, speaks to the workers, to find out how they came to be at the mines and about the working conditions.

    The children spend all day down the mine, with no daylight. As a result, their eyes are badly affected and it may take up to two hours for their eyes to clear of the dirt at the end of the day.

    As each mine is emptied, the camp moves forward leaving behind unstable ground which can collapse at any time. When entering the area, police officers use sticks to check the ground before they step forward.

    Led by Superintendent Patience Quaye, 14 officers from Ghana observed Operation Tuy as part of their training in order to carry out similar actions in Ghana in the future.

    The victims have now been returned to their families or taken into care by social services.

    Officers trained in dealing with child exploitation and trafficking interview the victims.

    Children as young as six are forced to work in illegally-operated gold mines. Here, boys at the surface use a rope to pull out a child from the bottom of the mine.

    Information gathered during the operation will help identify and dismantle the criminal networks behind the trafficking and exploitation of children.

    Some 165 police officers, together with officials from customs, social and health services took part in Operation Tuy which targeted sites in Ougadougou, Houndé and Bobo Dioulasso, resulting in 73 individuals being arrested in connection with child trafficking and labour offences.

    During the two-day (29 and 30 October) operation, 387 children were discovered working under extreme conditions, lowered into narrow, airless mining holes up to 70 metres in depth, receiving no salary or education, with young girls often also subjected to sexual abuse. The victims have now been returned to their families or taken into care by social services.

    “This was the largest operation of its kind run in Burkina Faso supported by INTERPOL and its success is a direct result of the commitment and support of the government, police and other agencies,” said Henri Guida Blemin, specialist officer with INTERPOL’s Trafficking in Human Beings unit which helped coordinate the operation.

    “The conditions under which these children are forced to live and work are horrific, and INTERPOL will continue to work closely with all its member countries to identify and stop the exploitation of these innocent victims and help them regain the childhood they deserve,” added Mr Blemin.

    Prior to Operation Tuy, more than 100 officials from the national police, gendarmerie, customs, welfare, water and forestry services took part in a three-day specialist course. Training was provided by specialist officers from the INTERPOL International Trafficking in Human Beings Task Force, including from Canada, the Regional Bureau in Abidjan as well as its National Central Bureau in Ougadougou, in addition to police, health and education specialists from Burkina Faso.

    “The success of the operation is not just about the number of victims rescued, but it is also about making sure the infrastructure and knowledge is in place for this important work to continue, which is why the training is just as important as the fieldwork. If the officers don’t have the skills they cannot do their work and efforts achieved cannot be sustained,” said Mr Blemin.

    “Information gathered during the operation will also help in identifying and dismantling the criminal networks behind this crime at the national, regional and international levels,” he added.

    Tuy is INTERPOL’s fifth operation targeting forced child labour in Africa. Operations Bia (2009), Cascades and Bana (2010) and Bia II (2011) have already led to the rescue of more than 400 children across Central and Western Africa and the arrest of 93 individuals.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: INTERPOL and the European Union join forces for security in Libya

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    29 November 2012

    LYON, France – Senior Libyan officials from the Ministry of the Interior have attended the first meeting of INTERPOL’s Project RELINC (Rebuilding Libya’s Investigative Capability), a European Union-funded initiative to assist Libyan authorities in developing a sustainable capability to identify security threats and investigate criminal and terrorist activity.

    During the four-day meeting (19 – 22 November) at the General Secretariat headquarters, discussions focused on the key components of the project, including provision of access to INTERPOL’s databases at Libya’s border crossing points and the creation of a crime analysis unit within the criminal investigations department.

    Following the 2011 revolution, the project is aimed at supporting Libyan law enforcement in addressing transnational crimes such as trafficking in weapons, drugs and human beings, which generate violence and threaten to destabilize the country and the region.

    The project consists of seven components :

    • Performing a wide assessment of the threats posed to Libya by transnational organized crime and terrorism, to support the Libyan government and police in identifying strategic enforcement objectives;
    • Initiating the building, within the Libyan police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), of a sustainable operational Crime Analysis Unit;
    • Advising the CID to take full operational advantage of the support provided by the future Crime Analysis Unit;
    • Reinforcing the capacity of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Tripoli to make optimal use of the INTERPOL network and policing tools;
    • Establishing remote access to INTERPOL databases in key Libyan law enforcement bodies and at strategic border crossing points;
    • Building a prototype police criminal database within police headquarters to enable the Libyan police to efficiently store and share criminal information;
    • Raising the awareness of and training the Libyan police on the international police cooperation tools and mechanisms provided by INTERPOL.

    The 18-month long project, launched in September 2012, is being run from the Office of the Special Representative of INTERPOL to the European Union, with support from INTERPOL’s Middle East and North Africa unit at the General Secretariat.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Greece to prosecute first maritime piracy case with evidence gathered by INTERPOL team

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    12 December 2012

    LYON, France – Evidence gathered by an INTERPOL Incident Response Team (IRT) following the release of the hijacked oil tanker Irene SL in April 2011 is to be used by Greece in its first maritime piracy prosecution.

    Lieutenant General Papagiannopoulos was shown INTERPOL’s Command and Coordination Centre.

    A delegation from Greece, headed by Chief of the Hellenic Police, Lieutenant General Nikolaos Papagiannopoulos (centre), visited the INTERPOL General Secretariat in Lyon.

    INTERPOL Secretary General, Ronald K. Noble (right), pledged his full support to Greek law enforcement.

    The announcement comes during a meeting between Chief of the Hellenic Police Lieutenant General Nikolaos Papagiannopoulos and INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble at the world police body’s General Secretariat headquarters to identify ways for additional support to be provided to the Greek police.

    The IRT, supported by the South African Police Service and in coordination with European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) and INTERTANKO, was deployed to Durban in South Africa to conduct a crime scene investigation and debriefing of the hostages on board the Irene SL, following its release by Somali pirates 58 days after the vessel was hijacked off the coast of Oman.

    Several of the crew members on board were also able to identify four of their captors from an INTERPOL photo album on maritime piracy, containing images provided by member states and naval forces operating in the Gulf of Aden and the Western Indian Ocean.

    Secretary General Noble said that the case perfectly highlighted the benefits that INTERPOL brings to member countries and how information sharing and a collaborative approach is essential to addressing crime issues anywhere in the world.

    “In these times of financial constraint the added value that INTERPOL and its global network brings to individual countries and global security is even clearer,” said the INTERPOL Chief.

    “INTERPOL will continue to provide every support to Greece, and also calls on the global law enforcement community, countries and regional institutions to identify areas where they can support Greece in meeting the crime challenges which affect us all,” added Mr Noble.

    Lieutenant General Papagiannopoulos said ‘the opportunities for international law enforcement cooperation through INTERPOL help increase the effectiveness of national police services.’

    “Today’s meeting with Secretary General Noble provided us with the opportunity to explore ways of building on our existing cooperation and to identify ways for future development together,” added Mr Papagiannopoulos.

    During his visit, Mr Papagiannopoulos – accompanied by Brigadier General Zacharoula Tsirigoti, Director of the International Police Cooperation Directorate, and Brigadier General Dimitrios Sofios, Deputy Director of the Attika Criminal Investigation Department – was also updated and briefed on a range of INTERPOL’s tools and services including its global database to enhance police cooperation in areas such as combating illegal immigration and trafficking in human beings.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: INTERPOL-Europol operation results in global seizures of fake and illicit food

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    14 December 2012

    A joint INTERPOL-Europol operation targeting fake and substandard food and drink, as well as the organized crime networks behind this illicit trade, has resulted in the seizure of more than 135 tonnes of potentially harmful goods ranging from everyday products of coffee, soup cubes and olive oil, to luxury goods such as truffles and caviar. A further 100 tonnes of misdeclared and/or potentially hazardous food was confiscated during investigations linked to Operation Opson II.

    Raids and inspections resulted in around 100 arrests and the seizure of more than 135 tonnes of potentially harmful goods, including everyday products such as coffee, soup cubes and olive oil.

    Illicit goods are often produced, transported and stored without any form of hygiene controls, putting the health and safety of consumers at risk.

    This year, Opson expanded beyond Europe to include countries in Africa, the Americas and Asia. Inspections were carried out at this warehouse in Thailand.

    A project under development  –  the INTERPOL Global Register  – will enable people to scan and verify the legitimacy of a product from their mobile device.

    Operation Opson targets fake and substandard food and drink and the organized crime networks behind this illicit trade.

    Cash was also seized during Opson II.

    INTERPOL and Europol representatives helped coordinate action in Madrid, Spain.

    Checks and raids were carried out at airports, seaports, shops, markets and private homes.

    The operation was supported by customs (Hungarian customs officers pictured here), national food regulatory bodies and partners from the private sector.

    The Thai Food and Drug Administration displayed the wide variety of goods seized including snacks, canned food, coffee and soft drinks.

    National police in 29 countries took part. Officers in Budapest, Hungary, were briefed on the operation.

    Opson was a week-long operation, coordinated jointly by INTERPOL and Europol.

    Operation Opson II (3 – 9 December), which involved 29 countries from all regions of the world, resulted in the recovery of more than 385,000 litres of counterfeit liquids including vodka, wine, soy sauce and orange juice in addition to fish, seafood and meat declared unfit for human consumption, as well as fake candy bars and condiments.

    With the fake and substandard food and drink often produced, transported and stored without any form of regulation or hygiene controls, consumers buying these illicit goods are risking their health and safety while the criminal networks make millions in profits which can be used to fund other illegal activities such as human and drug trafficking.

    Operation Opson II saw the number of participating countries rise from 10 in 2011 to nearly 30 this year, an increase which, says Simone Di Meo, a Criminal Intelligence Officer with INTERPOL’s Trafficking in Illicit Goods unit, reflects a growing awareness of the problem and involvement by organized crime.

    “With this year’s operation going beyond Europe and involving countries in Africa, the Americas and Asia, this will enable us to gather even more intelligence about the networks behind this criminal activity and potentially identify global links with other types of crime,” says Mr Di Meo.

    Coordinated by INTERPOL and Europol, the week-long operation was supported by customs, police and national food regulatory bodies in addition to partners from the private sector. Checks and raids were carried out at airports, seaports, shops, markets and private homes.

    “With this operation, we are showing the criminal networks involved in this line of business that they are not safe and, just as importantly, we are helping to protect public health and safety. In many cases, the quality of the packaging of the fake food and drink is so well done that consumers may not even be aware that they are buying illicit products and potentially risking their lives,” says Chris Vansteenkiste, Project Manager of the Intellectual Property Crime Team at Europol.

    Among the key aims of Operation Opson (meaning food in ancient Greek) were the development of practical cooperation between national law enforcement, food and drug agencies and private companies, the identification of the organized criminal groups behind the trafficking, and raising awareness among consumers and governments about this type of crime.

    Countries which took part in Operation Opson II are Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and the USA.

    Investigations are continuing in many countries and additional information on national activities can be obtained from the enforcement agencies of the countries concerned.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man jailed for 7 years for rape

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has been jailed for raping a 13-year-old girl following an investigation led by specialist detectives at the Metropolitan Police.

    Sorosh Amini, 21 (14.11.2003), of Station Road, Croydon was sentenced to 7 years in prison on Friday, 27 June at Croydon Crown Court, after previously being convicted of rape and sexual assault.

    He was also issued with a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

    Amini was arrested and charged following a thorough investigation which utilised CCTV footage and specially trained forensic dogs to place him at the scene.

    He left his home address in London the day after the offence. Officers then used phone data and CCTV to locate him in Liverpool and arrested him 5 days later.

    Detective Inspector Donnett Oseni, who led the investigation, said:

    “Amini’s attack on this vulnerable girl was predatory and calculated. He has demonstrated himself to be a dangerous sexual offender and this sentence prevents him from harming anyone else.

    “I want to commend the victim for her courage in coming forward and reporting this offence to us. I hope today’s verdict will bring her and her family some semblance of closure.”

    In August 2024, Amini approached the victim in broad daylight on North End Road in Croydon, persistently tried to engage her in conversation and would not leave her alone when told. He then followed her down North End Road and into an alleyway.

    Here, he forcibly kissed her and tried to put a cannabis joint into her mouth. He also told her that he was friends with someone who recently stabbed a person in the area, making the victim scared that he may have a knife. Amini then raped her.

    The victim reported the assault to police and received safeguarding and support from specialist officers.

    Amini was convicted on Thursday, 1 January following a two-week trial at the same court.

    Under the New Met for London Plan, our mission is to deliver More Trust, Less Crime and High Standards. Central to this is transforming how we prevent harm and tackle violence against women and girls, most often committed by predatory men like Amini.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • Govt revamps Sugamya Bharat App to boost accessibility for divyangjan and elderly

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The central government has revamped the Sugamya Bharat App (SBA), a key initiative aimed at enhancing accessibility for divyangjan and elderly citizens. The updated app features a more intuitive user interface and an AI-powered chatbot, providing real-time assistance and easier access to information on government schemes and initiatives.

    Launched in 2021 by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the app enables users to report accessibility barriers in public infrastructure, transportation, and digital services by uploading geo-tagged photos. These reports help authorities take swift corrective action.

    Since its launch, the app has recorded 2,705 complaints, of which 1,897 have been resolved. As of June 25, 2025, it has over 14,300 registered users and more than 83,700 downloads across Android and iOS platforms.

    The revamped SBA also offers users timely notifications about new accessibility initiatives and integrates details of government schemes supporting persons with disabilities. The government has urged citizens to actively engage with the platform to support its vision of a barrier-free India.

    The Sugamya Bharat App is available on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.