Drug-trafficking

Thailand

Thailand vows to tighten control of cannabis as smuggling cases soar

Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalise cannabis in 2022, which has boosted the country's tourism industry and spawned thousands of shops.

21/05/2025

Turkey

Hundreds detained in Turkey's biggest ever drugs raid in Ankara

The crackdown began early on Thursday morning and 525 suspected drug dealers were arrested. This operation comes after six months of planning and surveillance.

17/04/2025

Europe News

Data-driven strategy leads to 300 drug smuggling arrests, Europol says

Operation Bulut, coordinated by Europol, led to nearly 300 arrests across Europe and made extensive use of encrypted platforms to track criminals' communications.

16/04/2025

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani border guards foil armed drug smuggling attempt from Iran

Dozens of kilograms of cannabis was seized by the Azerbaijani border guards following the shootout.

12/04/2025

World News

Hungary's government launches war on drugs

Hungary already had one of the strictest drug laws in the EU, but now penalties are being further increased. While many people support the tougher regulations, research suggests that law enforcement alone is not enough to solve the problem.

10/04/2025

No Comment

50kg of cocaine seized by Spanish police in UK-bound lorry

Spanish police intercepted over 50kg of cocaine hidden in a lorry bound for the UK, arresting four suspects linked to a drug smuggling network.

03/04/2025

Europe in Motion

Gang crime on the rise: Here are Europe's most violent countries

Violence is often drug-related, particularly in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany and France.

10/03/2025

USA

Ex-Olympian added to FBI's most wanted list over deadly drug ring

US authorities have issued a $10 million (€9.2m) reward for information leading to the arrest of Canadian ex-Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding.

07/03/2025

Europe News

Fears persist after deadly drug gang violence in Brussels

The shooting, which left one person dead, has terrified residents in the Brussels area of Anderlecht, who have become all too familiar with the city's notorious rival drug gang violence.

11/02/2025

Ireland

Irish police seize €14 million worth of drugs in small town bust

Police announced three men have being arrested over the drug seizure, which they say is a major blow to an organised crime group.

05/02/2025

Europeans' Stories

Cannabis legalisation in Germany: a European dilemma?

Last spring, hundreds of people gathered under the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin to celebrate the legalisation of recreational cannabis use in Germany.

29/01/2025

Health news

What the EU drugs agency chief is most worried about in 2025

The EUDA director said people using multiple drugs at once, violence, and political polarisation are key challenges for 2025.

25/01/2025

Europe News

Suspected drug gang leader extradited from Morocco to France

Félix Bingui, known as 'The Cat', is alleged to be the leader of the Yoda drug gang in Marseille and is wanted on several charges by French authorities.

23/01/2025

Health news

Customs officials issue warning about 'erectile honey' flooding France

French authorities made a record bust in 2024, seizing 13 tonnes of honey laced with erectile dysfunction medicine.

21/01/2025

Europe News

Suspect in deadly Halloween shooting turns himself in to Paris police

A shooting in Poitiers, France that killed one person and left four injured has been linked to local drug trafficking. A suspect is now in custody as the investigation continues.

06/11/2024

Europe News

Five people wounded in shootout linked to drug trafficking in France

Hundreds of people were involved in the drug-related violence in the western French city of Poitiers, with teenagers among those injured.

01/11/2024

Belgium

Belgium's largest drug trial ends with over 100 convictions

Police officers intercepted messages for two years after they were able to hack into the encrypted phone service Sky ECC.

29/10/2024

France

Deaths involving teen hitmen in Marseille spark public outrage

Marseille's public prosecutor stated that the situation in the city of some 860,000 has reached “a whole other level”, expressing his concern that drug-trafficking gangs were recruiting boys at an increasingly young age.

07/10/2024

World

How the EU's drugs agency is tackling a new surge

The European Union Drugs Agency is dealing with new challenges to the rule of law as the illegal drugs trade surges.

27/09/2024

World News

Spanish police confiscate more than 1 million ecstasy pills

The Guardia Civil carried out eight searches in Ibiza and two in Malaga in what has been the largest seizure of this type of drug to date.

10/09/2024