Drug Trafficking

Syria announces major drug bust through coordination with Iraq against Captagon trafficking

A source in the Syrian Ministry of Interior told The Media Line that anti-narcotics units carried out what he described as a “high-quality” security operation in Homs province.

KURDISH INTERNAL security forces stand guard after seizing a quantity of captagon pills in Qamishli, Syria, March 25, 2025.
A member of the Mexican navy patrols Benito Juarez International Airport after Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho," was killed in Jalisco state, in Mexico City, Mexico, February 22, 2026.

Mexican army kills 'El Melcho': How is Mexico's most violent cartel so powerful? - explainer

Vehicles drive past a burning bus used as a roadblock by organized crime following a federal operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, commonly known as "El Mencho," was killed, in Zapopan, Mexico, February 22, 2026.

New US military-led group aided Mexico's hunt for 'El Mencho' cartel boss

National Guard members stand guard near a burnt bus set on fire by organised crime groups in response to an operation in Jalisco to arrest a high-priority security target, at one of the main avenues in Zapopan, state of Jalisco, Mexico, on February 22, 2026.

Powerful Mexican Jalisco cartel head 'El Mencho' killed during military operation


US designates Venezuela's Cartel de los Solas as terror organization

"Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela’s legitimate government," the US State Department said.

 A coast guard boat of the Venezuelan Navy operates off the Caribbean coast on the day Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro says that Venezuela would deploy military, police, and civilian defenses at 284 "battlefront" locations across Venezuela, amid heightened tensions with the US, Sept. 11, 2025.

Ecuador, Spanish police arrest Los Lobos drug boss Wilmer Barre, tied to 400 murders

Wilmer Geovanny Chavarria Barre, known as "Pipo," helms a powerful group that the US in September designated a foreign terrorist organization.

A police officer stands outside the National Court of Justice during a hearing for the extradition of Ecuadorean gang leader Jose Adolfo Macias, who on Friday accepted the court's request to be extradited to the United States to face drug and gun charges, in Quito, Ecuador, July 11, 2025.

Iran slams US military strikes against alleged drug boats amid rising US Venezuela tensions

IRNA calls US attacks "arbitrary and extrajudicial killings," appealing to the UN to prevent violations of international peace and security.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (R) meets with Speaker of the Parliament of Iran Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (L), at Miraflores Palace, in Caracas, Venezuela June 2, 2025.

Hegseth announces Operation Southern Spear to counter drug trafficking in Western Hemisphere

The US has conducted its 20th strike against alleged drug trafficking vessels, killing "four narco-terrorists."

 US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, in Quantico, Virginia, US, September 30, 2025.

Countries should support Taiwan’s bid to participate as INTERPOL GA observer - opinion

Taiwan calls for a role in INTERPOL to strengthen international efforts against cybercrime, trafficking, and cross-border fraud.

 TAIWAN HAS taken several lessons from the Israel-Iran War, as tensions with China continue to rise. Here, Taiwanese reservists participate in pre-combat training on the first day of the annual Han Kuang military exercise in Miaoli on Wednesday.

US strikes on two drug-carrying vessels in Pacific kill six, Hegseth says

"These vessels were known by our intelligence to be associated with illicit narcotics smuggling," Hegseth said in a post on X/Twitter.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, in Quantico, Virginia, US, September 30, 2025.

Israel Police cracking down after synthetic drugs kill three in same week

Three young people in central Israel have died after consuming synthetic drugs, raising alarms over the growing dangers and accessibility of these substances.

(Illustrative) A customs officer displays Captagon pills. Sofia, 12, 2007.

Thai authorities arrest Israeli wanted for armed robbery ahead of flight from country

Osher Farhi, a 22-year-old Israeli with a criminal record, was arrested by Surat Thani authorities, reportedly following a request made by Israeli authorities.

Thai authorities arrest Israeli criminal Osher Farhi in Koh Samui, November 2025.

Syria's new government struggles to fight Captagon, narcotics trafficking - analysis

Syrian officials have confiscated millions of Captagon pills and other illicit substances since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.

Kurdish internal security forces stand guard after seizing a quantity of captagon pills in Qamishli, Syria, March 25, 2025.

Three killed in US strike on drug-trafficking vessel in Carribean, Hegseth says

US military conducted a lethal strike on a vessel operated by a drug trafficking organization, says US Defense Secretary Hegseth. Russia condemns "excessive military force."

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - United States Defence Ministers Hi-Tea as part of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 1, 2025.