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Drugs

Drugs
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Drugs. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Cannabis use is legal or tolerated in parts of Southeast Asia such as Thailand, whereas Singapore retains some one of the world’s harshest policies on drugs. Photo: dpa
Singapore

‘Younger and younger’: Singapore softens approach to first-time drug abusers

First-time abusers who turn themselves in will avoid detention under new rules. The youngest offender arrested this year was just 12.

The Philippines

Philippine lawyers support ICC arrest warrant for fugitive senator

Americas and the Caribbean

10 Mexican government, justice officials indicted in US, will surrender

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The Philippines

Philippine senator wanted by ICC flees from Senate

Senator Ronald dela Rosa’s exit from the heavily guarded Senate came after volleys of gunshots were fired on Wednesday night.

Philippines Senator Ronald Dela Rosa attends a plenary session at the Senate of the Philippines on Monday. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Who is dela Rosa, the ICC-wanted lawmaker holed up in the Philippine Senate?

The ex-police chief, accused by the ICC of crimes in Duterte’s drug war, is evading arrest over the bloody campaign that killed thousands.

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The Philippines

Gunshots fired in stand-off at Philippine Senate over ICC suspect

Chaos mounted in anticipation of an attempt to arrest Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court.

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The Philippines

Philippine senator escapes arrest as ICC confirms drug war warrant

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa will be treated as if in the custody of the Senate.

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Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte (left) listens to Ronald Dela Rosa, then-director general of the Philippine National Police, during a press conference at the Malacanang palace in Manila in 2017. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Hiding from the ICC? Philippine senator’s 6-month paid absence draws fire

Ronald Dela Rosa has not appeared for work since reports of him being targeted by the ICC as a co-perpetrator in Duterte’s deadly drug war.

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Fame and celebrity

Britney Spears admits reckless driving in DUI plea deal, avoiding jail

The 44-year-old singer was sentenced to 12 months’ probation following her arrest in March for driving under the influence.

Crime in Hong Kong

Man arrested in Hong Kong after police seize HK$800,000 of suspected heroin

Suspect, 44, held in Tuen Mun operation for allegedly trafficking in dangerous drugs, police say.

Police seized 1.3kg of drugs during the operation. Photo: Getty Images
Mexico

Mexico captures top cartel leader hiding in roadside ditch

Capture of Jalisco leader with a US$5 million bounty follows the killing of cartel boss ‘El Mencho’ in February.

Mexican special forces with Audias Flores Silva after his capture. Photo: SEMAR via Reuters
Crime

Man pleads guilty in 2002 murder of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay

Nearly 24 years later, Jay Bryant admits helping gunmen enter studio to ambush Jason Mizell over a drug dispute.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka arrests 22 monks with US$3.5 million worth of cannabis in record haul

Each monk was found with 5kg of kush concealed within false walls in his luggage at Colombo airport.

Americas and the Caribbean

Explosive device kills 20 and injures 36 on bus in Colombia

At least 26 such incidents have taken place in the last two days, amid a wave of violence linked to drug-trafficking.

Relatives of victims embrace in front of a bus hit by an explosive device in Cajibio, Colombia on Saturday. Photo: AP
United States

US FDA plans ultra-fast review of 3 psychedelic drugs after Trump directive

The recent moves on psychedelics reflect growing popular support for the mind-altering substances among Trump’s supporters.

US President Donald Trump holds an executive order about easing restrictions on mental health treatments, including ibogaine, which he signed, in the Oval Office of the White House on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
Chinese history

Inside the 14k, the Hong Kong triad that went global

From its roots in mainland China to expansion in Hong Kong and beyond, we look at the history of one of the most notorious triad societies.

United States

US reclassifies certain marijuana products as a less-dangerous drug

It is one of the most significant federal changes to marijuana policy in decades, removing barriers to ‌researching the drug’s potential use.

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Mexico

Deaths of CIA agents in Mexico spark sovereignty row with White House

President Sheinbaum spars with Washington over the role of Americans in a Chihuahua anti-drug operation.

A camp and drug laboratory in a mountainous area near Guachochi, in Chihuahua state, Mexico. Photo: Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office via AFP
The Philippines

‘Vindication’: ICC chamber rules case against Rodrigo Duterte to proceed

Duterte’s lawyers argue that the crimes against humanity case targeting him should not proceed as the Philippines is not an ICC member.

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Singapore

UN alarmed by Singapore executions for drug-related offences

UN rights chief Turk said drug-related offences not involving loss of life did not meet the ‘most serious crimes’ standard by international law.

China’s private sector

How China’s ‘landmark’ drug pricing guidelines could be a boon for biotech

State Council calls for ‘value-based pricing’ for innovative drugs, a move researchers said would benefit private healthcare players.

Chinese biotech firms reached 157 agreements to out-licence early-stage drugs last year. Photo: Shutterstock
Crime in Hong Kong

5 arrested in Hong Kong as thousands of anti-obesity tablets, injections seized

Authorities conduct two raids and seize over 3000 tablets of clonazepam and zolpidem, and six boxes of unregistered slimming injections.

Weight-loss injections were earlier found to be available on the reseller platform Carousell. Photo: Handout
United States

Trump signs order to speed up review of psychedelics

This would expedite review of drugs such as ibogaine, a drug that US military ‌veteran groups have said can help ⁠treat PTSD.

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Americas and the Caribbean

US military says 4 killed in fourth ‘drug boat’ strike in a week

Death toll from controversial campaign reaches 174 as the US military increases kinetic operations in the eastern Pacific.

South Korea

In South Korea, you can order online deliveries for almost anything – even drugs

The number of teenagers arrested for drug-related crimes in the country has surged from just 30 in 2005 to 1,477 in 2023.

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A delivery man makes his way on motorbike through Seoul’s busy Hongdae neighbourhood. Photo: Shutterstock
The Philippines

Will Philippine ex-president Duterte stand trial at the ICC, and for how long?

Judges are set to decide by late April whether to send Duterte’s case to trial, with any proceedings expected to move at a ‘glacial pace’.

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Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte takes oath during a senate inquiry on the so-called war on drugs during his administration at the Philippine Senate on October 28, 2024, in Manila. Photo: AP
India

Opinion | Asia’s flood of cheap Ozempic generics opens gates to weight-loss abuse

Cheaper semaglutides as patent ends is good news for diabetics. But lax regulation also means a risk of abuse by those desperate to lose weight.

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Fame and celebrity

‘Ketamine Queen’ gets 15 years in jail for selling Matthew Perry deadly drugs

Jasveen Sangha allegedly ran an elaborate operation catering to high-end clients like the 54-year-old Friends star.

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