Drug Trafficking

Jordan and Syria tout close ties, but border smuggling and strikes tell another story – analysis

A church attack in Karak, a Jordanian strike in southern Syria and a foiled 2 million-pill smuggling run have raised tensions in a region that also borders Israel’s Golan.

Mourners attend the funeral of four members of the same family, including three children, who were killed in a reported Jordanian airstrike in the town of Al-Mismiyah, in Syria's southern Daraa province, October 27, 2026.
ILLUSTRATIVE: POLICE ARREST suspect thought to have allowed illegal immigrants through border, November 30, 2025.

Known criminal serving as police agent aids in mass arrest of 28 drug traffickers across Israel

Supporters of Venezuela's government rally to demand the release of ousted President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, two months after their capture by the US, in Caracas, Venezuela March 3, 2026.

Venezuela's Maduro to face new US charges over alleged torture of Americans, says official

Police personnel stand outside a closed lab following an advisory from the local authority to close shops and other establishments at Connaught Place in New Delhi on July 23, 2026.

Indian police detain Israeli for staying without valid travel documents following drug charges


Trump says US may open talks with Venezuela's Maduro amid massive military buildup

President Trump hints at potential talks with Venezuelan leader Maduro as the US escalates military presence in the Caribbean amid ongoing anti-drug operations.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro holds a miniature of the Venezuelan constitution on the day he meets with Caribbean parliamentarians from 14 countries to sign a peace agreement in the region, amid rising tensions with the US, at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, October 31, 2025.

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.