A cannabis Ponzi scheme, Russian satellites in Geneva, and the UN under Israeli fire
Issue 1 of the EBU Investigative Journalism Network newsletter
Welcome to the first edition of the EBU Investigative Journalism Network’s newsletter! Here you can find top investigative stories from your peers in newsrooms around Europe, discover cross-border projects, and find upcoming events.
We have a packed first edition, where you can read how Swiss TV found out about Russian spies setting up antennas on their UN mission in Geneva, check out a visual investigation on the Israeli attacks on UNIFIL bases in Lebanon, and follow Swedish Radio's investigation into how asbestos contamination is still rampant despite a 40-year old ban on its use. Read below for these and other stories.
Juicy Fields, an investment platform for medical cannabis, or “crowd growing initiative” went live in 2020, promising sky-high returns. But, as the new investigation from DR unveiled, the company was run by a Russian mafia group based in St. Petersburg, which has been involved in multiple other European scams. Through Juicy Fields, they scammed 186,000 people before they disappeared with nearly €650 million in 2022.
Several asbestos removal companies that have lost their permits due to unsafe working conditions keep operating, a Swedish Radio investigation reveals. By shifting operations to subsidiaries, the owners of the companies can continue business, employing the same staff, managers, and following the same routines under a different name.
The permanent mission of the Russian Federation to the UN has installed seven large satellite dishes on their building in Geneva, at least four of them without authorization, according to Swiss outlet RTS. Russian spies based in the area have carried out intelligence operations, sabotage, and assassination attempts, according to this investigation.
At least four Israeli military operations have hit directly inside or immediately next to clearly identified UN posts, the EBU’s visual investigation shows. Using open-source footage, eyewitness media, and official sources, this analysis also shows that the IDF appears to be clearing the area along the Blue Line, as part of its operation “Northern Arrows” against Hezbollah operatives, weapons, and resources.
In this joint investigation, our Lithuanian member LRT, together with Delfi Estonia and Central European VSquare, mapped Russia’s military presence on the border of Poland and the Baltic states. Based on satellite images, OSINT, and intelligence sources, the journalists found proof of training for sabotage attacks and a new nuclear threat near the border of NATO.
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