A CNS stimulant derived from coca leaves; widely used, illegal in most contexts
Federal prosecutors have charged four suspects in a major drug-smuggling operation tied to the Jalisco New Generation cartel. A 55-foot-deep tunnel with electric and ventilation was found beneath a San Diego store linked to the scheme, with more than a ton of cocaine seized and the tunnel extending into Tijuana. Investigations have led to multiple arrests and ongoing probes in both the U.S. and Mexico.
The Independent and AP News report Jill Biden’s remarks on her husband’s sobriety and addiction history, with reactions from online critics and new disclosures in her memoir.
Victor Willis, founder and lead singer of Village People, has died after a short, aggressive illness. He co-wrote hits including YMCA, Macho Man and In the Navy, helping define late-1970s disco. Willis left the group in 1980, later rejoined in 2017, and his passing ends a turbulent, influential career.
A cross-border crackdown on county lines has led to multiple seizures, arrests and safeguarding actions as authorities target recruitment of vulnerable youths and drug distribution networks in Merseyside and across the UK.
A cross-border cocaine trafficking operation involving Liberia, Spain and the UK has been revealed. Liberia’s case centers on a 237.6-kilogram seizure linked to Paul King and Global Logistics Services, with prosecutors alleging a web of false documentation and warehousing. Spain’s investigation ties a 13-ton haul to a money-laundering network connected to a California SPAC founders. San Diego’s gang sweep uncovers a retail-to-wholesale cocaine market, with 20 pounds seizing weekly. Authorities warn of Liberia as a transit hub and Europe-bound shipments.
Ismael Zambada Garcia has received a life sentence in Brooklyn federal court for leading the Sinaloa Cartel and for racketeering and continuing criminal enterprise. Prosecutors say the cartel flooded the United States with cocaine, fentanyl and other drugs for decades, while his defense notes his age and health needs.
Maduro and his wife Flores have been moved to New York and face drug-trafficking charges tied to decades-long alleged cocaine shipments. A trial is scheduled for June 2027, with sovereign-immunity motions likely to shape proceedings.
Aaron Strachan has been given a lifelong restriction order with a minimum of five years in custody after admitting a series of violent crimes in Edinburgh, including a rape of a 15-year-old girl. He fled custody during a court escort but was recaptured in hours. The judge described the offences as predatory and the impact on victims as horrific.
A 39-year-old Malaysian pilot identified by initials MSO has been arrested at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport after arriving from Kuala Lumpur. Investigators found over 70,000 ecstasy pills and meth in his luggage; urine tests indicate narcotics impairment during the flight. Malaysia Airlines is conducting an internal review.