Mumbai: A drug seizure in Mumbai has led Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad to a suspected methamphetamine manufacturing facility in Greater Noida, with nearly 4.74 kg of the synthetic drug being seized in the operation.&nbsp;The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) claimed to have busted an inter-state drug network after recovering 4.738 kg of methamphetamine, estimated to be worth around Rs 9.4 crore.&nbsp;The operation began in Mumbai after the Kalachowky unit of ATS received information about the movement of a suspected drug consignment. Acting on the tip-off, investigators intercepted a suspect near a hotel in Bandra on Tuesday.&nbsp;According to the ATS, the suspect was allegedly carrying 2.050 kg of methamphetamine, valued at approximately Rs 4 crore. But what initially appeared to be a drug peddling operation soon opened up a much larger investigation.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-gives-intelligence-services-broad-powers-amid-rising-hybrid-threats-security-lapses-1786548101127">Germany gives intelligence services broad powers amid rising threats, security lapses</a><h2>Mumbai trail leads investigators to Greater Noida</h2>&nbsp;During questioning, the ATS allegedly obtained information about a suspected drug manufacturing facility in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;An ATS team subsequently travelled to Greater Noida and conducted a raid at the premises. The operation led to the recovery of another 2.688 kg of methamphetamine, estimated to be worth around Rs 5.4 crore.&nbsp;Investigators also reportedly recovered materials allegedly used in the manufacture of the synthetic drug. The premises have since been sealed as the investigation continues.&nbsp;The combined seizure from Mumbai and Greater Noida stands at 4.738 kg, with the estimated street value put at more than Rs 9 crore.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/heaven-made-in-china-optical-shop-owner-learns-ai-painstakingly-gets-fame-as-video-goes-viral-1786540438553">Heaven – Made in China: Optical shop owner learns AI painstakingly, gets fame as video goes viral</a><h2>Three people apprehended</h2>&nbsp;The ATS has apprehended three people in connection with the alleged network, including two foreign national women. The nationalities of the two women have not been disclosed by authorities so far.&nbsp;All three have been booked under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.&nbsp;The investigation is now focused on establishing the complete chain behind the alleged operation — including where the methamphetamine originated, who was manufacturing it, how it was being transported and who the intended recipients were.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/baloch-leader-thanks-indian-media-announces-push-for-recognition-of-republic-of-balochistan-1786479617334">Baloch leader thanks Indian media, announces push for recognition of ‘Republic of Balochistan’</a><h2>Why the Greater Noida link matters</h2>&nbsp;The discovery of a suspected manufacturing facility could significantly widen the scope of the case.&nbsp;Rather than being limited to the seizure of drugs being transported into Mumbai, investigators are now examining whether the operation involved a larger manufacturing and distribution network operating across state borders.&nbsp;The ATS is also expected to examine the financial and communication links of those arrested and determine whether more people were involved.&nbsp;&nbsp;For Mumbai, the case also highlights the changing nature of the synthetic drug trade, where investigations increasingly point beyond local distributors to networks spanning multiple cities and states.&nbsp;For now, the ATS has not publicly disclosed the full identities of all those arrested or revealed the final destination of the seized consignment.&nbsp;The investigation remains underway, and authorities are looking for possible additional members of the alleged syndicate and the wider supply chain.

The operation began in Mumbai after the Kalachowky unit of ATS received information about the suspected drug consignment. Acting on the tip-off, investigators intercepted a suspect near a hotel in Bandra on Tuesday. The suspect was allegedly carrying 2.050 kg of methamphetamine.

Mumbai: A drug seizure in Mumbai has led Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad to a suspected methamphetamine manufacturing facility in Greater Noida, with nearly 4.74 kg of the synthetic drug being seized in the operation. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) claimed to have busted an inter-state drug network after recovering 4.738 kg of methamphetamine, estimated to be worth around Rs 9.4 crore. The operation began in Mumbai after the Kalachowky unit of ATS received information about the movement of a suspected drug consignment. Acting on the tip-off, investigators intercepted a suspect near a hotel in Bandra on Tuesday. According to the ATS, the suspect was allegedly carrying 2.050 kg of methamphetamine, valued at approximately Rs 4 crore. But what initially appeared to be a drug peddling operation soon opened up a much larger investigation. Also Read: Germany gives intelligence services broad powers amid rising threats, security lapses Mumbai trail leads investigators to Greater Noida During questioning, the ATS allegedly obtained information about a suspected drug manufacturing facility in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. An ATS team subsequently travelled to Greater Noida and conducted a raid at the premises. The operation led to the recovery of another 2.688 kg of methamphetamine, estimated to be worth around Rs 5.4 crore. Investigators also reportedly recovered materials allegedly used in the manufacture of the synthetic drug. The premises have since been sealed as the investigation continues. The combined seizure from Mumbai and Greater Noida stands at 4.738 kg, with the estimated street value put at more than Rs 9 crore. Also Read: Heaven – Made in China: Optical shop owner learns AI painstakingly, gets fame as video goes viral Three people apprehended The ATS has apprehended three people in connection with the alleged network, including two foreign national women. The nationalities of the two women have not been disclosed by authorities so far. All three have been booked under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The investigation is now focused on establishing the complete chain behind the alleged operation — including where the methamphetamine originated, who was manufacturing it, how it was being transported and who the intended recipients were. Also Read: Baloch leader thanks Indian media, announces push for recognition of ‘Republic of Balochistan’ Why the Greater Noida link matters The discovery of a suspected manufacturing facility could significantly widen the scope of the case. Rather than being limited to the seizure of drugs being transported into Mumbai, investigators are now examining whether the operation involved a larger manufacturing and distribution network operating across state borders. The ATS is also expected to examine the financial and communication links of those arrested and determine whether more people were involved. For Mumbai, the case also highlights the changing nature of the synthetic drug trade, where investigations increasingly point beyond local distributors to networks spanning multiple cities and states. For now, the ATS has not publicly disclosed the full identities of all those arrested or revealed the final destination of the seized consignment. The investigation remains underway, and authorities are looking for possible additional members of the alleged syndicate and the wider supply chain.

The operation began in Mumbai after the Kalachowky unit of ATS received information about the suspected drug consignment. Acting on the tip-off, investigators intercepted a suspect near a hotel in Bandra on Tuesday. The suspect was allegedly carrying 2.050 kg of methamphetamine.

Maharashtra ATS busts inter-state meth network, seizes drugs worth Rs 9 crore

In New Zealand, candies laced with dangerous, potentially fatal quantities of methamphetamine landed three individuals — a child, a teenager, and a charity worker in the hospital.

The candies were distributed by a charity, the Auckland City Mission, known for providing essential supplies to those in need. The New Zealand charity has issued a public apology,&nbsp;"to say we are devastated is an understatement," it said.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:133,&quot;w&quot;:649,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1883}">How did this happen?</h2>

The Auckland City Mission in a statement to the press said that it discovered the contamination on Tuesday (Aug 13) after recipients reported the candies' foul taste.

Three individuals — a child, a teenager, and a charity worker — who sought medical attention after consuming the sweets are well, and are currently not hospitalised, reported Reuters citing Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin from Auckland police.&nbsp;

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There was no indication of wrongdoing by the charity itself, said Baldwin.

"Drug importation is complex, and organised criminal groups use a range of measures and techniques to try and evade enforcement agencies, not only in New Zealand but around the world," he added.&nbsp;

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:426,&quot;w&quot;:649,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2176}">How much meth did the candies contain?</h2>

The candies, which were donated by an unknown individual, were tested by the New Zealand Drug Foundation.&nbsp;

Tests revealed that each sweet contained up to three grams of the drug—equivalent to 300 typical doses.&nbsp;

Foundation Executive Director Sarah Helm noted that a "common dose to swallow is between 10-25mg, so this contaminated lolly contained up to 300 doses".

"Swallowing that much methamphetamine is extremely dangerous and could result in death," she said.

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Police believe the candies are likely the by-product of an international drug trafficking operation and have urged the public to hand over any they may have received.&nbsp;

"We need to round these up as quickly as we can," said Baldwin. He reported that 16 of the sweets had been found so far.

A criminal investigation has been launched to determine how the contaminated sweets entered the country, and efforts are underway to retrieve up to 400 remaining pieces.

Rinda Food, the Malaysian sweet maker whose packaging the meth-laced sweets carried, said that its "branding" had been misused and that it did not "condone the use of any illegal drugs in our products".&nbsp;

"Our company is dedicated to ensuring that our products meet the highest safety and regulatory standards."

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:932,&quot;w&quot;:649,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2682}">How dangerous can the candy be?</h2>

Methamphetamine can cause severe symptoms such as chest pain, seizures, and loss of consciousness.&nbsp;

The New Zealand Drug Foundation spokeswoman Sarah Helm, speaking on Radio New Zealand, noted that it is not uncommon for drug smugglers to disguise illegal narcotics in food products but said: "We suspect somebody hasn't intentionally sought to poison children."

(With inputs from agencies)

In New Zealand, candies laced with dangerous, potentially fatal quantities of methamphetamine landed three individuals — a child, a teenager, and a charity worker in the hospital.

In New Zealand, candies laced with dangerous, potentially fatal quantities of methamphetamine landed three individuals — a child, a teenager, and a charity worker in the hospital. The candies were distributed by a charity, the Auckland City Mission, known for providing essential supplies to those in need. The New Zealand charity has issued a public apology, "to say we are devastated is an understatement," it said. How did this happen? The Auckland City Mission in a statement to the press said that it discovered the contamination on Tuesday (Aug 13) after recipients reported the candies' foul taste. Three individuals — a child, a teenager, and a charity worker — who sought medical attention after consuming the sweets are well, and are currently not hospitalised, reported Reuters citing Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin from Auckland police. Also read | Banksy's street art defaced by vandal; new art piece moved to secure location There was no indication of wrongdoing by the charity itself, said Baldwin. "Drug importation is complex, and organised criminal groups use a range of measures and techniques to try and evade enforcement agencies, not only in New Zealand but around the world," he added. How much meth did the candies contain? The candies, which were donated by an unknown individual, were tested by the New Zealand Drug Foundation. Tests revealed that each sweet contained up to three grams of the drug—equivalent to 300 typical doses. Foundation Executive Director Sarah Helm noted that a "common dose to swallow is between 10-25mg, so this contaminated lolly contained up to 300 doses". "Swallowing that much methamphetamine is extremely dangerous and could result in death," she said. Also read | JK Rowling, Elon Musk sued for spewing online hate against Olympic winner Imane Khelif Police believe the candies are likely the by-product of an international drug trafficking operation and have urged the public to hand over any they may have received. "We need to round these up as quickly as we can," said Baldwin. He reported that 16 of the sweets had been found so far. A criminal investigation has been launched to determine how the contaminated sweets entered the country, and efforts are underway to retrieve up to 400 remaining pieces. Rinda Food, the Malaysian sweet maker whose packaging the meth-laced sweets carried, said that its "branding" had been misused and that it did not "condone the use of any illegal drugs in our products". "Our company is dedicated to ensuring that our products meet the highest safety and regulatory standards." How dangerous can the candy be? Methamphetamine can cause severe symptoms such as chest pain, seizures, and loss of consciousness. The New Zealand Drug Foundation spokeswoman Sarah Helm, speaking on Radio New Zealand, noted that it is not uncommon for drug smugglers to disguise illegal narcotics in food products but said: "We suspect somebody hasn't intentionally sought to poison children." (With inputs from agencies)

New Zealand: Candy laced with fatal levels of meth distributed by charity; 400 candies still 'out there'

In New Zealand, police have seized large quantities of drug-laced beer containing methamphetamine. As per a report by the New Zealand Herald, authorities have so far seized around 328kg of meth or methamphetamine. The police also seized a shipment of kombucha bottles — a popular fermented tea — along with the drug-laced beer.&nbsp;As per the report, police on March 16th raided a warehouse in Ryan Pl in Manukau (a suburb of South Auckland). There they located and seized multiple cases of potentially drug-laced beer.&nbsp;The beer is of a brand called Honey Beer and is called 'Honey Bear House beer'.

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There is a possibility that some cans of the laced beer may be circulating in the community. Keeping this in mind, police have issued an advisory that anyone who may have the 'Honey Bear House Beer' cans should avoid drinking them and should inform the police. "Consuming beer contaminated with methamphetamine may have serious or fatal medical consequences," warned&nbsp;Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin.

Concealed among the shipment was the 328kg of meth. The police said that an analysis of the meth found in its liquid form is underway. More than a quarter tonne of the drug was also recovered in crystallised form.

This comes as Auckland City’s Organised Crime Unit investigates the import of Honey Bear House Beer suspected of being contaminated with methamphetamine.&nbsp;

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On March 7th, in Auckland, a young man named Aiden Sagala reportedly died after consuming meth-laced beer. While Sangala, as per the police, was not involved in the import or distribution of the contaminated beer "in any way," as per the Herald, two men have been arrested for this.&nbsp;

The report goes on to cite Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin, who said that the investigation "is by no means over yet."&nbsp;

"Our investigation continues to develop at pace, and we cannot rule out further arrests or charges as a result," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In New Zealand, police have seized large quantities of drug-laced beer containing methamphetamine. As per a report by the New Zealand Herald, authorities have so far seized around 328kg of meth or methamphetamine.

In New Zealand, police have seized large quantities of drug-laced beer containing methamphetamine. As per a report by the New Zealand Herald, authorities have so far seized around 328kg of meth or methamphetamine. The police also seized a shipment of kombucha bottles — a popular fermented tea — along with the drug-laced beer. As per the report, police on March 16th raided a warehouse in Ryan Pl in Manukau (a suburb of South Auckland). There they located and seized multiple cases of potentially drug-laced beer. The beer is of a brand called Honey Beer and is called 'Honey Bear House beer'. Also read | Watch | Massive 'hole' on Sun may blast solar storms towards Earth There is a possibility that some cans of the laced beer may be circulating in the community. Keeping this in mind, police have issued an advisory that anyone who may have the 'Honey Bear House Beer' cans should avoid drinking them and should inform the police. "Consuming beer contaminated with methamphetamine may have serious or fatal medical consequences," warned Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin. Concealed among the shipment was the 328kg of meth. The police said that an analysis of the meth found in its liquid form is underway. More than a quarter tonne of the drug was also recovered in crystallised form. This comes as Auckland City’s Organised Crime Unit investigates the import of Honey Bear House Beer suspected of being contaminated with methamphetamine. Also read | Plants make cries for help when stressed or deprived of water, says study On March 7th, in Auckland, a young man named Aiden Sagala reportedly died after consuming meth-laced beer. While Sangala, as per the police, was not involved in the import or distribution of the contaminated beer "in any way," as per the Herald, two men have been arrested for this. The report goes on to cite Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin, who said that the investigation "is by no means over yet." "Our investigation continues to develop at pace, and we cannot rule out further arrests or charges as a result," he added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

New Zealand: Kiwis warned to avoid meth-laced 'Honey Bear House Beer' cans

Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Tuesday nabbed five members of a criminal syndicate group for orchestrating a black flight and carrying 52 kilogrammes of illegal methamphetamine worth $15 million into Australia.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Tuesday nabbed five members of a criminal syndicate group for orchestrating a black flight and carrying 52 kilogrammes of illegal methamphetamine worth $15 million into Australia. The five men had flown a twin-engine Beechcraft light aircraft back and forth from Papua New Guines (PNG) to Australia before being apprehended. The AFP officers were already in position when the 'black flight' that could not be detected by radar landed at a remote airstrip in Queensland. Images and videos of the incident released show the officials quickly circling the aircraft and nabbing the perpetrators. "All five men were arrested by specialist AFP and Queensland Police Service members shortly after the plane arrived at the Monto airstrip on Tuesday afternoon (March 21, 2023). Police located and seized five duffle bags concealed in the plane, containing about 52 kg methamphetamine," read the police report. The police released a statement adding that pilots Bernard Hamilton-Alexander, 51 and his co-pilot, John Horvath, 52 took off from Wilton, a rural area south of Sydney on Monday. They took a pitstop at Monto to refuel before landing in the town of Bulolo in Papua New Guinea. ALSO READ: Australia to legalise use of MDMA and magic mushrooms for treating depression There they picked five duffle bags filled with 52 kg of methamphetamine before returning to Monto where the officers were waiting. Four of the five men arrested, all from the state of New South Wales have already been produced before the magistrates' court. The final perpetrator is expected to be produced before the court on Thursday (March 23). The police added that the men charged were Transnational Serious Organised Crime (TSOC) members who routinely handled the import of methamphetamine to rural Queensland from PNG. "If you look at the size of this attempted importation that was essentially stopped, you're talking about 520,000 individual hits or deals. These men have not only allegedly imported a dangerous drug into Australia, but flying at low altitude without proper instructions poses a huge safety risk for other aircraft," said Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Weinstein ALSO READ | Cocaine worth $300 million with batman stickers found floating in New Zealand (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Black flight' smugglers caught with 52 kg methamphetamine on remote Australian airstrip

It is a public health crisis that kills hundreds of Americans a day. More than 100,000 Americans die each year from overdoses, mostly from opioids. Fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and now xylazine are the most abused drugs in the United States.

Has America lost the war on drugs?

In what comes as one of the biggest drug busts in the history of Hong Kong, the authorities last week seized liquid methamphetamine, worth $140 million (HK$1.1 billion), disguised as coconut water.

In what comes as one of the biggest drug busts in the history of Hong Kong, the authorities last week seized liquid methamphetamine, worth $140 million (HK$1.1 billion), disguised as coconut water. Reportedly, the customs officials discovered the 1.8-tonne contraband on a cargo ship which was on its way to Sydney, Australia after originating from Mexico. Officials stated that liquid meth was found hidden in more than half of the 3,600 cartons of coconut water. The discovery was only made possible after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) in Hong Kong worked with Hong Kong Customs and Excise (HKCE). The authorities in Hong Kong and Australia were reportedly tipped off by Mexican officials via intelligence exchange. "Mexica-based officers used their international network to alert AFP officers in Hong Kong about the suspicious consignment being shipped from Mexico to Australia via Hong Kong. Ongoing investigations are under way to identify the transnational serious organised criminals involved in the plot," said the AFP in a statement. Authorities believe that the consignment was part of a massive international drug trafficking ring and if it had been unloaded on the New South Wales shores, the drugs could have been sold as about 18 million street-level deals. They added that it was the first time since 2016 that coconut water shipment for drug delivery was observed. The Mexican cartels rarely use this mode of shipment. Last time, the seized contraband weighed only around six kilogrammes. Read more: US authorities find drug-smuggling tunnel with rail system at Mexico border Notably, the particular drug bust comes days after the law enforcement agencies had seized $14 million worth of meth hidden in electrical transformers, similarly bound for Australia. So far, the former British colony has managed to seize double the meth that was uncovered last year. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

1.8 tonnes of liquid meth, worth $140 mn, hidden in coconut water cartons seized by HK authorities

The British Royal Navy and its warship HMS Montrose recently confiscated illicit drugs worth more than $17 million from a boat in the Arabian Sea. The warship and its crew managed to seize hundreds of kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine from a small local ship after a gruelling six-hour-long operation.

The British Royal Navy and its warship HMS Montrose recently confiscated illicit drugs worth more than $17 million from a boat in the Arabian Sea. The warship and its crew managed to seize hundreds of kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine from a small local ship after a gruelling six-hour-long operation. Initially, the crew members aboard the frigate sent a helicopter to track the suspected boat. After the boat's movement raised the suspicion further, the Royal Marines from 42 Commando took charge and dropped sail in the choppy waters. Read more: UK to send warships to Pacific on extended deployment "HMS Montrose pounced, after her Wildcat helicopter located and tracked the suspect dhow until the frigate was in range to launch her boarding teams in her boats," the Navy said in a statement. The initial search yielded some drugs but the Marines prodded further and managed to find a hidden compartment where approximately 870 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine was stashed. "Royal Marines from 42 Commando, the UK military's specialists in these operations, seized control of the vessel in choppy conditions, before sailors moved in to search the craft for any illegal cargo, while overhead the Wildcat observed proceedings and provided cover for those scouring the dhow for her illicit cargo," it added. The National Crime Agency priced the seized illict drugs around $17 million. "Disrupting terrorist organisations, criminals and their funding lines is key to keeping to UK, and rest of the world, safe," said Commander Claire Thompson overseeing the operation. Read more: Smuggled Iranian missiles seized by British Navy Notably, HMS Montrose has been sailing in the waters of West Asia since 2019 and in the fifth operation of this year, the frigate has managed to reel narcotics worth $52 million. The frigate is part of a multi-national force of 33 nations currently led by the Royal Canadian Navy, working in the Gulf region to disrupt criminal and terrorist organizations and their illicit activity. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

British Royal Navy seizes $17 million worth of drugs in Arabian Sea

After a meth-laced kiss went horribly, a Tennessee woman was charged with second-degree murder of an inmate.&nbsp;

During a jail visit, Rachel Dollard allegedly hid a balloon containing a half-ounce of speed in her mouth and passed it orally to Joshua Brown.

Brown was serving a sentence of 11 years at the Turney Center Industrial Complex Prison in Tennessee for drug-related charges.

Dollard's attempt at supplying contraband to Brown failed miserably when he died of an overdose later as per the corrections department.

Special agents from the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) and the Dickson County Sheriff’s Department arrested her last week.

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David Imhof, director of TDOC’s Office of Investigations and Conduct said “This incident points to the real dangers of introducing contraband into prisons and the consequences that follow.”

“Our agency will pursue prosecution against any individual who threatens the safety and security of our staff, the men and women in our custody, and our facilities.”

A similar incident took place in 2017 when Melissa Ann Blair of Oregon was sentenced to two years behind bars after her inmate boyfriend died from her meth-laden kiss.

The prosecutors, in that case, said that the two balloons ruptured her boyfriend’s stomach and he died of methamphetamine toxicity.

(With inputs from agencies)

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After a meth-laced kiss went horribly, a Tennessee woman was charged with second-degree murder of an inmate. During a jail visit, Rachel Dollard allegedly hid a balloon containing a half-ounce of speed in her mouth and passed it orally to Joshua Brown.

After a meth-laced kiss went horribly, a Tennessee woman was charged with second-degree murder of an inmate. During a jail visit, Rachel Dollard allegedly hid a balloon containing a half-ounce of speed in her mouth and passed it orally to Joshua Brown. Brown was serving a sentence of 11 years at the Turney Center Industrial Complex Prison in Tennessee for drug-related charges. Dollard's attempt at supplying contraband to Brown failed miserably when he died of an overdose later as per the corrections department. Special agents from the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) and the Dickson County Sheriff’s Department arrested her last week. Also read | Drugs or onions? $3 million worth methamphetamine seized in US David Imhof, director of TDOC’s Office of Investigations and Conduct said “This incident points to the real dangers of introducing contraband into prisons and the consequences that follow.” “Our agency will pursue prosecution against any individual who threatens the safety and security of our staff, the men and women in our custody, and our facilities.” A similar incident took place in 2017 when Melissa Ann Blair of Oregon was sentenced to two years behind bars after her inmate boyfriend died from her meth-laden kiss. The prosecutors, in that case, said that the two balloons ruptured her boyfriend’s stomach and he died of methamphetamine toxicity. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Meth-laced kiss gone wrong? Tennessee woman charged with second-degree murder of inmate

European Union agencies said on Friday that the continent is slowly becoming a prime location for the production and distribution of cocaine. According to Reuters, the EU agencies expressed concern about the current situation and also warned about the expanding methamphetamine industry.

A joint EU report by law enforcement agency Europol and drugs agency EMCDDA pointed out that cocaine was the second most consumed drug in Europe after cannabis and the total income from the production and distribution of the drug amounted to almost $11.1 billion for the year 2020.

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"More production is also now taking place inside Europe, indicating changes in the region's role in the international cocaine trade," the report said.

Over the years, South American countries were the main suppliers of cocaine for Europe and with countries like Colombia and Brazil increasing their production, the amount of cocaine in Europe has also gone up. As a result, the report warns of higher health risks in the near future.

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When it comes to individual countries, Belgium was pointed out as the leading producer of cocaine by the EU report. In 2020, the most amount of cocaine was seized from Belgium,&nbsp;and it is supposed to be the leading processing centre for cocaine along with Spain and Netherlands.

According to the Reuters report, the market for methamphetamine is also slowly growing in Europe with growing demands in Czech Republic and some Eastern European countries.

"There is now growing concern about production facilities located in Belgium and the Netherlands, where methamphetamine can be produced on a considerably larger scale," the report said.

European Union agencies said on Friday that the continent is slowly becoming a prime location for the production and distribution of cocaine. According to Reuters, the EU agencies expressed concern about the current situation and also warned about the expanding methamphetamine industry.

European Union agencies said on Friday that the continent is slowly becoming a prime location for the production and distribution of cocaine. According to Reuters, the EU agencies expressed concern about the current situation and also warned about the expanding methamphetamine industry. A joint EU report by law enforcement agency Europol and drugs agency EMCDDA pointed out that cocaine was the second most consumed drug in Europe after cannabis and the total income from the production and distribution of the drug amounted to almost $11.1 billion for the year 2020. Also read | Finally, UK PM's party pays for scandals with setbacks in local polls "More production is also now taking place inside Europe, indicating changes in the region's role in the international cocaine trade," the report said. Over the years, South American countries were the main suppliers of cocaine for Europe and with countries like Colombia and Brazil increasing their production, the amount of cocaine in Europe has also gone up. As a result, the report warns of higher health risks in the near future. Also read | European Union likely to sanction Putin's rumoured girlfriend - Report When it comes to individual countries, Belgium was pointed out as the leading producer of cocaine by the EU report. In 2020, the most amount of cocaine was seized from Belgium, and it is supposed to be the leading processing centre for cocaine along with Spain and Netherlands. According to the Reuters report, the market for methamphetamine is also slowly growing in Europe with growing demands in Czech Republic and some Eastern European countries. "There is now growing concern about production facilities located in Belgium and the Netherlands, where methamphetamine can be produced on a considerably larger scale," the report said.

Europe slowly turning into a hub for cocaine and methamphetamine, says EU report

Drug smugglers around the world have been making several attempts to bring contraband into one or the other innovative form nowadays. &nbsp;

In yet another failed attempt, nearly $3 million worth of methamphetamine, which was hidden in small packages within a shipment of onions, was seized by US Customs and Border Protection officers. &nbsp;

The catch was made at a commercial facility in San Diego, the agency said. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-ukraine-conflict-us-uk-eu-to-put-crippling-sanctions-on-russian-central-bank-block-swift-456943" hreflang="en">Over Ukraine conflict, US, UK, EU to put crippling sanctions on Russian central bank, block SWIFT</a>

In a news release on Friday, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that federal officers at the Otay Mesa port-of-entry facility on last Sunday encountered a 46-year-old man, who was driving a tractor trailer containing a large shipment "manifested as onions." &nbsp;

In initial inspection of the vehicle, an officer directed the driver and shipment to a more intensive examination, which was conducted by the agency's K-9 team, the release said. &nbsp;

A detector dog&nbsp;alerted the officers. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-us-warship-sailing-in-taiwan-strait-provocative-456800" hreflang="en">China says US warship sailing in Taiwan Strait 'provocative'</a>

Around 1,197 packages of meth, which was roughly 1,336 pounds, were found. It's worth an estimated value of $2.9 million, as per CBP. &nbsp;

The packages, which were mixed with the onion shipment in sacks, "were shaped into small globes with a white covering, designed to blend into the onions they were hidden with," the release said. &nbsp;

The driver, an unidentified Mexico citizen, has been arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt. He has been handed over to the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) for "further disposition," as per CBP. The tractor&nbsp;and trailer have also been seized, the agency said. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Drug smugglers around the world have been making several attempts to bring contraband into one or the other innovative form nowadays. In yet another failed attempt, nearly $3 million worth of methamphetamine, which was hidden in small packages within a shipment of onions, was seized by US Customs and Border Protection officers.

Drug smugglers around the world have been making several attempts to bring contraband into one or the other innovative form nowadays. In yet another failed attempt, nearly $3 million worth of methamphetamine, which was hidden in small packages within a shipment of onions, was seized by US Customs and Border Protection officers. The catch was made at a commercial facility in San Diego, the agency said. Also Read: Over Ukraine conflict, US, UK, EU to put crippling sanctions on Russian central bank, block SWIFT In a news release on Friday, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that federal officers at the Otay Mesa port-of-entry facility on last Sunday encountered a 46-year-old man, who was driving a tractor trailer containing a large shipment "manifested as onions." In initial inspection of the vehicle, an officer directed the driver and shipment to a more intensive examination, which was conducted by the agency's K-9 team, the release said. A detector dog alerted the officers. Also Read: China says US warship sailing in Taiwan Strait 'provocative' Around 1,197 packages of meth, which was roughly 1,336 pounds, were found. It's worth an estimated value of $2.9 million, as per CBP. The packages, which were mixed with the onion shipment in sacks, "were shaped into small globes with a white covering, designed to blend into the onions they were hidden with," the release said. The driver, an unidentified Mexico citizen, has been arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt. He has been handed over to the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) for "further disposition," as per CBP. The tractor and trailer have also been seized, the agency said. (With inputs from agencies)

Drugs or onions? $3 million worth methamphetamine seized in US

Malaysia's coast guard made its largest-ever seizure of Methamphetamine as it seized 2.12 tonnes of the drug. The value of the cache is USD 26.2 million. The drugs were disguised as tea in a shipment believed to have come from Myanmar.

Coastguard chief Zubil Mat Som said the drugs found on a boat in northern Penang state were worth around 105.9 ringgit ($26.2 million). A local suspected trafficker was arrested.

"It is the coastguard's record-breaking seizure in its 15-year history," he told AFP.

He said that it was likely that the drug was smuggled out from Myanmar's 'Golden Triangle'.

Mat Som said that the shipment may have meant to be sent to other countries where it would fetch more price than in Malaysia.

Zubil said on December 9 a coastguard vessel had noticed a recreational boat moving suspiciously off Penang island in broad daylight.

A chase ensued after a lone 26-year-old man aboard refused to stop. He subsequently jumped off the vessel and was arrested, the coastguard said in a statement.

Malaysian law provides for a mandatory death penalty for convicted drug traffickers.

(With AFP inputs)

Malaysia's coast guard made its largest-ever seizure of Methamphetamine as it seized 2.12 tonnes of the drug. The value of the cache is USD 26.2 million. The drugs were disguised as tea in a shipment believed to have come from Myanmar.

Malaysia's coast guard made its largest-ever seizure of Methamphetamine as it seized 2.12 tonnes of the drug. The value of the cache is USD 26.2 million. The drugs were disguised as tea in a shipment believed to have come from Myanmar. Coastguard chief Zubil Mat Som said the drugs found on a boat in northern Penang state were worth around 105.9 ringgit ($26.2 million). A local suspected trafficker was arrested. "It is the coastguard's record-breaking seizure in its 15-year history," he told AFP. He said that it was likely that the drug was smuggled out from Myanmar's 'Golden Triangle'. Mat Som said that the shipment may have meant to be sent to other countries where it would fetch more price than in Malaysia. Zubil said on December 9 a coastguard vessel had noticed a recreational boat moving suspiciously off Penang island in broad daylight. A chase ensued after a lone 26-year-old man aboard refused to stop. He subsequently jumped off the vessel and was arrested, the coastguard said in a statement. Malaysian law provides for a mandatory death penalty for convicted drug traffickers. (With AFP inputs)

Malaysian coast guard seizes 2 tonnes of meth worth $26 million

&nbsp;A Chinese court sentenced a Canadian national to death on Tuesday for producing and trafficking the addictive stimulant methamphetamine, amid heightened tension between Beijing and Ottawa over the arrest of a Huawei Technologies executive.

Canadian Fan Wei was a leader in the production and trafficking scheme, the Jiangmen Intermediate People`s Court said in a statement.

In response, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-pm-justin-trudeau-warns-of-russian-interference-in-parliamentary-polls-208261&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjSg5eEpvrhAhXm7HMBHRSzDOM4ChAWMAB6BAgDEAI&amp;usg=AOvVaw00uEVtwogwFH353UWwWS3G">Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland </a>condemned the use of the death penalty, calling it "cruel and inhumane punishment which should not be used in any country."&nbsp;

"We`re very concerned by this sentence.

Canada stands firmly opposed to the use of the death penalty everywhere.

&nbsp;We are obviously particularly concerned when it is applied to Canadians," she told reporters in Ottawa.

Canada`s foreign ministry, in a separate statement, said Canadian officials attended the verdict and sentencing for Fan and called on China to grant him clemency.

"Global Affairs Canada has been closely following this case and has been providing consular assistance to Mr Fan and his family since he was first detained in 2012," it added.

Another suspect, Wu Ziping, was sentenced to death but Wu`s nationality was not given.&nbsp;

The court also issued judgements against nine other people, including one American and four Mexicans.

It did not specify what sentences five of the nine received, though it indicated the minimum they got was life in prison.

It said the other four were jailed but did not say for how long.

Court officials could not be reached for comment.

All 11 can appeal their sentences.

The fan is the second Canadian to be sentenced to death for drug offences in China this year, during a period of escalating tension between the two countries.

In December, Canadian police arrested Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, at the request of US&nbsp;prosecutors.

US prosecutors have portrayed the company as a threat to national security and alleged it conspired to violate US&nbsp;sanctions.

Both Meng, who is out on bail, and Huawei deny the allegations.

China recently arrested two Canadians on national security grounds.

China has also cancelled Canadian agribusiness Richardson International Ltd`s registration to ship canola to China this year.&nbsp;

A Chinese court sentenced a Canadian national to death on Tuesday for producing and trafficking the addictive stimulant methamphetamine, amid heightened tension between Beijing and Ottawa over the arrest of a Huawei Technologies executive.

A Chinese court sentenced a Canadian national to death on Tuesday for producing and trafficking the addictive stimulant methamphetamine, amid heightened tension between Beijing and Ottawa over the arrest of a Huawei Technologies executive. Canadian Fan Wei was a leader in the production and trafficking scheme, the Jiangmen Intermediate People`s Court said in a statement. In response, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland condemned the use of the death penalty, calling it "cruel and inhumane punishment which should not be used in any country." "We`re very concerned by this sentence. Canada stands firmly opposed to the use of the death penalty everywhere. We are obviously particularly concerned when it is applied to Canadians," she told reporters in Ottawa. Canada`s foreign ministry, in a separate statement, said Canadian officials attended the verdict and sentencing for Fan and called on China to grant him clemency. "Global Affairs Canada has been closely following this case and has been providing consular assistance to Mr Fan and his family since he was first detained in 2012," it added. Another suspect, Wu Ziping, was sentenced to death but Wu`s nationality was not given. The court also issued judgements against nine other people, including one American and four Mexicans. It did not specify what sentences five of the nine received, though it indicated the minimum they got was life in prison. It said the other four were jailed but did not say for how long. Court officials could not be reached for comment. All 11 can appeal their sentences. The fan is the second Canadian to be sentenced to death for drug offences in China this year, during a period of escalating tension between the two countries. In December, Canadian police arrested Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, at the request of US prosecutors. US prosecutors have portrayed the company as a threat to national security and alleged it conspired to violate US sanctions. Both Meng, who is out on bail, and Huawei deny the allegations. China recently arrested two Canadians on national security grounds. China has also cancelled Canadian agribusiness Richardson International Ltd`s registration to ship canola to China this year.

China sentences Canadian to death for drug offences

Methamphetamine production has reached "unprecedented levels" in Southeast Asia and has expanded its market in the eastern part of the continent, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said on Monday.

The experts pointed out to the Golden Triangle region - where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet - as the main origin of methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs and said that they are trafficked to neighbouring countries in the region and beyond.

In the year 2018, at least 116 tons of methamphetamine was seized in the region, which was 30 per cent more than the year before.

"Volumes of methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs originating from the Golden Triangle to Thailand have reached unprecedented levels", said Niyom Termsrisuk, Secretary-General of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) of Thailand.

"Large amounts of synthetic drugs have been trafficked to neighbouring countries in the region, but also further," Niyom added.

The increase in the production of methamphetamine is leading to a decline in the price of the drug on the black market and an increase has been registered in the confiscations by the authorities.

"The challenge is growing, and it is critical we work with UNODC and the region to curtail flows of precursor chemicals that are being used to produce methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs," Niyom said in a statement released by UNODC.

The organization explained the growing trend of expansion of methamphetamine in East Asia - China registered a record number of seizures last year - and other substances produced in the laboratories situated in the Golden Triangle region.

"Aside from methamphetamine which is getting most of the attention because of the surge in seizures and street price drops, synthetic opioids and other drugs have also been found across the region", said Jeremy Douglas, UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

“National leadership and authorities are starting to come to terms with how profoundly synthetics are changing the drug market, and we hope they use the coming Mekong Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok and ASEAN leadership meetings to reflect on the situation and their strategy – this is not business as usual, and it is past time to change the response," Douglas added.&nbsp;

Methamphetamine production has reached "unprecedented levels" in Southeast Asia and has expanded its market in the eastern part of the continent, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said on Monday.

Methamphetamine production has reached "unprecedented levels" in Southeast Asia and has expanded its market in the eastern part of the continent, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said on Monday. The experts pointed out to the Golden Triangle region - where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet - as the main origin of methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs and said that they are trafficked to neighbouring countries in the region and beyond. In the year 2018, at least 116 tons of methamphetamine was seized in the region, which was 30 per cent more than the year before. "Volumes of methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs originating from the Golden Triangle to Thailand have reached unprecedented levels", said Niyom Termsrisuk, Secretary-General of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) of Thailand. "Large amounts of synthetic drugs have been trafficked to neighbouring countries in the region, but also further," Niyom added. The increase in the production of methamphetamine is leading to a decline in the price of the drug on the black market and an increase has been registered in the confiscations by the authorities. "The challenge is growing, and it is critical we work with UNODC and the region to curtail flows of precursor chemicals that are being used to produce methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs," Niyom said in a statement released by UNODC. The organization explained the growing trend of expansion of methamphetamine in East Asia - China registered a record number of seizures last year - and other substances produced in the laboratories situated in the Golden Triangle region. "Aside from methamphetamine which is getting most of the attention because of the surge in seizures and street price drops, synthetic opioids and other drugs have also been found across the region", said Jeremy Douglas, UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. “National leadership and authorities are starting to come to terms with how profoundly synthetics are changing the drug market, and we hope they use the coming Mekong Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok and ASEAN leadership meetings to reflect on the situation and their strategy – this is not business as usual, and it is past time to change the response," Douglas added.

Methamphetamine production sees record surge in Southeast Asia: UN

Malaysia&nbsp;has made its largest ever seizure of crystal methamphetamine, officials said on Monday, finding nearly 1.2 tonnes of the drug disguised as tea in a shipment from Myanmar, and arrested six suspected traffickers.

The bust comes as Southeast Asia reports a flood of the stimulant throughout the region.

Indonesia and Thailand have also made record seizures of the drug this year.

A total of 1,187 kg of the drug, worth 71 million ringgit ($18 million), was shipped in a container from Yangon, Myanmar, to Port Klang, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Customs Director-General Subromaniam Tholasy told reporters.

"This is the biggest seizure seen in our history in terms of value and weight," he said.

Crystal methamphetamine is a form of methamphetamine, a highly addictive synthetic drug also known as speed, shabu and yaba.

The shipment, seized on May 22, had been declared "foodstuff" and was bound for a&nbsp;Malaysian trading company based in a Kuala Lumpur suburb, Subromaniam said.

Customs officials displayed the shipment, packed in golden yellow tea packets, at its narcotics operations headquarters in Nilai, near Kuala Lumpur.

Three Myanmar nationals and three&nbsp;Malaysians were arrested during the operation.

"We are still investigating, but we believe the syndicate involved has links with syndicates in Myanmar," Subromaniam said, adding that officials also seized a small amount of heroin and about 1 million contraband cigarettes.

The methamphetamine market has expanded at an alarming rate in Asia, with experts in several countries in the region reporting an increase in its use in 2015.

Methamphetamine represents the greatest global health threat, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime&nbsp;said in a 2017 World Drug report said.

Myanmar has for decades been a producer of opium and its refined form, heroin, and has become the source of most of Southeast Asia's methamphetamine, which is mostly produced in lawless border regions outside the government's control.

A total of 1,187 kg of the drug, worth 71 million ringgit ($18 million), was shipped in a container from Yangon, Myanmar, to Port Klang

Malaysia has made its largest ever seizure of crystal methamphetamine, officials said on Monday, finding nearly 1.2 tonnes of the drug disguised as tea in a shipment from Myanmar, and arrested six suspected traffickers. The bust comes as Southeast Asia reports a flood of the stimulant throughout the region. Indonesia and Thailand have also made record seizures of the drug this year. A total of 1,187 kg of the drug, worth 71 million ringgit ($18 million), was shipped in a container from Yangon, Myanmar, to Port Klang, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Customs Director-General Subromaniam Tholasy told reporters. "This is the biggest seizure seen in our history in terms of value and weight," he said. Crystal methamphetamine is a form of methamphetamine, a highly addictive synthetic drug also known as speed, shabu and yaba. The shipment, seized on May 22, had been declared "foodstuff" and was bound for a Malaysian trading company based in a Kuala Lumpur suburb, Subromaniam said. Customs officials displayed the shipment, packed in golden yellow tea packets, at its narcotics operations headquarters in Nilai, near Kuala Lumpur. Three Myanmar nationals and three Malaysians were arrested during the operation. "We are still investigating, but we believe the syndicate involved has links with syndicates in Myanmar," Subromaniam said, adding that officials also seized a small amount of heroin and about 1 million contraband cigarettes. The methamphetamine market has expanded at an alarming rate in Asia, with experts in several countries in the region reporting an increase in its use in 2015. Methamphetamine represents the greatest global health threat, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said in a 2017 World Drug report said. Myanmar has for decades been a producer of opium and its refined form, heroin, and has become the source of most of Southeast Asia's methamphetamine, which is mostly produced in lawless border regions outside the government's control.

Malaysians make record bust of crystal meth, shipped from Myanmar

Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia torched nearly $1 billion worth of seized narcotics on Monday, a defiant show of force as police struggle to stem the rising flow of drugs in the region.

The burnings, to mark the UN&#39;s world anti-drugs day, follow another year of record seizures of narcotics from the remote borderlands of Myanmar, Laos, southern China and northern Thailand.

Myanmar in particular remains one of the world&#39;s great drug-producing nations, a dark legacy of decades of civil war in its frontier regions where troops and ethnic rebel forces have vied for control of the lucrative trade.

Armed gangs churn out vast quantities of opium, heroin and cannabis and millions of caffeine-laced methamphetamine pills known as &quot;yaba&quot; which are then smuggled out across Southeast Asia.

An estimated $385 million was burnt in three official ceremonies around Myanmar on Monday, according to a senior police officer in the capital Naypyidaw.

At the biggest bonfire in Yangon, huge clouds of smoke filled the sky as authorities set fire to stacks of opium, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine tablets worth almost $230 million. &nbsp;

&quot;We burnt a record amount of drugs today... because police have seized more in recent years,&quot; drug enforcement officer Myo Kyi told AFP.

On an industrial estate on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thai authorities incinerated some $589 million worth of drugs including 7,800 kilogrammes of yaba pills and 1,185 kilogrammes of the more potent crystal methamphetamine.&nbsp;

And in Cambodia, officials burned 130 kilogrammes of drugs estimated to be worth some $4 million.&nbsp;

The huge seizures are often touted as proof these countries are making inroads into the vast regional drug trade.&nbsp;But law enforcement agents say they are just the tip of the iceberg as producers ramp up production to meet growing demand across Southeast Asia and increasingly in Bangladesh and India.

And unlike their Latin American counterparts, cartel leaders in the Golden Triangle are rarely ever arrested or killed.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Rising production

The senior officer in Naypyidaw said almost all of the drugs burned at Myanmar&#39;s official ceremonies originated in the eastern state of Shan in areas controlled by ethnic armed groups.

The kingpins are the United Wa State Army, a 25,000-strong militia known as Asia&#39;s most heavily-armed drug dealers who boast their own autonomous territories on the border with China and have close links with Beijing.

Despite their reputation, the Wa deny producing drugs and even staged their own burning session on Monday in the village of Ponpakyin.

Myanmar has also been struggling to stem a growing tide of drug addiction inside its borders. Experts say yaba use has exploded as ethnic armed gangs switched from exporting all the pills abroad to increasingly targeting domestic users.

Buddhist monks and military officers were among 13,500 people prosecuted for drugs crimes in 2016, up 50 per cent from the previous year, according to data seen by AFP.

&quot;Drug production has increased every year since 2006,&quot; Yangon police chief Win Naing told crowds gathered for Monday&#39;s ceremony on the outskirts of the city.

In a bid to combat the growing scourge, Myanmar&#39;s new civilian government is seeking to overhaul stringent anti-drug laws brought in under the former military government. Current legislation means anyone found with even small amounts of drugs can be jailed for years.&nbsp;

Thailand meanwhile has the world&#39;s sixth-largest prison population and the tenth highest incarceration rate in the world, largely thanks to its strict anti-drug laws.

&nbsp;

But while the enormous piles of drugs seem like a lot, experts say it's just the tip of the iceberg as producers ramp up production

Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia torched nearly $1 billion worth of seized narcotics on Monday, a defiant show of force as police struggle to stem the rising flow of drugs in the region. The burnings, to mark the UN's world anti-drugs day, follow another year of record seizures of narcotics from the remote borderlands of Myanmar, Laos, southern China and northern Thailand. Myanmar in particular remains one of the world's great drug-producing nations, a dark legacy of decades of civil war in its frontier regions where troops and ethnic rebel forces have vied for control of the lucrative trade. Armed gangs churn out vast quantities of opium, heroin and cannabis and millions of caffeine-laced methamphetamine pills known as "yaba" which are then smuggled out across Southeast Asia. An estimated $385 million was burnt in three official ceremonies around Myanmar on Monday, according to a senior police officer in the capital Naypyidaw. At the biggest bonfire in Yangon, huge clouds of smoke filled the sky as authorities set fire to stacks of opium, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine tablets worth almost $230 million. "We burnt a record amount of drugs today... because police have seized more in recent years," drug enforcement officer Myo Kyi told AFP. On an industrial estate on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thai authorities incinerated some $589 million worth of drugs including 7,800 kilogrammes of yaba pills and 1,185 kilogrammes of the more potent crystal methamphetamine. And in Cambodia, officials burned 130 kilogrammes of drugs estimated to be worth some $4 million. The huge seizures are often touted as proof these countries are making inroads into the vast regional drug trade. But law enforcement agents say they are just the tip of the iceberg as producers ramp up production to meet growing demand across Southeast Asia and increasingly in Bangladesh and India. And unlike their Latin American counterparts, cartel leaders in the Golden Triangle are rarely ever arrested or killed. Rising production The senior officer in Naypyidaw said almost all of the drugs burned at Myanmar's official ceremonies originated in the eastern state of Shan in areas controlled by ethnic armed groups. The kingpins are the United Wa State Army, a 25,000-strong militia known as Asia's most heavily-armed drug dealers who boast their own autonomous territories on the border with China and have close links with Beijing. Despite their reputation, the Wa deny producing drugs and even staged their own burning session on Monday in the village of Ponpakyin. Myanmar has also been struggling to stem a growing tide of drug addiction inside its borders. Experts say yaba use has exploded as ethnic armed gangs switched from exporting all the pills abroad to increasingly targeting domestic users. Buddhist monks and military officers were among 13,500 people prosecuted for drugs crimes in 2016, up 50 per cent from the previous year, according to data seen by AFP. "Drug production has increased every year since 2006," Yangon police chief Win Naing told crowds gathered for Monday's ceremony on the outskirts of the city. In a bid to combat the growing scourge, Myanmar's new civilian government is seeking to overhaul stringent anti-drug laws brought in under the former military government. Current legislation means anyone found with even small amounts of drugs can be jailed for years. Thailand meanwhile has the world's sixth-largest prison population and the tenth highest incarceration rate in the world, largely thanks to its strict anti-drug laws.

Southeast Asian nations burn $1 billion of seized drugs

<div style="text-align: justify;">The mind cheater 
 
&ldquo;This drug cheats your mind. When you start using it, you stop sleeping and eating. You just stop thinking that these are basic necessities.&nbsp;Nowadays&nbsp;many are doing it on daily basis and you can clearly see it in their eyes, in their body. The more you use it, the more you need it,&rdquo; says&nbsp;Ranjeev, in his forties, who asked to change his name to protect his identity. &ldquo;I also do it sometimes for recreational use,&rdquo; he says smiling while whiping off his cigarette&#39;s ashes. 
 
&ldquo;It is very quick in deteriorating your body. In only three months you see people perishing, they start losing weight consistently, they lose their teeth, become pale and nervous,&rdquo; he says.&nbsp; 
 
The drug he is speaking about looks like a common tablet and has many names in the streets of Asia:&nbsp;YaBa, WY and bhul&nbsp;bhuliya, to name a few. Bright pink and vanilla-flavoured, it contains methamphetamine, the powerful and extremely addictive stimulant that has already become the main US drug problem and is now storming Asia.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
It can be smoked, crushed and snorted,&nbsp;ingested&nbsp;or even diluted and injected.&nbsp;In this part of the world, most users burn it on a foil and inhale the smoke through a straw. 
 
Methamphetamine is making the fortune of many criminal organisations worldwide, from Mexico to the&nbsp;Philippines. It is mainly because it is easy and cheap to produce. Starting from commonly available pharmaceutical products it is possible to obtain the&nbsp;crystal-shape drug in a lab. There is no necessity of natural precursors like opium poppies for heroin or coca trees for cocaine, nor of big spaces.&nbsp; 
 
The well settled Myanmar criminal networks seem to have understood the game well: almost all South Asian methamphetamine comes directly from their country, the largest producer on earth.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The rules of the game 
 
How can Myanmar, a country with approximately no indigenous pharmaceutical production, become the major supplier of a drug made out of pharmaceutical precursors?&nbsp; 
 
Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are the fundamental ingredients to prepare methamphetamine. These are legal and widely used substances in medicine to decongest respiratory tracts or to tackle low blood pressure.&nbsp; 
 
In the past, ephedrine used to be made out of the bushy plant Ephedra, but now it is entirely&nbsp;synthetic. This process requires very big chemical plants which Myanmar does not have, but India and China do. The two countries are among the top three largest ephedrine exporters in the world.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Constant seizures speak the truth, the last being approximately one month ago when Myanmar police seized 60 kilograms of Indian pseudoephedrine worth roughly $1.7 million.&nbsp; 
 
Almost all Indian&nbsp;ephedrine reaches Myanmar illegally: there is no consistent legal trade between the two countries.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
The precursor is produced under government control in India and every&nbsp;license&nbsp;must be vetoed by the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB), which is normally very strict when it comes to allowing the commerce with countries commonly known for their drug production.&nbsp; 
 
Lucrative&nbsp;businesses always&nbsp;find&nbsp;their ways though, and so has been for ephedrine. The major Indian ephedrine producers are all located in the Southern part of the country, mainly close to Mumbai and in the Tamil Nadu region. The illegal path towards Myanmar does not seem to start directly from their plants, which are too controlled to risk.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/5-20160808031413.jpg" /> 
A police woman stands close to a huge quantity of seized methamphetamine. (AFP) 
 
&quot;It is not the big producers who manage the trafficking. It all happens at the wholesalers level.&nbsp;Their numerous&nbsp;transactions makes it difficult to control extensively,&quot; says, Romesh Bhattacharji, former commissioner of the Central Bureau of Narcotics who was posted in India&#39;s northeast&nbsp;border&nbsp;for six years.&nbsp; 
 
The mechanism is roughly this: a wholesaler buys legally a bulk of ephedrine meant to produce, for instance, cough&nbsp;syrup. Once the&nbsp;medicine&nbsp;is ready, wholesalers prepare many smaller shipments towards other companies, often created on purpose and mainly located in India&#39;s northeast. From there, Indian ephedrine goes &ldquo;off the records&rdquo; and is smuggled into Myanmar.&nbsp; 
 
The country is the largest methamphetamine producer on earth, a status that requires a massive supply of ephedrine: hundreds of kilograms at the minimum. Such quantity can not be smuggled through a petty network, it requires a well organized structure with a large control of the territory.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The trail 
 
Manipur, along with the other northeastern Indian states of Mizoram and Nagaland, plays the main role in this part of the story.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
These regions share a long, porous and hilly border with Myanmar, a strip of land covered with jungle and with a strong history of smuggling. People have always smuggled goods in these area, from Chinese grocery to luxury items like jade, gold and sandalwood.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Smuggling has been there on the northeast border since many years,&quot; says&nbsp;Bhattacharji. 
&nbsp; 
For decades, the region has also been home to a low intensity war between the Indian Army and the many small&nbsp;separatist&nbsp;ethnic guerrilla groups, some of which are still active and in full control of pockets of territory.&nbsp; 
 
The main port of entrance from Myanmar is the Manipuri city of&nbsp;Moreh, where there is an official checkpoint used every day by thousands of citizens travelling between the two countries to buy and sell their products in the many local markets.&nbsp; 
 
The fact that&nbsp;Moreh&nbsp;is an official point of access does not mean it is the only one. Roads run all along the Indo-Myanmar border and the loopholes are potentially infinite for those who know perfectly the lay of the land.&nbsp; 
 
Along this muddy, unpaved streets there are many warehouses, where ephedrine in its various forms is stocked and hidden. &quot;They hide trucks in warehouses and they unload goods during the night,&quot; says&nbsp;Bhattacharji. 
 
Despite its strong presence, the Indian Army cannot physically control everything that moves along the border. In many cases, there is also a lack of awareness among border security forces about the nature and the real final use of ephedrine. If camouflaged, tablets or&nbsp;liquid&nbsp;substances containing ephedrine could easily look like any other medicine. The true nature can only be discovered after proper chemical&nbsp;analysis, a measure that policemen have not always the time to carry on.&nbsp; 
 
The small money, the big money 
 
Not all ephedrine seized in Myanmar comes from India; Chinese criminal syndicates are also&nbsp;playing&nbsp;a big role in the game. These groups have traditional ties with many Myanmar&nbsp;drug lords, a &ldquo;friendship&rdquo; that is probably turning useful for the ephedrine trade. The channel is the same that China has used for decades to arm the ethnic guerrilla groups in Myanmar. It is a constant of contraband all over the world: once a route is set up, it does not matter for what good it is used.&nbsp; 
 
A similar law rules drug trafficking. Criminal organisations do not really care about the drug they deal with. They care about profits. Myanmar has been a major opium exporter for centuries and the country&#39;s powerful and deep-rooted criminal organisations have built an enormous fortune from opium. Methamphetamine, for them, is just another way to make money, to diversify their investments and increase profits. From a business perspective, it has been a good choice since there are no relevant competitors in the southern part of Asia. There is, for now, no other state where criminal networks enjoy the same level of impunity and protection they have in Myanmar.&nbsp; 
 
YaBa&nbsp;has been&nbsp;available&nbsp;in South East Asia for a long time, especially in Thailand where a lighter version of it was even considered legal&nbsp;unitl&nbsp;the 70s. It was commonly used by long distance drivers and daily workers to beat tiredness. Due to its stimulating effect,&nbsp;YaBa&nbsp;is currently used in the sex market, a phenomenon for which several countries in the area are sadly famous.&nbsp; 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/1-20160808021432.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
A Thai official puts methamphetamine tablets into a bin before destroying them. (AFP)
</div>
 
In the last five years, the red vanilla tablet has opened its way to South Asian countries, especially Bangladesh which turned out to be a major consumer. According to the Central anti-Smuggling Force,&nbsp;YaBa tablet seizures&nbsp;in the country have increased from 2.8 million pills in 2013 to 23.2 million in 2015 and local authorities are also suspecting the existence of a small indigenous production.&nbsp; 
 
The drug follows the same route of every other goods smuggled from Myanmar: it follow the river&nbsp;Naaf&nbsp;which runs for tens of&nbsp;kilometres&nbsp;along the southern border between&nbsp;Chittagong&nbsp;and the Rakhine state.&nbsp; 
 
Indian market is not currently a privileged place of destination for this drug, which is used only in the northeastern states of the country and mainly in urban areas. It is probably just a matter of time for such an addictive drug to gain a foothold.&nbsp; 
 
This despite the bizarre finding of this reporter who during his research discovered that on a popular Indian online retailer, it is possible to buy YaBa pills. WION did not try to buy the drug and therefore was not able to verify if the advertisement leads to a real delivery or not. 
 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/ya%20ba%20indiamart-20160808022917.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
&nbsp;
</div>
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/again%20online%20yaba-20160808022613.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
&nbsp;
</div>

The Product
Around the world, methamphetamine is commonly sold in its traditional&nbsp;crystalline&nbsp;form and prices vary according to the purity levels.&nbsp;Crystals&nbsp;are not cheap, a gram of an average quality cost roughly $100, which can increase up to $300 for the highest quality. A recreational user can get high for three to four days with one gram, but an addict can consume up to three grams a day.&nbsp; 
 
These prices are too high to make pure methamphetamine a drug for mass consumption in the South Asian market, the biggest consumer is in fact China.&nbsp;YaBa has been able to fill this gap: the tablet contains 15 to 20 per cent of meth, thus consistently reducing the end user&#39;s cost. The best-quality pill costs approximately $1. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/3-20160808021737.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Parts confiscated crystal meth drug is displayed to journalists during a press conference in Germany. (AFP)
</div>
 
It is still not clear what is the &#39;methamphetamine turnover&#39;, but a quick look at the latest seizures suggests enormous figures. In June, Myanmar police seized YaBa tablets for a street value of more than $36 million. A few months earlier, they seized YaBa worth $100 million. 
 
Considering that seizures normally represent only a minor part of the production, the economy of methamphetamine could be worth billions of Dollars. 
&nbsp; 
Fallout&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;The impact on the traditional subcontinent user could be devastating,&rdquo; says Kunal&nbsp;Kishore,&nbsp;responsible for the overall management of the regional project on the prevention of HIV and AIDS amongst South Asian drugs users at&nbsp;the United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). 
 
&quot;India is a place where there has been a large use of downer drugs, like heroin and opium. Several users are now combining these drugs with methamphetamine, thus beginning a cycle that never ends and turns out to be very dangerous for their health,&rdquo; he says.&nbsp; 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/4-20160808021925.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
A user smoking meth. Representative image. (AFP)
</div>
 
India and its&nbsp;neighbouring&nbsp;countries have traditionally been places where&nbsp;users&nbsp;favoured&nbsp;sedative drugs.&nbsp;Methamphetamine gives the opposite effect and the mix could become deadly in many ways.&nbsp; 
 
Heroin users start using methamphetamine to fight the sense of weakness between their doses. This leads to a sense of invincibility due to which one feels like being able to inject more heroin and the cycle begins. In the meanwhile they stop eating and sleeping.&nbsp; 
 
The more heroin users inject, the less control they have on themselves and on the basic hygienic norms related to needles use, thus increasing consistently the risk of contracting HIV. &quot;The chance of people starting to inject meth extensively is our biggest concern,&quot; says Kishore. 
 
Down with heroin, up with meth, down and up, again and again. Deprived&nbsp;of&nbsp;sleep and hunger, a user ends up spending all of his&nbsp;time and money after drugs.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;I have seen people who used heroin for a long time and managed to control their addiction, at least through using safe needles, screwing everything up with meth. They started smoking&nbsp;YaBa&nbsp;and in a few months became like ghosts,&rdquo; says Ranjeet sadly, throwing away his cigarette.&nbsp;</div>

Tons of ephedrine are smuggled everyday from India's northeast into Myanmar, the largest methamphetamine producer on earth

The mind cheater “This drug cheats your mind. When you start using it, you stop sleeping and eating. You just stop thinking that these are basic necessities. Nowadays many are doing it on daily basis and you can clearly see it in their eyes, in their body. The more you use it, the more you need it,” says Ranjeev, in his forties, who asked to change his name to protect his identity. “I also do it sometimes for recreational use,” he says smiling while whiping off his cigarette's ashes. “It is very quick in deteriorating your body. In only three months you see people perishing, they start losing weight consistently, they lose their teeth, become pale and nervous,” he says. The drug he is speaking about looks like a common tablet and has many names in the streets of Asia: YaBa, WY and bhul bhuliya, to name a few. Bright pink and vanilla-flavoured, it contains methamphetamine, the powerful and extremely addictive stimulant that has already become the main US drug problem and is now storming Asia. It can be smoked, crushed and snorted, ingested or even diluted and injected. In this part of the world, most users burn it on a foil and inhale the smoke through a straw. Methamphetamine is making the fortune of many criminal organisations worldwide, from Mexico to the Philippines. It is mainly because it is easy and cheap to produce. Starting from commonly available pharmaceutical products it is possible to obtain the crystal-shape drug in a lab. There is no necessity of natural precursors like opium poppies for heroin or coca trees for cocaine, nor of big spaces. The well settled Myanmar criminal networks seem to have understood the game well: almost all South Asian methamphetamine comes directly from their country, the largest producer on earth. The rules of the game How can Myanmar, a country with approximately no indigenous pharmaceutical production, become the major supplier of a drug made out of pharmaceutical precursors? Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are the fundamental ingredients to prepare methamphetamine. These are legal and widely used substances in medicine to decongest respiratory tracts or to tackle low blood pressure. In the past, ephedrine used to be made out of the bushy plant Ephedra, but now it is entirely synthetic. This process requires very big chemical plants which Myanmar does not have, but India and China do. The two countries are among the top three largest ephedrine exporters in the world. Constant seizures speak the truth, the last being approximately one month ago when Myanmar police seized 60 kilograms of Indian pseudoephedrine worth roughly $1.7 million. Almost all Indian ephedrine reaches Myanmar illegally: there is no consistent legal trade between the two countries. The precursor is produced under government control in India and every license must be vetoed by the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB), which is normally very strict when it comes to allowing the commerce with countries commonly known for their drug production. Lucrative businesses always find their ways though, and so has been for ephedrine. The major Indian ephedrine producers are all located in the Southern part of the country, mainly close to Mumbai and in the Tamil Nadu region. The illegal path towards Myanmar does not seem to start directly from their plants, which are too controlled to risk. A police woman stands close to a huge quantity of seized methamphetamine. (AFP) "It is not the big producers who manage the trafficking. It all happens at the wholesalers level. Their numerous transactions makes it difficult to control extensively," says, Romesh Bhattacharji, former commissioner of the Central Bureau of Narcotics who was posted in India's northeast border for six years. The mechanism is roughly this: a wholesaler buys legally a bulk of ephedrine meant to produce, for instance, cough syrup. Once the medicine is ready, wholesalers prepare many smaller shipments towards other companies, often created on purpose and mainly located in India's northeast. From there, Indian ephedrine goes “off the records” and is smuggled into Myanmar. The country is the largest methamphetamine producer on earth, a status that requires a massive supply of ephedrine: hundreds of kilograms at the minimum. Such quantity can not be smuggled through a petty network, it requires a well organized structure with a large control of the territory. The trail Manipur, along with the other northeastern Indian states of Mizoram and Nagaland, plays the main role in this part of the story. These regions share a long, porous and hilly border with Myanmar, a strip of land covered with jungle and with a strong history of smuggling. People have always smuggled goods in these area, from Chinese grocery to luxury items like jade, gold and sandalwood. "Smuggling has been there on the northeast border since many years," says Bhattacharji. For decades, the region has also been home to a low intensity war between the Indian Army and the many small separatist ethnic guerrilla groups, some of which are still active and in full control of pockets of territory. The main port of entrance from Myanmar is the Manipuri city of Moreh, where there is an official checkpoint used every day by thousands of citizens travelling between the two countries to buy and sell their products in the many local markets. The fact that Moreh is an official point of access does not mean it is the only one. Roads run all along the Indo-Myanmar border and the loopholes are potentially infinite for those who know perfectly the lay of the land. Along this muddy, unpaved streets there are many warehouses, where ephedrine in its various forms is stocked and hidden. "They hide trucks in warehouses and they unload goods during the night," says Bhattacharji. Despite its strong presence, the Indian Army cannot physically control everything that moves along the border. In many cases, there is also a lack of awareness among border security forces about the nature and the real final use of ephedrine. If camouflaged, tablets or liquid substances containing ephedrine could easily look like any other medicine. The true nature can only be discovered after proper chemical analysis, a measure that policemen have not always the time to carry on. The small money, the big money Not all ephedrine seized in Myanmar comes from India; Chinese criminal syndicates are also playing a big role in the game. These groups have traditional ties with many Myanmar drug lords, a “friendship” that is probably turning useful for the ephedrine trade. The channel is the same that China has used for decades to arm the ethnic guerrilla groups in Myanmar. It is a constant of contraband all over the world: once a route is set up, it does not matter for what good it is used. A similar law rules drug trafficking. Criminal organisations do not really care about the drug they deal with. They care about profits. Myanmar has been a major opium exporter for centuries and the country's powerful and deep-rooted criminal organisations have built an enormous fortune from opium. Methamphetamine, for them, is just another way to make money, to diversify their investments and increase profits. From a business perspective, it has been a good choice since there are no relevant competitors in the southern part of Asia. There is, for now, no other state where criminal networks enjoy the same level of impunity and protection they have in Myanmar. YaBa has been available in South East Asia for a long time, especially in Thailand where a lighter version of it was even considered legal unitl the 70s. It was commonly used by long distance drivers and daily workers to beat tiredness. Due to its stimulating effect, YaBa is currently used in the sex market, a phenomenon for which several countries in the area are sadly famous. A Thai official puts methamphetamine tablets into a bin before destroying them. (AFP) In the last five years, the red vanilla tablet has opened its way to South Asian countries, especially Bangladesh which turned out to be a major consumer. According to the Central anti-Smuggling Force, YaBa tablet seizures in the country have increased from 2.8 million pills in 2013 to 23.2 million in 2015 and local authorities are also suspecting the existence of a small indigenous production. The drug follows the same route of every other goods smuggled from Myanmar: it follow the river Naaf which runs for tens of kilometres along the southern border between Chittagong and the Rakhine state. Indian market is not currently a privileged place of destination for this drug, which is used only in the northeastern states of the country and mainly in urban areas. It is probably just a matter of time for such an addictive drug to gain a foothold. This despite the bizarre finding of this reporter who during his research discovered that on a popular Indian online retailer, it is possible to buy YaBa pills. WION did not try to buy the drug and therefore was not able to verify if the advertisement leads to a real delivery or not. The Product Around the world, methamphetamine is commonly sold in its traditional crystalline form and prices vary according to the purity levels. Crystals are not cheap, a gram of an average quality cost roughly $100, which can increase up to $300 for the highest quality. A recreational user can get high for three to four days with one gram, but an addict can consume up to three grams a day. These prices are too high to make pure methamphetamine a drug for mass consumption in the South Asian market, the biggest consumer is in fact China. YaBa has been able to fill this gap: the tablet contains 15 to 20 per cent of meth, thus consistently reducing the end user's cost. The best-quality pill costs approximately $1. Parts confiscated crystal meth drug is displayed to journalists during a press conference in Germany. (AFP) It is still not clear what is the 'methamphetamine turnover', but a quick look at the latest seizures suggests enormous figures. In June, Myanmar police seized YaBa tablets for a street value of more than $36 million. A few months earlier, they seized YaBa worth $100 million. Considering that seizures normally represent only a minor part of the production, the economy of methamphetamine could be worth billions of Dollars. Fallout “The impact on the traditional subcontinent user could be devastating,” says Kunal Kishore, responsible for the overall management of the regional project on the prevention of HIV and AIDS amongst South Asian drugs users at the United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). "India is a place where there has been a large use of downer drugs, like heroin and opium. Several users are now combining these drugs with methamphetamine, thus beginning a cycle that never ends and turns out to be very dangerous for their health,” he says. A user smoking meth. Representative image. (AFP) India and its neighbouring countries have traditionally been places where users favoured sedative drugs. Methamphetamine gives the opposite effect and the mix could become deadly in many ways. Heroin users start using methamphetamine to fight the sense of weakness between their doses. This leads to a sense of invincibility due to which one feels like being able to inject more heroin and the cycle begins. In the meanwhile they stop eating and sleeping. The more heroin users inject, the less control they have on themselves and on the basic hygienic norms related to needles use, thus increasing consistently the risk of contracting HIV. "The chance of people starting to inject meth extensively is our biggest concern," says Kishore. Down with heroin, up with meth, down and up, again and again. Deprived of sleep and hunger, a user ends up spending all of his time and money after drugs. “I have seen people who used heroin for a long time and managed to control their addiction, at least through using safe needles, screwing everything up with meth. They started smoking YaBa and in a few months became like ghosts,” says Ranjeet sadly, throwing away his cigarette.

Indian ephedrine fuels Myanmar's meth labs

Somsak Sreesomsong was 18 when he was jailed for selling illegal drugs. Now, turning 30, he is not yet half way through his 33-year sentence at Bangkok&#39;s high-security Klong Prem prison. 
 
Somsak was &quot;just a kid, not a big-time dealer&quot;, his older brother Panit told Reuters after a visit to the jail. &quot;We&#39;re also serving time, waiting for him to get out so he can help the family.&quot; 
 
More than a decade after Thailand declared a &quot;war on drugs&quot;, the country is admitting defeat. As the prison population soars, Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya told Reuters he was looking at changes to the country&#39;s draconian drug laws. 
 
&quot;I want to de-classify methamphetamine but Thailand is not ready yet,&quot; said Paiboon, meaning downgrading the drug, popularly known as &quot;meth&quot;, from a Category 1 substance, which would reduce jail time for possession or dealing. 
 
Use of methamphetamine is spiralling across Southeast Asia, and authorities are struggling to respond. 
 
In the Philippines, which has some of the highest rates of &quot;meth&quot; use, police killings of drug suspects have spiked since the swearing-in of President Rodrigo Duterte, elected on a platform of harsh measures to wipe out drug crime. 
 
Myanmar, the source of much of the drugs flooding through the region, is bracing for an explosion in domestic use.&nbsp;Overall, drugs supply in Southeast Asia, especially of methamphetamine, is at a record level, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). 
 
Harsh punishments 
 
In common with much of the region, Thailand&#39;s criminal justice system treats drug offenders harshly.&nbsp;Producing and trading in Category 1 drugs, which also include heroin, MDMA - the main chemical for ecstasy pills - and LSD, is punishable by death or life imprisonment. 
 
Klong Prem is home to 6,267 inmates serving sentences that range from 15 years to life, with 64 per cent convicted of drug-related crimes.&nbsp;A typical cell measures 5 x 10 feet and sleeps five inmates, side-by-side on dark blue mattress on the floor. 
 
&quot;Some of the men, especially the foreign prisoners, are pretty big, so it&#39;s a squeeze for them,&quot; said one prison guard. 
 
Lengthy sentences for drug offences are part of the reason why Thai jails struggle with chronic overcrowding, according to both Justice Minister Paiboon and UN experts. 
 
Thailand has approximately 40 per cent of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations&#39; prison population, despite having only 10 per cent of the bloc&#39;s total population, the UNODC says. 
 
Paiboon, an army general and senior member of the junta that seized power in a 2014 coup, said in an interview that Thailand would build more prisons, including 17 temporary jails for prisoners who have served at least a third of their sentence. 
 
He added that his priority was to tackle drug trafficking and addiction - an ambitious plan in a country where a record number of people use methamphetamines, known in Thai as &quot;ya ba&quot; or &quot;crazy medicine&quot;, according to a 2015 UN report. 
 
A crackdown launched by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2003 aimed at suppressing drug trafficking killed more than 2,800 people, according to an independent inquiry chaired by a former attorney general. 
 
But the country&#39;s growing number of drug users and bulging jails have forced policymakers to think again. 
 
&quot;The world has lost the war on drugs, not only Thailand,&quot; said Paiboon. &quot;We have clear numbers that drug use has increased over the past three years. Another indicator is there are more prisoners.&quot; 
 
Crisis point 
 
A 2015 report by the Institute for Criminal Policy Research shows Thailand has the fourth highest number of women imprisoned in the world, after the United States, China and Russia. 
 
&quot;We know from meeting and interviewing prisoners, including female prisoners, in Thailand, that the impact is profoundly negative for families,&quot; said Jeremy Douglas, the UNODC&#39;s Asia-Pacific chief. 
 
One former female inmate, who declined to be named because of the social stigma attached to drug offenders in Thailand, said she was jailed for three years after being caught with 20 methamphetamine pills. 
 
&quot;My boyfriend was the dealer. I was carrying the pills for him. My son doesn&#39;t want anything to do with me now,&quot; she said. 
 
The number of inmates jailed for drug convictions has almost doubled over the past decade, Thai Department of Corrections figures showed, a result of unsparing sentencing that puts even petty users behind bars. 
 
&quot;We need to change sentencing and make a distinction between small and big time dealers,&quot; said Klong Prem prison commander Thawatchai Chaiywat. &quot;Thailand thinks prisons are a panacea for all crimes, including drug crimes.&quot; 
 
In the meantime, Thailand&#39;s jails grow ever more crowded. Corrections department figures for July showed a prison population of 321,347, with around 70 per cent jailed for drugs offences. 
 
Institute for Criminal Policy Research data showed Thailand has the eighth highest incarceration rate in the world. 
 
&quot;The situation has approached a noticeable crisis point,&quot; said UNODC chief Douglas. &quot;The reality is that talk has not yet moved to action and the prison population is still growing.&quot; ($1 = 35.1100 baht) 
 
(Reuters)

Corrections department figures show 70 per cent of prison population jailed for drugs offences. Even petty offenders are sentenced harshly

Somsak Sreesomsong was 18 when he was jailed for selling illegal drugs. Now, turning 30, he is not yet half way through his 33-year sentence at Bangkok's high-security Klong Prem prison. Somsak was "just a kid, not a big-time dealer", his older brother Panit told Reuters after a visit to the jail. "We're also serving time, waiting for him to get out so he can help the family." More than a decade after Thailand declared a "war on drugs", the country is admitting defeat. As the prison population soars, Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya told Reuters he was looking at changes to the country's draconian drug laws. "I want to de-classify methamphetamine but Thailand is not ready yet," said Paiboon, meaning downgrading the drug, popularly known as "meth", from a Category 1 substance, which would reduce jail time for possession or dealing. Use of methamphetamine is spiralling across Southeast Asia, and authorities are struggling to respond. In the Philippines, which has some of the highest rates of "meth" use, police killings of drug suspects have spiked since the swearing-in of President Rodrigo Duterte, elected on a platform of harsh measures to wipe out drug crime. Myanmar, the source of much of the drugs flooding through the region, is bracing for an explosion in domestic use. Overall, drugs supply in Southeast Asia, especially of methamphetamine, is at a record level, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Harsh punishments In common with much of the region, Thailand's criminal justice system treats drug offenders harshly. Producing and trading in Category 1 drugs, which also include heroin, MDMA - the main chemical for ecstasy pills - and LSD, is punishable by death or life imprisonment. Klong Prem is home to 6,267 inmates serving sentences that range from 15 years to life, with 64 per cent convicted of drug-related crimes. A typical cell measures 5 x 10 feet and sleeps five inmates, side-by-side on dark blue mattress on the floor. "Some of the men, especially the foreign prisoners, are pretty big, so it's a squeeze for them," said one prison guard. Lengthy sentences for drug offences are part of the reason why Thai jails struggle with chronic overcrowding, according to both Justice Minister Paiboon and UN experts. Thailand has approximately 40 per cent of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' prison population, despite having only 10 per cent of the bloc's total population, the UNODC says. Paiboon, an army general and senior member of the junta that seized power in a 2014 coup, said in an interview that Thailand would build more prisons, including 17 temporary jails for prisoners who have served at least a third of their sentence. He added that his priority was to tackle drug trafficking and addiction - an ambitious plan in a country where a record number of people use methamphetamines, known in Thai as "ya ba" or "crazy medicine", according to a 2015 UN report. A crackdown launched by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2003 aimed at suppressing drug trafficking killed more than 2,800 people, according to an independent inquiry chaired by a former attorney general. But the country's growing number of drug users and bulging jails have forced policymakers to think again. "The world has lost the war on drugs, not only Thailand," said Paiboon. "We have clear numbers that drug use has increased over the past three years. Another indicator is there are more prisoners." Crisis point A 2015 report by the Institute for Criminal Policy Research shows Thailand has the fourth highest number of women imprisoned in the world, after the United States, China and Russia. "We know from meeting and interviewing prisoners, including female prisoners, in Thailand, that the impact is profoundly negative for families," said Jeremy Douglas, the UNODC's Asia-Pacific chief. One former female inmate, who declined to be named because of the social stigma attached to drug offenders in Thailand, said she was jailed for three years after being caught with 20 methamphetamine pills. "My boyfriend was the dealer. I was carrying the pills for him. My son doesn't want anything to do with me now," she said. The number of inmates jailed for drug convictions has almost doubled over the past decade, Thai Department of Corrections figures showed, a result of unsparing sentencing that puts even petty users behind bars. "We need to change sentencing and make a distinction between small and big time dealers," said Klong Prem prison commander Thawatchai Chaiywat. "Thailand thinks prisons are a panacea for all crimes, including drug crimes." In the meantime, Thailand's jails grow ever more crowded. Corrections department figures for July showed a prison population of 321,347, with around 70 per cent jailed for drugs offences. Institute for Criminal Policy Research data showed Thailand has the eighth highest incarceration rate in the world. "The situation has approached a noticeable crisis point," said UNODC chief Douglas. "The reality is that talk has not yet moved to action and the prison population is still growing." ($1 = 35.1100 baht) (Reuters)

Soaring prison population prompts Thailand to re-think 'lost' drug war

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