Drugs

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

Europe News

'Today, drugs are everywhere,' warns director of the EU Drugs Agency

After 10 years in office, the director of the EU Drugs Agency will step down at the end of the month. He takes stock of developments in the drugs market and outlines the challenges facing the bloc.

11/12/2025

USA

Trump justifies narcoboat second strike amid calls to release footage

Trump claimed survivors of the September boat strike were trying to right a drug-laden vessel, as Congress threatens to cut Hegseth's budget over the video.

09/12/2025

Turkey

Turkish police officer dies after being shot during drugs raid

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said in a social media post on Monday that 970 suspects had been detained in nationwide counter-narcotics operations over the previous week.

08/12/2025

Europe News

Belgian drug chief warns of hidden 'spice' in vapes affecting children

The majority of illegal refillable vape capsules seized in Belgium are laced with synthetic cannabinoids, Belgium's drug commissioner warned. This risks addiction from a young age.

05/12/2025

France

French woman allegedly drugged by official slams slow pace of justice

More than 240 women accuse Christian Nègre, a former senior official in the Culture Ministry, of secretly drugging them with diuretics during job interviews, then deliberately placing them in situations where they would be forced to urinate in public or on themselves.

05/12/2025

USA

US resumes strikes on narcoboats, killing four in latest operation

US Southern Command resumed lethal strikes on alleged narcoboats, killing four amid bipartisan scrutiny of the Pentagon's anti-drug campaign.

05/12/2025

Myanmar

Myanmar opium cultivation hits highest level in a decade, UN says

There were signs that heroin from Myanmar is reaching markets in Europe previously supplied by Afghanistan, with several seizures over the past year that involved passengers travelling from Southeast Asia to Europe.

03/12/2025

Netherlands

Indonesia to repatriate two convicted Dutch drug traffickers

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says Indonesia is a major drug smuggling hub despite having some of the strictest drug laws in the world.

02/12/2025

The Europe Conversation

'Crime is a problem everywhere': PM Rama defends Albania in EU

Albanian PM Edi Rama says his country deserves a seat at the EU's table, citing reforms and public support. Rama says crime and corruption are serious problems, but not exclusive to Tirana: "Brussels has crime too."

19/11/2025

France

Second brother of French anti-drugs campaigner shot dead in Marseille

Amine Kessaci had been under police protection since last month after writing a book about the victims of drug trafficking in Marseille.

14/11/2025

No Comment

Major Rio police raid leaves 60 suspects dead

Around 2,500 police officers and soldiers launched a large-scale raid against drug traffickers in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 60 suspects and the arrest of 81 others, officials said.

29/10/2025

Georgia

UK teen may get two years in Georgia jail in drug smuggling plea deal

The family of Bella May Culley, 19, paid more than €157,000 in a plea deal that could result in a two-year prison sentence in the former Soviet republic.

28/10/2025

United Kingdom

British drug-smuggling grandma to be sent home from death row in Bali

Lindsay Sandiford, 68, was arrested after arriving in Bali in 2012 when Indonesian authorities found cocaine worth €2.1 million in her suitcase.

21/10/2025

Europe in Motion

Where in the EU do most young adults consume cannabis?

According to the latest European Drug Report by the European Union Drugs Agency, some 15.4% of young Europeans aged 15 to 34 used cannabis in the past year. But which EU country tops the charts?

13/10/2025

USA

San Francisco struggles with poverty and drugs amid tech-driven wealth

San Francisco's tech boom coexists with a severe drug epidemic and homelessness, leading to high overdose rates and criticism from prominent figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump.

09/10/2025

Turkey

Several Turkish celebrities summoned for blood tests in drugs probe

Authorities in Turkey have launched an investigation into alleged drug use involving 19 high-profile public figures, including singers and actors.

08/10/2025