USA Judge weighs whether Venezuela can pay Nicolás Maduro's legal costs US sanctions prevent the Venezuelan government from footing the bill and Maduro and Flores say they do not have sufficient personal funds to cover it themselves. 26/03/2026
Europe News Sharp drop of MDMA in European wastewaters; cocaine and ketamine rise A new study has monitored illicit drug use through wastewater analysis in 115 European cities from 25 countries. From 2024 to 2025, MDMA's residues in wastewaters decreased by 16%, while those of ketamine increased by 41%. 18/03/2026
USA US military strikes another alleged drug boat killing three people The US military said it targeted a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean late on Friday which its intelligence identified as a drug-trafficking vessel, killing three people on board. The US Southern Command said the boat was using known narco-trafficking maritime routes. 21/02/2026
World News Eleven killed in narcoboat strikes amid Trump’s Latin America drug war US strikes on three alleged drug boats kill 11, escalating Trump’s campaign against narcotraffickers in South American coastal waters. 18/02/2026
France French ex-senator jailed for drugging lawmaker with ecstasy Former French senator Joël Guerriau has been sentenced to four years in prison for drugging MP Sandrine Josso with ecstasy, intending to sexually assault her. 28/01/2026
USA Ex-Olympic snowboarder denies drug trafficking and murders in US court Canadian national Ryan Wedding is accused of moving cocaine to the United States and Canada and directing the killing of a federal witness in Colombia. 27/01/2026
Portugal Portugal announces record cocaine haul off the Azores archipelago Portuguese law enforcement was assisted by the navy and air force, as well as the UK and US authorities, in difficult weather conditions. 26/01/2026
Netherlands Synthetic drug ring smashed in 'largest-ever' operation, Europol says Authorities dismantled 24 industrial-scale labs and seized around 1,000 tonnes of chemicals used to make street drugs such as MDMA, amphetamine and meth. 21/01/2026
Mexico US troop deployment in Mexico 'not on the table,' Sheinbaum says Trump again said last week that land attacks against drug cartels would follow recent US maritime operations in the Pacific and Caribbean, without specifying where or when. 12/01/2026
USA Trump dubs himself 'Venezuela's acting president' in Truth Social post Trump has repeatedly asserted that the United States will "run" Venezuela, despite its interim President Delcy Rodríguez insisting that no foreign power was governing her country. 12/01/2026
Health news Experts propose guidelines for a ‘safer’ amount of cannabis use Researchers in the United Kingdom have proposed new limits for ‘safer’ cannabis use amid growing use and availability in the market. 12/01/2026
USA Trump says US could run Venezuela and control its oil for years US special forces snatched president Maduro and his wife in a lightning raid on Saturday and whisked them to New York to face trial on drug and weapons charges. 08/01/2026
Colombia Colombia and US vow joint fight against drug-smuggling gangs Washington and Bogotá have enjoyed security cooperation for decades but ties have deteriorated since Trump began his second term last January. 08/01/2026
Qatar Qatar offers to continue mediation efforts over Venezuela Following successful mediations between Venezuela and the United States in the past, Qatar has expressed deep concern over the situation in Venezuela, calling for restraint, de-escalation and dialogue, while reaffirming its readiness to support mediation. 06/01/2026
Syria Iran is plotting to assassinate Syria's al-Sharaa, Israel warns Israeli intelligence has warned Iran is planning to organise a hit against Syria's interim president, as further reports claim former al-Assad loyalists are pouring money into Alawite minority militias in alleged uprising plots. 06/01/2026
USA Maduro pleads not guilty to drugs charges in first US court appearance Maduro's lawyers are expected to contest the legality of his arrest, arguing that he is immune from prosecution as a sovereign head of state. 05/01/2026