Global Scans · Crime · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Crime is morphing away from traditional methods to more sophisticated technological approaches. A decline of traditional hierarchical criminal groups and networks will be accompanied by the expansion of a virtual criminal underground made up of individual criminal entrepreneurs. At the same time, forward-looking agencies are equipping themselves with smart technologies to outfox the criminals. Keep up to date with crime changes below.

• [New] Even relatively small criminal gangs will target Samsung's code repositories (possibly for ransomware or resale). Risk Intelligence Service
• [New] Mexico Security Concerns: In Mexico, the biggest risk very likely remains ubiquitous cartel-related crime. ZeroFOX
• [New] Growing volatility in the organized crime ecosystem will likely fuel an increase in violence throughout the rest of Trump's term, potentially undermining any short-term improvements achieved through hardline approaches. Acled
• [New] While CCE is likely to become an increasingly important route to youth crime and violence, almost nothing is known about which interventions might be effective. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] 2026's World Cup - taking place across the United States, Canada and Mexico - is likely to be subject to a number of acts of cyber terrorism, while the use of drones could fuel domestic, physical terrorism. City AM
• [New] The United States faces an increasingly complex and unpredictable terrorism landscape. Center for Strategic and International Studies
• [New] Police services across Canada have recently warned of an increase in distraction thefts occurring in parking lots, shopping centers, and other busy areas. CNW Group
• [New] A terrorist attack on U.S. soil might rally Americans and lead to escalation against Iran, making it harder for Iran to achieve a favorable war settlement. Center for Strategic and International Studies
• [New] Under Trump's executive order, the U.S. government will consolidate Bitcoin seized from criminal and civil forfeitures, holding it as a reserve asset-similar to how gold or petroleum reserves are maintained. Backpack Exchange
• [New] DOJ lawsuits against 30 states for private voter data, federal investigations, threats of criminal charges, seizures of voting materials, DOJ requests for names of election workers, and even raids of election offices are increasingly being used to intimidate election administrators. Issue One
• [New] Spies will scour gaming platforms and social media for extremist content in a bid to clamp down on terrorist activity across Australia. SBS News
• [New] Singapore has a reasonable understanding of financial crime risks from companies here, but has a weaker grasp when it comes to foreign trusts, unregistered foreign companies and more complex company structures. ST
• [New] China's singular crime is to have built an economy larger than the United States, with industrial breadth and depth that the United States not only does not possess but cannot hope to emulate. Pearls and Irritations
• [New] Uncertainty regarding the future of global terrorism is increasing, bringing greater risk of surprise. Center for Strategic and International Studies
• [New] Fifa World Cup matches set to be held across the United States face heightened terrorism risks, with experts warning that vulnerabilities are being amplified by the US-Israel conflict with Iran and a depletion of counter-terrorism expertise within federal law enforcement. Counter Extremism Project
• [New] An Australian Government commissioned report described the risk of Australians under 18 being radicalised to engage in terrorist acts as 'significant and likely to continue'. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Tamaulipas state is designated by the US State Department with a level four do not travel warning due to extreme dangers of crime and kidnapping. / Mexico Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)
• [New] The attacks on Gaza's police force further threaten the distribution of aid while the Palestinian enclave continues to struggle with a humanitarian crisis. Al Jazeera
• [New] Pacific Police Ministers further acknowledged that effective transnational organised crime disruption depends on stronger policy coherence across national, sectoral and regional frameworks and that the Thematic Advisory Group on Peace and Security provides an opportunity to strengthen coordination. Mirage News
• [New] The Singapore Police Force has warned of a sharp rise in sophisticated impersonation frauds, citing a recent incident where scammers staged a fabricated Zoom meeting impersonating senior government officials. Fintech Singapore
• [New] There is a widening spectrum of risks to UK and international security, from grey-zone tactics and illicit economies to transnational organised crime, terrorism, hostile state activity, and growing nuclear salience. GOV.UK

Last updated: 06 June 2026