News briefing, week beginning 22 September

200 kilograms of heroin, 1.3 tonnes of cannabis and 599 kilograms of cocaine were seized and 1150 people were arrested, following Operation Archimedes coordinated by Europol across Europe. Mexican drug cartels have begun trafficking cocaine directly from Southern America, displacing the Colombian middlemen. The European Union and the United Nations pledged their continued support for…

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News briefing – week beginning September 8th

The Global Commission on Drug Policy released a report stating that drug control is out of hand, calling for a shift towards decriminalisation and regulation of most illegal drugs, while cracking down on violent drug gangs. Following a three-year investigation in New Brunswick, Canada, 28 people were arrested, disrupting a major organised crime and drug…

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News briefing – week beginning Monday 11 August

•California Assembly votes  to reduce penalties for the sale of crack cocaine •South African cabinet minister under investigation for alleged involvement with cocaine-smuggling syndicate •Argentine Supreme Court Judge announces national rise in drug-trafficking operations •An international drug-smuggling and money-laundering ring was dismantled in the Dominican Republic •A 78-year old US doctor was found guilty of…

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News briefing – week beginning Monday 28 July

• The New York Times started debate on the end of marijuana prohibition. • A French counternarcotics officer was arrested near the Spanish border after 51kgs of cocaine “disappeared” from Paris HQ • UK Border Force discovers 40kgs of cocaine aboard container vessel used to transport bananas • The US courier firm FedEx pleaded not…

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News briefing – week beginning Monday 21 July

Kentucky senator proposes tougher US cocaine-sentencing laws UK government survey shows significant increase in domestic drug use over 10-year period •A Puerto Rico-based cocaine trafficking ring faced drug charges in the US • Bulgaria’s State Agency for National Security announced the dismantlement of a major heroin-trafficking group • In Los Angeles, a smuggler was sentenced…

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