Latest news with #narcotics
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Philippine Navy seizes RM744m meth haul in one of nation's biggest drug busts
MANILA, June 20 — The Philippine Navy seized an illegal drug shipment worth 10 billion pesos (RM744 million) today in one of the country's biggest narcotics hauls on record, officials said. A pair of naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of main island Luzon just before dawn, Commodore Edward de Sagon told a news conference. Four people, including one foreigner, were arrested in the joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, according to de Sagon. 'We still don't have the details of where (the drugs originated),' he said, saying they believed the haul had been transferred from a larger vessel to the fishing ship. 'That was when it was intercepted. There was information and (manoeuvres) that made us suspicious,' de Sagon said. Navy spokesman John Percie Alcos said it was 'one of the largest illegal drug apprehensions in the history of the Philippine Navy'. Meth, known locally as shabu, is the most prevalent illegal drug in the Philippines. Today's haul follows the seizure of nearly 1.3 tonnes of meth valued at about US$152 million (RM646 million) in recent weeks, according to the presidential palace. 'The illegal drugs were turned over by fishermen who found them in sealed packages left floating in waters off Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Cagayan (northern provinces),' the palace said in a statement. The Philippines' biggest-ever drug seizure came in April last year when more than two tonnes of meth was seized at a police checkpoint on a road in Batangas province south of the capital, according to the presidential palace. — AFP
The National
3 hours ago
- The National
UAE foils major drug trafficking attempt linked to international network
The UAE's Ministry of Interior has arrested two men accused of smuggling thousands of narcotic pills into the country. Police were monitoring the two suspects before raiding two key locations during the operation. The first raid caught the accused at a site used to store narcotic pills while they were unloading and preparing for distribution within the country. Mechanical construction equipment including an excavator machine, in which another quantity was hidden, was seized at a second site. 'The two Arab nationals have connections to an international drug trafficking network,' the ministry said in a statement on Friday. 'The suspects were caught in one location that was used to store the narcotic pills. The pills were extracted from the excavator and they were packing them to be distributed inside the UAE.' A global network During interrogation, the suspects admitted to having other partners who prepared and smuggled the shipment from Hamburg, Germany, to one of the UAE's ports. 'One of the suspects had entered the country on a visit visa to oversee the operation.' The ministry didn't disclose details of the suspects or the type of narcotics. According to the ministry, the suspects confessed that the ringleader resides outside the UAE and is responsible for financing and coordinating the entire operation. A senior official at the ministry emphasised the importance of international co-operation in the fight against drug trafficking, to stop overseas criminal networks. While the investigation is still continuing, the ministry said that it will chase the other suspects who are outside the country in collaboration with international agencies through the appropriate legal channels. Earlier this week, Sharjah Police announced that an attempt to distribute 3.5 million Captagon pills had been successfully thwarted. The illegal stimulant pills, totalling about 585 kilograms, were believed to have a street value of Dh19 million. Their seizure came at the culmination of an operation known as Bottom of Darkness, the anti-narcotics department at Sharjah Police General Command said.
Khaleej Times
5 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE foils drug smuggling attempt by 2 suspects linked to international network
UAE thwarted an attempt to distribute narcotic pills within the country, after monitoring the suspicious activity of two individuals of Arab nationality. Investigations confirmed their links to an international network for drug smuggling and trafficking. The two accused admitted that they had partners who prepared the shipment and smuggled it from Hamburg to one of the country's ports. One of them came to the country on a visit visa specifically to complete this mission. He added that the mastermind of the network resides outside the country and is the one who finances and manages the entire operation. The competent security services were able to raid two sites, one of which was used to store narcotic pills while the accused were unloading and preparing them for distribution within the country. The other site was where a mechanical construction equipment (excavator) was seized, in which another quantity was hidden, based on confidential information obtained by the task force.
Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Cops bust drug ring using rented cars, hotels to avoid detection
Sepang police chief Norhizam Bahaman said the suspects earned about RM1,600 for each drug delivery. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Police have busted a drug trafficking syndicate that used rented cars and hotel rooms for the past nine years to avoid being detected by the cops. Sepang police chief Norhizam Bahaman said a married couple and two men, aged between 27 and 39, were arrested in an operation at 6pm on Wednesday. In addition to seizing various types of drugs, the cops also confiscated two rented cars that they believe the syndicate used for drug trafficking, Bernama reported. 'All four suspects are believed to have been active in drug trafficking activities since 2016, and they are believed to have used rented cars to distribute the drugs. 'They are also believed to have rented hotels as accommodation to avoid being detected by the authorities,' he said, adding that the suspects earned about RM1,600 for each drug delivery. Two of the suspects have criminal records, including for narcotics-related cases, while all three men tested positive for drugs. The woman tested negative.
RNZ News
14 hours ago
- RNZ News
Pacific news in brief for 20 June 2025
An NGO carrying out testing on drugs at an event - including this this bag of cocaine, in Colombia, in 2021. Photo: AFP/ Juan Pablo Pino The French Directorate General of Customs says 67 kilograms of cocaine has been seized in New Caledonia between April and May this year. Local media reported the operation resulted in the discovery of more than 500 kilograms of narcotics at various ports across the region. New Caledonia and French Polynesia Customs took part in a joint operation with the Australian Border Force, New Zealand Customs, the US Homeland Security Investigations and Jamaica. At the end of March this year, 142 kilograms of cocaine was seized in French Polynesia. It was found packed in insulation panels of a refrigerated container bound for Australia. Fiji police have reported 105 cases of family violence against women and children for May 2025. More than 200 women had crimes committed against them - 11 percent of these were sexual offences and 89 percent were assault-related. Seventy-two of those crimes were from a spouse or partner. One hundred and 14 children had crimes done against them and more than two-thirds of those were sexual offences. Five police officers were charged with offences during the month - including one facing charges of unlawful supply and import of illicit drugs. Police said there was a 14 per cent reduction in overall crime which is ahead of its 10 per cent target. The Fijian Elections Office says FJ$44,000 - about US$20,000 - in temporary worker payments from the 2018 General Election remain unpaid. FBC reported this has come to light during the Public Accounts Committee submission on the election office's 2021-2022 Audit Report. The election office's financial controller said the delay was caused by incomplete employee information for some of the 12,000 temporary election workers. The office said they are closely coordinating with the Fiji National Provident Fund to verify the remaining employee data to fast-track this process. The mining company New Porgera is celebrating achieving its production targets, despite the impact of continuing lawlessness and a devastating landslide in the region. The new company, run by Barrick Gold, but with a significant PNG Government shareholding, replaced the former company after a lease dispute shut it down for more than three years. The Porgera region of Enga Province experienced the devastating Mulitaka landslide, which claimed many lives and shut the main road link out of the district. There have also been extensive law and order issues that resulted in a state of emergency being implemented, and dozens of arrests being made, many for illegal mining within the mine pit. The Papua New Guinea Correctional Service has signed an agreement with the Department of Education which will see education and training programmes rolled out in jails across the country. NBC reported that the memorandum highlights the vital role education plays in restoring dignity, instilling hope, and creating opportunities for those seeking a second chance. The rollout of structured learning and skills training within prisons is expected to transform lives behind bars. Acting corrections commissioner Bernard Nepo called the initiative a lifeline for inmates.
