Crime Monthly Dec 2025: Drugs, Chocolate, and Stolen Cars
Happy New Year
Dear Readers,
I wanted to thank you for subscribing. I am flattered that what started as a little project has matured. I am excited that Curing Crime is growing and welcoming new contributors. I have always wished this to be a collaborative enterprise.
Crime Monthly is a great way to recognise other writers and try to share their work. I really hope some of you click on these posts; they are well worth reading.
I wanted to wish you all happy holidays and a Happy New Year! A last minute root canal - stopped me from sending this earlier (and the final set of edits).
As many of you know, I had surgery last November.
I also started an experimental treatment to try to eliminate some of my NF-related tumours. It has been a wild end of the year. Below you can read about my genetic condition and how I have used it to enrich my craft as a teacher.
I had planned to post every week, but I have failed. During the year, I decided to take August off, which I think is healthy. I also missed some weeks. I will try to do better in 2026.
Both Crime Monthly and Beyond the Archives have been successful, valuable, and great fun, so I look forward to continuing with them. I am so very pleased to end the year with a post that celebrates (and hopefully drives traffic to) other writers and thinkers.
Crime, Corruption, and Drugs
Chris Dalby shares the fascinating investigation into the activities of former Deputy Chief of the DEA’s Office of Financial Operations, Paul Campo. After retiring, Campo opened a private advisory firm. Soon thereafter, he allegedly started working for a drug cartel. Campo and Robert Sensi have been charged with “conspiracy to launder millions of dollars.”
Since then, an audit has found a series of irregularities during his tenure.
Recently, we published a short article arguing that, in the current political climate, too much attention is being paid to certain kinds of crimes. In this case, the very same people in charge of enforcing the law were involved in breaking it.
Deadly Delights: Poisonous Treats
A timely post for a festive time. Dr Angela Buckley That succinctly summarises “confectionery-related crimes”. These cases of poisoned chocolates, cakes, and treats will make you think.
We applaud the way in which the The Detective's Notebook weaves historical detail into cogent arguments.
Stolen Cars and International Car Trade
We are featuring a second post published at World of Crime Newsletter because it places a crime in an international context in an engaging and informative way.
There is a market for stolen high-end cars. The thieves use military-grade technology, violence, and threats to steal cars. The stolen vehicles reach West Africa in mere weeks. Upon arrival, they are sold and sometimes used to carry weapons.
Mistakes, Extortion, Exploitation and Teen Boys
This is a harrowing read. This is the present, and not history. I am distraught, sad, and angry. We are failing our youth.
Joni E. Johnston, Psy.D.’s post describes this horrible ordeal and provides valuable advice on how to protect young adults and teens.
Tate was fifteen. By all accounts, he had a good, healthy relationship with his parents, who encouraged him to speak to them about anything.
He was baited by criminals who sought to extort money.
The scammers knew the names of people he knew and were familiar with his social network. They approached him, impersonating a girl and got him to exchange photos.
Then, they asked for money.
They threatened the young boy.
They told him that unless he paid, his life would be over.
For 143 minutes, they message.
When they realised he could not pay.
They bullied him even more.
During the last twenty minutes of his life, they messaged him every ten seconds.
They pushed Tate to kill himself.
And Tate did.
The post also mentioned a network known as 764. There, people share and celebrate (what the actual fuck!) the pain they cause others.
I have worked as a secondary teacher, and it breaks my heart to read this. Yes, there are other tragedies, yes, there are other problems to address. But here is an instance where we can do better, but we are not doing enough. Teens, especially teenage boys, are particularly vulnerable, and it is our responsibility to provide them with the tools to thrive even when they make mistakes.
Once again, Happy New Year. I can’t wait to share with you what we got planned for next year.