Hereward Holland

Breaking Bad In The Attic: A Dutch City’s Battle Against Secret Amphetamine Labs The tranquil city of Echt is being poisoned by the Netherlands' booming drug trade. As drug labs leak toxic waste, the city's mayor has teamed up with the police chief to contain the cartel-driven ope...

The staff at the Eetcafé Oppe Platz pub in central Echt didn’t know that quiet Tuesday in September 2024 that they had served their last plate of bitterballen, a fried Dutch snack.

But in the pub’s attic, a disaster was quietly unfolding.

@ingridgercama.bsky.social

www.occrp.org/en/feature/b...

Meet the South Pacific Ponzi King With a Bogus Bank — and a Global Fan Club Fugitive Ponzi schemer Noah Musingku reigns over an armed “cargo cult” deep in the interior of one of the world’s most isolated islands. OCCRP went to investigate how he had attracted an international...

Loooooong read: Meet the South Pacific Ponzi King With a Bogus Bank — and a Global Fan Club

www.occrp.org/en/feature/m...

Cocaine and Bananas: How Balkan Traffickers Used Fruit Shipments From the Ecuadorian President's Family Firm to Smuggle Drugs

There's some really clever sleuthing from our reporters and partners in this piece:

Cocaine and Bananas: How Balkan Traffickers Used Fruit Shipments From the Ecuadorian President's Family Firm to Smuggle Drugs
www.occrp.org/en/project/t...

Presenting the first major story in my new role at OCCRP. Huge thanks and congratulations to the many journalists involved.

“You have examples in Spain where the cocaine is buried in the bunkers under the ground,” said Robert Fay from Europol. “Everybody is asking: ‘What the hell has happened?’”

BREAKING: A Madagascar army colonel, who led a mutiny of soldiers that joined anti-government Gen Z protesters, said that the military had taken charge of the African island nation, after President Andry Rajoelina fled the country reut.rs/3KOGdE0

Rwanda sanctions will undermine push for Congo peace talks, proscribed minister says International sanctions against Rwanda will reduce the incentive for Kinshasa to engage in peace talks with M23 rebels who have made lightning advances in eastern Congo this year, a proscribed Rwandan minister has said.

Rwanda sanctions will undermine push for Congo peace talks, proscribed minister says www.reuters.com/world/africa...

Rwanda’s Kabarebe, sanctioned by US over ties to Congo rebels, is Kagame's 'hatchet man' www.reuters.com/world/africa...

UN Security Council to call on Rwanda to pull troops from Congo The United Nations Security Council will vote on Friday to call on Rwanda's military to stop supporting the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and immediately withdraw all troops from Congolese territory "without preconditions."

UN Security Council to call on Rwanda to pull troops from Congo reut.rs/4bdfY3d

Rwanda says DRC criticism of Arsenal, Bayern and PSG deals threatens regional peace Rwanda on Thursday described recent criticism of its Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain sponsorship deals by the Democratic Republic of Congo’s foreign minister as a threat to regional peace and stability.

Rwanda says DRC criticism of Arsenal, Bayern and PSG deals threatens regional peace reut.rs/3CPBqhY

Somalia says its army, allied militias repel al Shabaab attacks, kill more than 130 Somalia said on Thursday its army and allied clan militias have fought off coordinated raids on villages by the Islamist al Shabaab armed group in the country's south, killing more than 130 attackers.

Somalia says its army, allied militias repel al Shabaab attacks, kill more than 130 reut.rs/4hKJGPq

US sanctions Rwandan minister, militant over DRC conflict, says Treasury The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday imposed sanctions on a Rwandan government minister and a senior member of an armed group for their alleged role in the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to a statement.

US sanctions Rwandan minister, militant over DRC conflict, says Treasury www.reuters.com/world/us-san...

Burundi's army is withdrawing from DR Congo, four sources say Burundian soldiers, who have been fighting Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, were pulling out following the fall of the city of Bukavu, four sources, including a Burundian army officer and two U.N. officials, said on Tuesday.

Burundian soldiers, who have been fighting Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, were pulling out following the fall of the city of Bukavu, four sources, including a Burundian army officer and two U.N. officials, said on Tuesday. www.reuters.com/world/africa...

Congo's defeated foreign mercenaries head home with 'big relief' Nearly 300 foreign mercenaries hired by the Democratic Republic of Congo government to counter a swift offensive by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in the east have surrendered and were on their way home on Wednesday.

Nearly 300 foreign mercenaries hired by the Democratic Republic of Congo government to counter an offensive by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in the east have surrendered and were on their way home on Wednesday. www.reuters.com/world/africa...

With fear and fist-bumps, Goma residents greet Congo's M23 rebels again Residents greeted the arrival of Rwanda-backed rebels with trepidation, some staying indoors and others coming out to cheer in what one called a "show" of happiness.

With fear and fist-bumps, Goma residents greet Congo's M23 rebels again www.reuters.com/world/africa...

More than 100 dead dolphins found on Somali coast, cause a mystery www.reuters.com/world/africa...

Somalia's Jubbaland government suspends ties with federal administration The government of Somalia's semi-autonomous Jubbaland state said on Thursday it was suspending relations and cooperation with the federal government in Mogadishu following a dispute over local elections in the region.

The government of Somalia's semi-autonomous Jubbaland state said on Thursday it was suspending relations and cooperation with the federal government in Mogadishu following a dispute over local elections in the region. www.reuters.com/world/africa...

A prominent Ugandan opposition politician was kidnapped during a book launch in Kenya over the weekend, transferred to Uganda and is being held at a military jail in Kampala, his wife said on Wednesday.

Somaliland opposition leader Abdirahman Cirro defeated incumbent president Muse Bihi Abdi in last week's election, the electoral commission said on Tuesday, setting up a leadership change as the breakaway Somali region pushes for global recognition.

Egyptian warship delivers more arms to Somalia, officials say An Egyptian warship has delivered a second major cache of weaponry to Somalia including anti-aircraft guns and artillery, port and military officials said on Monday, in a move likely to stoke further friction between the two countries and Ethiopia.

Egyptian warship delivers more arms to Somalia, officials say www.reuters.com/world/africa...

Tanzania arrests opposition leaders to thwart protest www.reuters.com/world/africa...

Strike at Kenya's main airport causing flight delays, cancellations, Kenya Airways says reut.rs/4egC9FH

Kenyan court halts proposed Adani lease of country's main airport

Alleged killer of Ugandan Olympian Cheptegei dies from burns, hospital says reut.rs/4d19YJS

Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine shot in leg, his party says reut.rs/47c8Rpr

Egypt sends arms to Somalia following security pact, sources say www.reuters.com/world/africa...