Key Takeaways:- Geopolitics of Fentanyl: In 2025, the Trump administration elevated the opioid crisis to a top-tier national security issue, successfully leveraging aggressive tariffs to secure a breakthrough agreement with China on precursor export controls during the APEC Summit. - The "Fourth Wave" & Global Spread: While U.S. fentanyl deaths dropped by 30% due to supply interdiction and naloxone distribut...

Key Takeaways:- Geopolitical & Criminal Fusion: The proliferation of "scam compounds" in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos is driven by the migration of Chinese organized crime into authoritarian states, where they leverage citizenship-by-investment schemes and post-pandemic real estate distress to establish secure criminal enclaves. - Corporate-Style Evolution: These criminal enterprises have evolved into multina...

Key Takeaways:- Digital Transformation: Illegal drug trafficking has evolved from physical, face-to-face transactions to highly anonymous, borderless operations centered on digital platforms like social media, messenger apps, and the dark web.- Organized Crime Expansion: Criminal organizations have migrated their illicit enterprises online, using these platforms to diversify profits, lower risks, and operate globally...