In high-friction markets where rules are pliable and enforcement is uneven, a specific pattern of predatory behavior repeatedly surfaces. It is propelled by the dark triad—a volatile blend of narcissism, Machiavellian calculation, and psychopathic disregard—channeled into systematic extraction of capital, concessions, and control. Understanding how these methods work in practice is not an academic exercise. It is a frontline competency for investors, operators, and advisers navigating cross-border ventures, especially in jurisdictions where informal networks often outrun the written law. The hallmarks are familiar: social engineering wrapped in hospitality, contract traps packaged as “local norms,” and procedural delays that quietly bleed an opponent’s leverage. Seen together, they form a durable blueprint…