"The first offence is dealing with live wildlife species without a permit, and then there are other charges that have been added, particularly the third charge that relates to conspiracy to commit a felony, which carries a sentence of up to 7 years imprisonment," said David Namai, lawyer for Zhang Kequn.

According to prosecutors, the two were arrested on March 10, 2026, while in possession of approximately 2,000 ants stored in test tubes, with hundreds more concealed in tissue rolls.

The six men he named are Les Wexner, founder of Victoria’s Secret; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO of Dubai-based DP World ; Salvatore Nuara; Zurab Mikeladze; Leonic Leonov; and Nicola Caputo.

Khanna said he and Republican Congressman Thomas Massie reviewed unredacted Epstein records during a visit to the US Department of Justice . He claimed that between 70 and 80 percent of the files remain blacked out, despite a law requiring most of the material to be released.

“Why did it take us going to the Justice Department to get these names public?” Khanna asked during his remarks, suggesting more information may still be hidden.

The files were released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law last year. The law allows redactions mainly to protect the identities of victims.

Massie later said that appearing in the files does not prove anyone committed a crime . He noted that inclusion in investigative documents does not automatically mean guilt.

The Justice Department has defended its handling of the records. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department has unredacted all non-victim names and is committed to transparency.

Jeffrey Epstein was convicted in 2008 of procuring a minor for prostitution and was later arrested again in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. He died in a New York jail while awaiting trial.

According to the files, investigators flagged Kenya and Somalia as locations associated with paedophile activity, while Tanzania and Senegal were identified as transit points used in Epstein’s international movements. Coastal areas such as Malindi in Kenya were mentioned as places frequented by individuals connected to the network 

Several emails contained in the files suggest Epstein coordinated travel to Kenya involving young women, some described in the correspondence as “finally turning legal.” In other exchanges, associates discussed arranging “safaris” and “internships,” language that experts say can be used to mask trafficking activity.

One email from 2013 references Epstein’s communication with a Kenyan businessman who said he was attending the inauguration of then-President Uhuru Kenyatta. While the correspondence itself does not allege criminal conduct by Kenyan officials, it illustrates Epstein’s proximity to influential figures and international events.

Other messages, some written jokingly, included disturbing references to bringing children from Kenya. Investigators say such language reflects common patterns in trafficking networks, where casual wording is used to obscure exploitation.

The documents also point to Tanzania’s role as a transit hub, with Epstein’s associates visiting high-end destinations such as Mnemba Island. Children from Ethiopia , Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan were allegedly trafficked through regional ports, including Mombasa, according to investigative records cited in the files.

The released material does not accuse governments in the region of wrongdoing.

Investigators describe the case as one of the most complex financial crime probes they have handled, with about 95% of the work taking place behind desks rather than on the streets. At the centre of the operation was an elaborate scheme to move money stolen from victims in foreign countries.

Instead of transferring funds directly back to South Africa, investigators say the scammers routed transactions through hundreds, possibly thousands, of bank accounts across multiple jurisdictions.

The money would circulate through a web of accounts and front companies overseas, making it harder for authorities to trace its origins. Only after being filtered through this system would the funds return to South Africa, appearing “clean” and disconnected from the original crime.

Professional networks and front companies

Analysts spent years mapping company ownership, tracking banking flows and identifying connections between suspected scammers and professional intermediaries. Investigators looked at links involving accountants, lawyers, property purchases, luxury vehicles and international travel patterns, all used to disguise the profits of fraud.

The laundering process, sources say, relied heavily on legitimate-looking structures that helped integrate criminal proceeds into the formal economy .

Infiltrating the scam call centres

The case also involved covert intelligence operations. Operatives were deployed to infiltrate call centres allegedly used to run scams targeting people abroad. Once inside, investigators tracked individual agents, their movement through the organisation and their sudden lifestyle upgrades.

“Call centre agents would start with a medium-range saloon,” one source said. “Soon, an expensive SUV followed and top-tier swindlers were buying supercars worth millions.”

Authorities say the luxury spending was often accompanied by high-end property portfolios, champagne lifestyles and lavish displays of wealth. Investigators say the raids were only the final step in an extensive process that combined forensic accounting, cyber analysis and intelligence work over the years.

Instead of smuggling goods or running street operations, investigators say these networks depend on digital fraud, global banking loopholes and professional laundering systems.

Indonesian police in West Java detained about a dozen suspects in mid-2025, accusing them of running an illegal network that allegedly trafficked newborn babies, mainly to Singapore. Local authorities believe the syndicate had been operating since 2023 and may have moved at least 25 infants.

Singaporean authorities said they have asked Indonesia’s police and social affairs ministry to share investigation findings and are assisting with inquiries at Indonesia’s request. The police are also checking information related to three Singaporeans allegedly linked to the case.

While investigations continue, some adoption-related processes in Singapore have been affected. Officials said citizenship applications for children linked to the case have been delayed, and adoptive parents are being engaged to explain the situation.

The Singapore government acknowledged the anxiety caused to families involved and said it is working to resolve cases as quickly as possible while safeguarding the welfare of the children.

Both governments say the review aims to ensure that adoption processes are lawful, transparent and focused on the best interests of the children, while holding any individuals involved in trafficking fully accountable.

Hegseth praised the deployment of Stryker platoons working alongside US Border Patrol agents as part of efforts to tighten security along the Mexican border, framing the operations as essential to protecting national safety. The secretary also announced the new Defence Medal, intended to formally recognise personnel serving in these missions.

The comments come amid rising tensions with Mexico, whose president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has reiterated that the country will not permit the deployment of US troops on its territory under the banner of anti-narcotics operations. Despite this, multiple US media outlets report that Washington has already begun planning for a mission that would send American troops and intelligence officers into Mexico to target cartel networks more directly.

Meanwhile, Washington has acknowledged carrying out dozens of strikes on alleged Venezuela n drug-smuggling vessels since September, in operations that have reportedly killed at least 70 people. Venezuela has denied the accusations of trafficking and dismissed the military actions as “imperialist”, accusing the United States of pursuing destabilisation and attempting to force political change in the country.

His portfolio included high-end hotels, ambitious property developments, and a collection of London estates reportedly worth over $130 million. To the public, Chen was a symbol of modern Asian entrepreneurship and a man who built billions through luxury and innovation.

But that narrative has collapsed.

In October 2025, the United States and the United Kingdom jointly launched one of the largest cybercrime crackdowns in history, accusing Chen and his associates of running a transnational criminal network that profited from human trafficking, online scams, and crypto fraud.

More than 146 individuals and companies were sanctioned, and assets worth billions, including real estate and digital currencies , were frozen. Investigators traced the flow of money from fake job ads, romance scams, and crypto schemes back to Chen’s network in Cambodia and beyond.

Authorities allege that behind the façade of luxury developments and high-finance operations lies a vast web of “scam compounds” across Southeast Asia. Trafficked workers from across the region were forced to run online fraud under threats of violence, generating billions of dollars in illicit profits.