Advertisement
Advertisement
TOPIC

Drugs

Drugs
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Drugs. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is seen at Downtown Manhattan Heliport, New York, on January 5 after his capture in Caracas. Photo: Reuters
United States

Venezuela’s Maduro, wife due back in US court in drug trafficking case

Maduro’s lawyers intend to argue that he should be immune from prosecution as head of state, ahead of a possible trial starting in June 2027.

United States

US jails Mexican drug kingpin ‘El Mayo’ for life

Crime in Hong Kong

3 arrested after 131kg of ketamine disguised as sugar cubes found in air cargo

US-China relations

Senate bill seeks to curb US reliance on China in drug industry

Lawmakers want more transparency around foreign influence in the sector, saying there’s no reason to allow rival to control supply chain.

There are growing concerns over American dependence on China for drug ingredients and medical supply chains. Photo: Getty Images
US-China relations

2 men sentenced for roles in trafficking fentanyl analogues from China to the US

Accused were among nine individuals charged and convicted for their part in importing more than one metric tonne of drugs into the US.

videocam
5
Thailand

Thai PM warns may ‘shut down’ cannabis industry after global smuggling spike

Four years after decriminalisation, a wave of international drug busts could force Asia’s only legal cannabis market to recriminalise.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Anti-drug video fiasco not a vote of confidence in Hong Kong’s AI goals

If the authorities can’t use the technology appropriately for one video, one wonders how they can address other concerns posed by artificial intelligence.

videocam
The Correctional Services Department twice pulled an anti-drug video featuring an AI-generated K-pop girl group after internet users said it looked more like a drugs promotion campaign. Photo: Facebook / Correctional Services Department
Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police seize HK$120m of cocaine hidden in 3-tonne metal containers

Officers raid Yuen Long warehouse and arrest three men cutting open containers with tools.

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong cocaine haul hits 361kg in days after police raid another yacht

Narcotics bureau officers raid 20-foot yacht moored near boats targeted in earlier operation and arrest woman.

Hong Kong

Video | Anti-drug video pulled over claims it promotes drug use

Internet users have been posting selfies, sticker packs and song parodies mocking the video’s AI-generated K-pop girl band.

Internet users have been posting selfies, sticker packs and song parodies mocking the video’s AI-generated K-pop girl band
01:45
Trending in China

‘You are a hero’: Yunnan’s sole female anti-drug chief champions women in drug war

Li believes male and female officers perform equally vital roles; she is determined to ensure no drug criminals escape her watch.

Officer Li Xiangli, above, is Yunnan’s only female anti-drug station chief, overseeing a crucial border gateway adjacent to the Golden Triangle. Photo: Xinhua
Crime in Hong Kong

3 held as Hong Kong police seize HK$180m of suspected cocaine at typhoon shelter

Mastermind and two key syndicate members are arrested in city’s largest drug bust in 12 months.

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong prison service pulls AI K-pop video after anti-drug message backfires

Beautiful AI-generated virtual K-pop girl group appears to be promoting use of illegal substances, not discouraging it, social media users say.

videocam
5
China-Latin America relations

China extends hand to Colombia’s Trump-backed president-elect

Beijing offers to work with de la Espriella in spite of his firm’s legal clash over the metro with a Chinese group and his US realignment vow.

videocam
Abelardo de la Espriella speaks to supporters from behind bullet-proof glass after preliminary results showed him narrowly winning Colombia’s presidential run-off election. Photo: AFP
Australia

Australia makes record cocaine bust after 2.7 tonnes found buried in Sydney

The largest cocaine haul in Australian history was found stored in plastic tubs and hidden in underground bunkers in a Greater Sydney suburb.

Australian police display the 2.7 tonnes of cocaine seized in Sydney on Saturday. Photo: Australian Federal Police/AFP
Americas and the Caribbean

Trump-backed ‘El Tigre’ wins Colombia presidential election

Abelardo de la Espriella narrowly secures a hard-right victory, promising an ‘iron fist’ security campaign against cartels.

Americas and the Caribbean

Colombians vote for president amid corruption fears, polarisation

Conservative businessman Abelardo de la Espriella and leftist senator and heir to the outgoing president Iván Cepeda have traded insults and accusations of election fraud.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Americas and the Caribbean

How did a Venezuelan school dropout become a crime boss on the US hit list?

Guerrero Flores, known as the ‘child warrior’, led the powerful Tren de Aragua gang before his demise in a raid announced by Trump on Friday.

Soldiers raid the Tocoron Penitentiary Centre, where the Tren de Aragua gang originated, in Venezuela in September 2023. Photo: AP
Crime in Hong Kong

Police seize HK$7.2m of drugs, target syndicate recruiting using online gaming

Two of four arrested suspects recruited by syndicate through gaming platforms to help run drug packaging and distribution, force says.

United States

US expects to finish Trump’s Mexico border wall by next year

Traffickers are already using drones and other workarounds to spot patrols and move drugs across the barrier.

US-China relations

Trump urged to press Xi on Chinese money laundering tied to Mexican cartels

Congressional hearing witnesses encourage US president to tackle alleged fentanyl supply chain crisis linked to Chinese money laundering.

videocam
Bags of heroin, laced with fentanyl, on display in New York. The ongoing fentanyl crisis in America has killed thousands. Photo: Getty Images/TNS
Crime in Hong Kong

Police arrest man after Tesla rams parked vehicle in latest drug-driving case

Hong Kong police have detained at least four drivers suspected of being under the influence of drugs in less than a week.

Police arrested the driver after his car slammed into a parked vehicle on Hoi Fai Road. Photo: Handout
China’s private sector

Which company could become the Chinese Pfizer? Here are analysts’ top picks

A boom in outlicensing agreements leads to a debate over which Chinese firms may be first to break into overseas markets with own brands.

The Philippines

Philippine lawmaker charged with corruption to surrender

Senator Jinggoy Estrada has strongly denied allegations that he received more than 570 million pesos (US$9.3 million) in kickbacks.

videocam
Americas and the Caribbean

Behind bulletproof glass: pro-Trump showman has edge in Colombia presidential race

Abelardo de la Espriella to face Ivan Cepeda in June 21 run-off following a violent and highly polarised first-round.

Abelardo De La Espriella gestures towards supporters after the results of the first round of the presidential election. Photo: Reuters
The Philippines

Philippine lawmaker surrenders, posts bail after court orders his arrest

This will allow Senator Jinggoy Estrada to remain free while the corruption case against him proceeds.

videocam
Senator Jinggoy Estrada smiles during a break in investigations on flood-control projects at the Senate Blue Ribbon committee in Pasay city, Philippines in 2025. Photo: AP
Biomedicine: Companies

China’s Innovent Biologics signs US$10.5b Pfizer deal for 12 cancer drug trials

The agreement covers eight early-stage trials from Innovent and four discovery programmes from global giant Pfizer.

videocam
Fame and celebrity

Assistant who gave Matthew Perry fatal ketamine dose gets 41 months in prison

After injecting the drug, Kenneth Iwamasa left to run errands and then returned to find the Friends star dead in the hot tub.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement