Neighbourhood ravaged in pursuit of Ovidio Guzman, son of El Chapo

Mexican security forces on Thursday arrested one son of jailed drug kingpin Joaquin <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-rise-and-fall-of-el-chapo-236998">"El Chapo" Guzman</a> in an operation that triggered intense fighting.

Heavy gunfire rocked Culiacan, a city of 750,000 people, in sustained clashes that left blazing vehicles strewn across the street and sent terrified residents running for cover.

Security Minister Alfonso Durazo confirmed the arrest of a man identifying himself as Ovidio Guzman, one of the sons who assumed partial control of the notorious cartel run by their father until he was extradited to the United States in 2017.

Images carried on Mexican television showed army and police personnel under assault by men armed with heavy weapons.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said his security cabinet was holding a meeting and would soon give further details on the situation.

Sources in the Sinaloa state government speaking on condition of anonymity said police officers had been wounded.

They also said an unknown number of inmates had escaped from the Aguaruto prison in Culiacan amid the chaos.

The state government said it was "working to restore calm and order in the face of the high-impact incidents that have occurred in recent hours in various points around Culiacan."

It called on residents to "remain calm, stay off the streets and be very attentive to official advisories on the evolving situation."

The battle broke out in the afternoon near the state prosecutor's office, when masked gunmen blocked traffic and opened fire, causing panicked drivers to abandon their cars in the middle of the street.

The fighting then spread to several other parts of the city.

Gunmen blocked roads and highways around the city into the evening, bringing the capital to a standstill.

"El Chapo," 62, was sentenced to life in prison in July for trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana into the United States over the course of a quarter-century.

However, his Sinaloa cartel remains one of the most powerful in Mexico.

Guzman's extradition unleashed an initial period of instability in the group, as Ovidio and his brother Alfredo waged war with cartel co-founder, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, for control, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake.

But the situation has since stabilized into a reluctant truce.

Guzman, whose nickname means "Shorty," was rearrested in 2016 after a brazen prison escape, the second of his career.

He is considered the most powerful drug lord since Colombia's Pablo Escobar, who was killed in a police shootout in 1993.

After being convicted in a New York court, he is now serving his sentence in the notorious ADX federal maximum security prison in Colorado, nicknamed the "Alcatraz of the Rockies."

Ovidio and Alfredo have tried to fill their father's shoes, but anti-narcotics experts portray them as flashy party boys who have little ability to run the business side of the cartel.

Known as "Los Chapitos," or The Little Chapos, the pair were attacked in 2016 in a restaurant in the beach town of Puerto Vallarta.

They survived the attack, which the authorities called an attempted hit by rivals.

Mexican security forces on Thursday arrested one son of jailed drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman in an operation that triggered intense fighting. Heavy gunfire rocked Culiacan, a city of 750,000 people, in sustained clashes that left blazing vehicles strewn across the street and sent terrified residents running for cover.

Mexican security forces on Thursday arrested one son of jailed drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman in an operation that triggered intense fighting. Heavy gunfire rocked Culiacan, a city of 750,000 people, in sustained clashes that left blazing vehicles strewn across the street and sent terrified residents running for cover. Security Minister Alfonso Durazo confirmed the arrest of a man identifying himself as Ovidio Guzman, one of the sons who assumed partial control of the notorious cartel run by their father until he was extradited to the United States in 2017. Images carried on Mexican television showed army and police personnel under assault by men armed with heavy weapons. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said his security cabinet was holding a meeting and would soon give further details on the situation. Sources in the Sinaloa state government speaking on condition of anonymity said police officers had been wounded. They also said an unknown number of inmates had escaped from the Aguaruto prison in Culiacan amid the chaos. The state government said it was "working to restore calm and order in the face of the high-impact incidents that have occurred in recent hours in various points around Culiacan." It called on residents to "remain calm, stay off the streets and be very attentive to official advisories on the evolving situation." The battle broke out in the afternoon near the state prosecutor's office, when masked gunmen blocked traffic and opened fire, causing panicked drivers to abandon their cars in the middle of the street. The fighting then spread to several other parts of the city. Gunmen blocked roads and highways around the city into the evening, bringing the capital to a standstill. "El Chapo," 62, was sentenced to life in prison in July for trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana into the United States over the course of a quarter-century. However, his Sinaloa cartel remains one of the most powerful in Mexico. Guzman's extradition unleashed an initial period of instability in the group, as Ovidio and his brother Alfredo waged war with cartel co-founder, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, for control, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake. But the situation has since stabilized into a reluctant truce. Guzman, whose nickname means "Shorty," was rearrested in 2016 after a brazen prison escape, the second of his career. He is considered the most powerful drug lord since Colombia's Pablo Escobar, who was killed in a police shootout in 1993. After being convicted in a New York court, he is now serving his sentence in the notorious ADX federal maximum security prison in Colorado, nicknamed the "Alcatraz of the Rockies." Ovidio and Alfredo have tried to fill their father's shoes, but anti-narcotics experts portray them as flashy party boys who have little ability to run the business side of the cartel. Known as "Los Chapitos," or The Little Chapos, the pair were attacked in 2016 in a restaurant in the beach town of Puerto Vallarta. They survived the attack, which the authorities called an attempted hit by rivals.

Fierce gun battles as El Chapo's son arrested in Mexico

The Philippines' police chief stepped down on Monday less than a month before his retirement after he was accused of involvement in "recycling" confiscated drugs, an allegation that could undermine the government's anti-narcotics campaign.

President Rodrigo Duterte has made a<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-war-on-drugs-and-crime-intensifies-at-least-58-killed-this-week-19125"> bloody war on drugs</a> his signature campaign, to the approval of most voters, despite international outrage about the bloodshed amid fears many suspected dealers have been killed by police in staged encounters and by death squads.

Duterte has rejected the accusations.

In testimony that has raised questions about the government's campaign, witnesses in Senate inquiries have accused police chief Oscar Albayalde of protecting officers who sold confiscated narcotics back onto the black market.

Albayalde denied the accusations and had ruled out resigning.

On Monday, he referred to the hearing and the fact he was being implicated in the scandal and said he was stepping down to make way for a new police chief.

"After careful thought and deliberation, I have come to the decision to relinquish my post as chief of the Philippine National Police," Albayalde said in the speech to police officers.

Albayalde, the second chief of the 191,000-strong force under Duterte, was the head of the Pampanga provincial police when 13 of its officers were accused of stealing about 160 kg&nbsp;of narcotics seized in a 2013 raid.

Albayalde had sought to prevent the dismissal of the 13, Senate witnesses said.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo told ANC news channel that perhaps Albayalde was stepping down because he had had enough of the "the accusations, the innuendos".

"He wants to spare the entire organisation from whatever speculations, bad or false about him and the organisation," Panelo said.

Albayalde was set to retire on Nov. 8.

The police are spearheading the anti-drugs campaign. They say they have killed more than 6,700 suspected drug dealers who resisted arrest, and deny involvement in the mysterious killing of thousands more suspected drug users.

But Duterte has at times criticised the force, once deriding it as "rotten to the core" and twice suspending anti-narcotics operations until the police cleaned up the force.

The thousands of killings, mostly of poor urban people, have alarmed rights groups. The 47-member U.N. Human Rights Council in July approved a resolution to investigate the crackdown.

Duterte condemned the proposed investigation.

The Philippines' police chief stepped down on Monday less than a month before his retirement after he was accused of involvement in "recycling" confiscated drugs, an allegation that could undermine the government's anti-narcotics campaign.

The Philippines' police chief stepped down on Monday less than a month before his retirement after he was accused of involvement in "recycling" confiscated drugs, an allegation that could undermine the government's anti-narcotics campaign. President Rodrigo Duterte has made a bloody war on drugs his signature campaign, to the approval of most voters, despite international outrage about the bloodshed amid fears many suspected dealers have been killed by police in staged encounters and by death squads. Duterte has rejected the accusations. In testimony that has raised questions about the government's campaign, witnesses in Senate inquiries have accused police chief Oscar Albayalde of protecting officers who sold confiscated narcotics back onto the black market. Albayalde denied the accusations and had ruled out resigning. On Monday, he referred to the hearing and the fact he was being implicated in the scandal and said he was stepping down to make way for a new police chief. "After careful thought and deliberation, I have come to the decision to relinquish my post as chief of the Philippine National Police," Albayalde said in the speech to police officers. Albayalde, the second chief of the 191,000-strong force under Duterte, was the head of the Pampanga provincial police when 13 of its officers were accused of stealing about 160 kg of narcotics seized in a 2013 raid. Albayalde had sought to prevent the dismissal of the 13, Senate witnesses said. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo told ANC news channel that perhaps Albayalde was stepping down because he had had enough of the "the accusations, the innuendos". "He wants to spare the entire organisation from whatever speculations, bad or false about him and the organisation," Panelo said. Albayalde was set to retire on Nov. 8. The police are spearheading the anti-drugs campaign. They say they have killed more than 6,700 suspected drug dealers who resisted arrest, and deny involvement in the mysterious killing of thousands more suspected drug users. But Duterte has at times criticised the force, once deriding it as "rotten to the core" and twice suspending anti-narcotics operations until the police cleaned up the force. The thousands of killings, mostly of poor urban people, have alarmed rights groups. The 47-member U.N. Human Rights Council in July approved a resolution to investigate the crackdown. Duterte condemned the proposed investigation.

Top Philippine cop resigns after accusation of link to drug scandal

The Indian Coast Guard on Tuesday announced it had seized a fishing boat registered in Karachi, Pakistan, off the coast of Gujarat and confiscated 194 packets of narcotics substance from it.

Gujarat: Coast Guard seizes Pakistani boat with 194 packets of narcotics

Bangladesh seized a record 53 million methamphetamine pills in 2018 — up 33 per cent in a year — amid a deadly nationwide crackdown on the trade, officials said Sunday.

Nearly 300 suspected <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/arrested-and-killed-inside-the-bangladesh-prime-ministers-war-on-drugs-158786">drug dealers</a> were killed last year, according to authorities, who insisted the seizure figure was proof that their campaign was working.

Rights groups said the record haul showed the deaths had failed to make an impact on the trade.

The government Department of Narcotics Control said the drug — popularly known as 'yaba', a Thai word meaning 'crazy medicine' — was seized across the South Asian nation of 165 million people.

"It is the highest amount seized in a year," Bazlur Rahman, a department deputy director, told AFP.

Masum-e-Rabbani, another senior official at the department, said the record haul was proof that a crackdown launched in May last year was yielding "positive" results.

He said there has been a significant decline in the use and sale of yaba.

Nearly 300 suspected drug dealers were killed by security forces in the campaign and some 25,000 arrests made, according to Rabbani.

Human rights groups say many of the deaths amount to extrajudicial killings, however.

More than 40 were killed in the town of Teknaf, which borders Myanmar's troubled Rakhine state and is close to the refugee camps housing about one million Rohingya Muslims.

Bangladesh has struggled to control a surge in yaba imports crossing the border from Myanmar, where the pills are manufactured by the millions.

The pills have become an easy source of income for the Rohingya who poured across the border after the Myanmar military launched a clampdown in Rakhine in August 2017.

The refugees act as carriers, handing over the pills to dealers on the Bangladesh side of the border who then take them to major cities, according to police.

In October, authorities made yaba a class-A banned substance and parliament passed a law allowing the death penalty for dealing the drug.

A top rights activist said the record yaba seizure meant the hundreds of deaths had failed to make a serious dent in the drug trade.

"It proves that the police crackdown is not working. They need a different approach," an-Nur Khan Liton, a former head of rights group Ain O Salish Kendra, told AFP. 
&nbsp;

Bangladesh seized a record 53 million methamphetamine pills in 2018 — up 33 per cent in a year — amid a deadly nationwide crackdown on the trade, officials said Sunday.

Bangladesh seized a record 53 million methamphetamine pills in 2018 — up 33 per cent in a year — amid a deadly nationwide crackdown on the trade, officials said Sunday. Nearly 300 suspected drug dealers were killed last year, according to authorities, who insisted the seizure figure was proof that their campaign was working. Rights groups said the record haul showed the deaths had failed to make an impact on the trade. The government Department of Narcotics Control said the drug — popularly known as 'yaba', a Thai word meaning 'crazy medicine' — was seized across the South Asian nation of 165 million people. "It is the highest amount seized in a year," Bazlur Rahman, a department deputy director, told AFP. Masum-e-Rabbani, another senior official at the department, said the record haul was proof that a crackdown launched in May last year was yielding "positive" results. He said there has been a significant decline in the use and sale of yaba. Nearly 300 suspected drug dealers were killed by security forces in the campaign and some 25,000 arrests made, according to Rabbani. Human rights groups say many of the deaths amount to extrajudicial killings, however. More than 40 were killed in the town of Teknaf, which borders Myanmar's troubled Rakhine state and is close to the refugee camps housing about one million Rohingya Muslims. Bangladesh has struggled to control a surge in yaba imports crossing the border from Myanmar, where the pills are manufactured by the millions. The pills have become an easy source of income for the Rohingya who poured across the border after the Myanmar military launched a clampdown in Rakhine in August 2017. The refugees act as carriers, handing over the pills to dealers on the Bangladesh side of the border who then take them to major cities, according to police. In October, authorities made yaba a class-A banned substance and parliament passed a law allowing the death penalty for dealing the drug. A top rights activist said the record yaba seizure meant the hundreds of deaths had failed to make a serious dent in the drug trade. "It proves that the police crackdown is not working. They need a different approach," an-Nur Khan Liton, a former head of rights group Ain O Salish Kendra, told AFP.

Bangladesh makes record drugs seizure amid crackdown

Former 'Bigg Boss' contestant Ajaz Khan was arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Cell from a hotel in Mumbai for possession of drugs on Monday night. According to reports, the team found eight ecstasy tablets in his possession. The actor will be produced before a court on Tuesday.

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Mumbai: Actor Ajaz Khan arrested from a hotel in Bekasur by Anti-Narcotics Cell of the Mumbai police last night, in possession of banned narcotic substance (8 ecstasy tablets); he will be produced before a court today. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maharashtra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maharashtra</a>
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This is not the first time that Khan has been arrested. in 2016, the actor was arrested for allegedly sending obscene photos and lewd messages to a hairstylist. He was released on a bail of Rs 10,000 by a Mumbai court later.

Khan appeared in the seventh season of 'Bigg Boss'. &nbsp;He has also appeared on Comedy Nights Bachao, Box Cricket League and Comedy Nights with Kapil.

Former 'Bigg Boss' contestant Ajaz Khan was arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Cell from a hotel in Mumbai for possession of drugs on Monday night. According to reports, the team found eight ecstasy tablets in his possession.

Former 'Bigg Boss' contestant Ajaz Khan was arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Cell from a hotel in Mumbai for possession of drugs on Monday night. According to reports, the team found eight ecstasy tablets in his possession. The actor will be produced before a court on Tuesday. Mumbai: Actor Ajaz Khan arrested from a hotel in Bekasur by Anti-Narcotics Cell of the Mumbai police last night, in possession of banned narcotic substance (8 ecstasy tablets); he will be produced before a court today. #Maharashtra — ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2018 × This is not the first time that Khan has been arrested. in 2016, the actor was arrested for allegedly sending obscene photos and lewd messages to a hairstylist. He was released on a bail of Rs 10,000 by a Mumbai court later. Khan appeared in the seventh season of 'Bigg Boss'. He has also appeared on Comedy Nights Bachao, Box Cricket League and Comedy Nights with Kapil.

'Bigg Boss' star Ajaz Khan arrested for possession of drugs

Myanmar troops seized $7 million worth of narcotics, precursors and equipment in a raid on drug labs in the restive north, the army said Monday, as it continues a war against ethnic rebels accused of profiting from the drug trade.

Soldiers and local officials found 259 kilogrammes (571 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine and 120 kg of opium in a sweep of the illicit drugs factory spread across 34 buildings near Lwalkhan, a village in war-hit Shan state near the Chinese border.

The army statement, posted on the commander-in-chief&#39;s Facebook page, also listed in rare detail the seized drug-producing equipment and precursors, including hundreds of barrels of acid and diesel, 750 bags of caustic soda, 22 freezers, 12 generators and huge caches of caffeine and other chemicals.&nbsp;

&quot;The Tatmadaw (military) seized the drugs in the raid and cooperated with the drug enforcement police team. The legal process is still ongoing,&quot; a senior police officer from the anti-drug department said on the condition of anonymity.

The bust took place in Kutkai township, where a record seizure last month brought in 30 million meth pills, two tonnes of &quot;ice&quot; -crystal meth- and heroin, with an estimated combined value of $54 million.&nbsp;

The raids come as the military continues its seasonal offensive against ethnic minority armed groups in the lawless border areas.

Last week alone, clashes between the army and rebels in Kutkai and neighbouring Hseni township displaced some 870 civilians, according to the UN&#39;s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Myanmar&#39;s conflict-riddled northeast is a hub for Asia&#39;s meth producers, who pump out narcotics that are showered across Southeast Asia and beyond.

Drugs trafficking fuels much of the fighting between the army and the ethnic rebels -- both of whom are accused of profiting from the illicit trade.

Myanmar is the second-largest opium producer in the world after Afghanistan, although a surge in demand for meth has caused a slump in poppy cultivation in recent years.

Rights groups accuse the military and armed groups of extrajudicial killings, torture and the recruitment of child soldiers.

Myanmar troops seized narcotics, precursors and equipment in a raid on drug labs in the restive north as it continues a war against ethnic rebels accused of profiting from the drug trade

Myanmar troops seized $7 million worth of narcotics, precursors and equipment in a raid on drug labs in the restive north, the army said Monday, as it continues a war against ethnic rebels accused of profiting from the drug trade. Soldiers and local officials found 259 kilogrammes (571 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine and 120 kg of opium in a sweep of the illicit drugs factory spread across 34 buildings near Lwalkhan, a village in war-hit Shan state near the Chinese border. The army statement, posted on the commander-in-chief's Facebook page, also listed in rare detail the seized drug-producing equipment and precursors, including hundreds of barrels of acid and diesel, 750 bags of caustic soda, 22 freezers, 12 generators and huge caches of caffeine and other chemicals. "The Tatmadaw (military) seized the drugs in the raid and cooperated with the drug enforcement police team. The legal process is still ongoing," a senior police officer from the anti-drug department said on the condition of anonymity. The bust took place in Kutkai township, where a record seizure last month brought in 30 million meth pills, two tonnes of "ice" -crystal meth- and heroin, with an estimated combined value of $54 million. The raids come as the military continues its seasonal offensive against ethnic minority armed groups in the lawless border areas. Last week alone, clashes between the army and rebels in Kutkai and neighbouring Hseni township displaced some 870 civilians, according to the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Myanmar's conflict-riddled northeast is a hub for Asia's meth producers, who pump out narcotics that are showered across Southeast Asia and beyond. Drugs trafficking fuels much of the fighting between the army and the ethnic rebels -- both of whom are accused of profiting from the illicit trade. Myanmar is the second-largest opium producer in the world after Afghanistan, although a surge in demand for meth has caused a slump in poppy cultivation in recent years. Rights groups accuse the military and armed groups of extrajudicial killings, torture and the recruitment of child soldiers.

Myanmar seizes drugs and equipment worth $7 million in lab raid

A woman in Montana allegedly called the police to report that she had bought &quot;bad meth&quot; that caused a &quot;bad taste in her mouth&quot;.

Meth or Methamphetamine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug. The drug has gained worldwide recognition courtesy to American drama series &quot;Breaking Bad&quot;.

On receiving the call, the police department in Great Falls city of Montana sent a police officer to 33-year-old Margery Ann Dayrider&#39;s residence, who had a bad reaction after injecting meth.

Dayrider mentioned to Officer Jon Marshall that the side effects of the reaction included vomiting, tingling tongue, bad taste in her mouth.

According to local media reports, Dayrider reported, &ldquo;I do meth three times a day every day and have never had this reaction before.&rdquo; She also mentioned that she, along with her boyfriend, had purchased the drug the night before and that she injected herself at 9 AM, 11 AM, and 3 PM.

She also told the patrolling police officer that she &ldquo;still had some meth inside her bra.&rdquo;

She then handed over the remaining meth to the officer. The field test of the crystalline substance was positive for methamphetamine.

Dayrider was arrested on a felony narcotics possession charge. The offence carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.

She also told the patrolling police officer that she 'still had some meth inside her bra'

A woman in Montana allegedly called the police to report that she had bought "bad meth" that caused a "bad taste in her mouth". Meth or Methamphetamine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug. The drug has gained worldwide recognition courtesy to American drama series "Breaking Bad". On receiving the call, the police department in Great Falls city of Montana sent a police officer to 33-year-old Margery Ann Dayrider's residence, who had a bad reaction after injecting meth. Dayrider mentioned to Officer Jon Marshall that the side effects of the reaction included vomiting, tingling tongue, bad taste in her mouth. According to local media reports, Dayrider reported, “I do meth three times a day every day and have never had this reaction before.” She also mentioned that she, along with her boyfriend, had purchased the drug the night before and that she injected herself at 9 AM, 11 AM, and 3 PM. She also told the patrolling police officer that she “still had some meth inside her bra.” She then handed over the remaining meth to the officer. The field test of the crystalline substance was positive for methamphetamine. Dayrider was arrested on a felony narcotics possession charge. The offence carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.

Woman calls police to complain about bad meth quality

Police began torching about a tonne of illegal drugs in Jakarta today, as Indonesian President Joko Widodo defended his tough war on narcotics.

Authorities wheeled out giant furnaces to incinerate some of the massive haul on display, including nearly half a tonne of methamphetamine, 190,000 ecstasy tablets and 420 kilogrammes (926 pounds) of marijuana.

Widodo and other top officials, wearing protective gloves and masks, inspected the drugs before tossing bags of pills into the incinerator.

Indonesia has tough drugs laws but Widodo has made combating narcotics a top priority since taking office in late 2014, resuming the execution of traffickers after an unofficial hiatus.

Eighteen convicted drug smugglers - including 15 foreigners - have been sent to the firing squad in Indonesia under his administration.

Widodo has defended his hardline stance, claiming Indonesia faces a &quot;drugs emergency&quot; and must act to protect the next generation.

&quot;Every year 15,000 Indonesian youth die because of drugs. How many drug dealers and traffickers die every year?&quot; he said.

&quot;When I see this evidence, it becomes clear we once again have to declare a war on drugs,&quot; he added, to applause.

Indonesia&#39;s drugs agency said in 2016 nearly a tonne of methamphetamine, three tonnes of marijuana and roughly 600,000 ecstasy pills had been seized.

They said the production of synthetic drugs was shifting to countries that were traditionally transit points for narcotics, like Indonesia.

Widodo ordered an official investigation in August into allegations top police and military officers took kickbacks from a drug kingpin to protect his lucrative business.

(AFP)

Indonesia has tough drugs laws but President Widodo has made combating narcotics a top priority since taking office in late 2014

Police began torching about a tonne of illegal drugs in Jakarta today, as Indonesian President Joko Widodo defended his tough war on narcotics. Authorities wheeled out giant furnaces to incinerate some of the massive haul on display, including nearly half a tonne of methamphetamine, 190,000 ecstasy tablets and 420 kilogrammes (926 pounds) of marijuana. Widodo and other top officials, wearing protective gloves and masks, inspected the drugs before tossing bags of pills into the incinerator. Indonesia has tough drugs laws but Widodo has made combating narcotics a top priority since taking office in late 2014, resuming the execution of traffickers after an unofficial hiatus. Eighteen convicted drug smugglers - including 15 foreigners - have been sent to the firing squad in Indonesia under his administration. Widodo has defended his hardline stance, claiming Indonesia faces a "drugs emergency" and must act to protect the next generation. "Every year 15,000 Indonesian youth die because of drugs. How many drug dealers and traffickers die every year?" he said. "When I see this evidence, it becomes clear we once again have to declare a war on drugs," he added, to applause. Indonesia's drugs agency said in 2016 nearly a tonne of methamphetamine, three tonnes of marijuana and roughly 600,000 ecstasy pills had been seized. They said the production of synthetic drugs was shifting to countries that were traditionally transit points for narcotics, like Indonesia. Widodo ordered an official investigation in August into allegations top police and military officers took kickbacks from a drug kingpin to protect his lucrative business. (AFP)

Indonesian police burn massive drug haul

A Philippine mayor detained for involvement in the country&#39;s illegal drug trade was killed along with another inmate in a shootout in prison on Saturday, police told.&nbsp;

Rolando Espinosa, the mayor of Albuera town in the central island of Leyte, had surrendered to the national police chief in August, saying he feared for his life. President Rodrigo Duterte had given orders to &quot;shoot on sight&quot; if the mayor and his son, accused of drug trafficking, resisted arrest.&nbsp;

But early on Saturday, police said Espinosa was killed in his cell in the provincial jail after he shot at officers during a search for illegal firearms. &quot;He fired on the raiding team. The raiding team fired back and this led to the mayor&#39;s death,&quot; chief inspector Leo Laraga of the regional police told AFP.&nbsp;

He is the second local official on Duterte&#39;s so-called &quot;narco-list&quot; to be killed in two weeks, as a bloody crackdown on illegal drug trade continues in the Southeast Asian country.&nbsp;

Police said they recovered a .45 caliber pistol and a .38 Super pistol from the cells Espinosa and the other inamte Yap. A small sachet containing suspected methamphetamine and assorted drug paraphernalia were also found inside Espinosa&#39;s cell, police said.

Earlier, Espinosa had publicly denied any part in the drug rade but said his son was peddling &quot;shabu&quot; (methamphetamine), which he gets from a jailed Chinese drug trader.

The presidential palace described his death as &quot;unfortunate&quot; and the national police said it was investigating the circumstances around his death as well as possible collusion between guards and inmates to get guns and drugs into the jail.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Albuera mayor, Espinosa was killed in his cell after he allegedly shot at police officers during a search for illegal firearms

A Philippine mayor detained for involvement in the country's illegal drug trade was killed along with another inmate in a shootout in prison on Saturday, police told. Rolando Espinosa, the mayor of Albuera town in the central island of Leyte, had surrendered to the national police chief in August, saying he feared for his life. President Rodrigo Duterte had given orders to "shoot on sight" if the mayor and his son, accused of drug trafficking, resisted arrest. But early on Saturday, police said Espinosa was killed in his cell in the provincial jail after he shot at officers during a search for illegal firearms. "He fired on the raiding team. The raiding team fired back and this led to the mayor's death," chief inspector Leo Laraga of the regional police told AFP. He is the second local official on Duterte's so-called "narco-list" to be killed in two weeks, as a bloody crackdown on illegal drug trade continues in the Southeast Asian country. Police said they recovered a .45 caliber pistol and a .38 Super pistol from the cells Espinosa and the other inamte Yap. A small sachet containing suspected methamphetamine and assorted drug paraphernalia were also found inside Espinosa's cell, police said. Earlier, Espinosa had publicly denied any part in the drug rade but said his son was peddling "shabu" (methamphetamine), which he gets from a jailed Chinese drug trader. The presidential palace described his death as "unfortunate" and the national police said it was investigating the circumstances around his death as well as possible collusion between guards and inmates to get guns and drugs into the jail. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Philippine mayor on Duterte's drug list killed in prison shootout

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who has led a bloody war on drug suspects, today named over 30 politicians, officials and judges whom he linked to narcotics and warned them to surrender. 
 
Police and shadowy vigilantes have been blamed for killing over 800 drug suspects since Duterte&#39;s election on May 9. 
 
&quot;Due process has nothing to do with my mouth. There are no proceedings here, no lawyers,&quot; Duterte said in a pre-dawn speech just before he began naming the suspects.&nbsp;He listed seven judges and over 25 current or former congressmen, mayors and other local officials whom he alleged were involved in illegal drugs. 
 
Duterte ordered their security escorts withdrawn and cancelled their firearms permits, adding that they would face sanctions. 
 
&quot;If you show the slightest violence in the resistance, I will tell the police, &#39;Shoot them&#39;,&quot; he told reporters and soldiers in the southern city of Davao. 
 
Duterte, who has gained widespread domestic popularity for his outspokenness, conceded &quot;I might be wrong&quot; about the guilt of those he named. 
 
He said the military and police had compiled the list which he insisted was not coloured by politics or personal links, adding that some of those named were even his friends. 
 
Duterte&#39;s spokesman Martin Andanar later said that criminal cases would be filed against those named. 
 
&quot;The president is encouraging all of the persons of interest, the alleged drug lords and drug coddlers to come out in the open, to surrender themselves and submit themselves to thorough investigation,&quot; he told reporters. 
 
Some of those named have since come out in radio and television and denied their guilt. 
 
Duterte won election by vowing to wage a war on illegal drugs and other crime that would claim tens of thousands of lives.&nbsp;He has ordered police not to hesitate to kill and even urged ordinary citizens and communist guerrillas to join in the bloodshed. 
 
The country&#39;s largest broadcaster ABS-CBN has listed 852 drug suspects killed since Duterte&#39;s election. 
 
In his speech, Duterte scoffed at human rights groups opposed to the killings, saying they were free to protest. 
 
&quot;I do not care,&quot; he said. 
 
However the head of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines made an emotional appeal to the public to denounce the wave of drug killings. 
 
&quot;I am a human being. That is all it takes for me to stand up and say &#39;enough&#39;,&quot; archbishop socrates Villegas said in a message read at all Catholic masses in his archdiocese, located 160 kilometres north of Manila. 
 
He said the largely Catholic Philippines was becoming a &quot;killing fields nation&quot; for tolerating the violence. 
 
Despite criticism from foreign and local human rights organisations and even UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, surveys have shown Duterte enjoys wide public support. 
 
(AFP)

Duterte ordered their security escorts withdrawn and cancelled their firearms permits, adding that they would face sanctions

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who has led a bloody war on drug suspects, today named over 30 politicians, officials and judges whom he linked to narcotics and warned them to surrender. Police and shadowy vigilantes have been blamed for killing over 800 drug suspects since Duterte's election on May 9. "Due process has nothing to do with my mouth. There are no proceedings here, no lawyers," Duterte said in a pre-dawn speech just before he began naming the suspects. He listed seven judges and over 25 current or former congressmen, mayors and other local officials whom he alleged were involved in illegal drugs. Duterte ordered their security escorts withdrawn and cancelled their firearms permits, adding that they would face sanctions. "If you show the slightest violence in the resistance, I will tell the police, 'Shoot them'," he told reporters and soldiers in the southern city of Davao. Duterte, who has gained widespread domestic popularity for his outspokenness, conceded "I might be wrong" about the guilt of those he named. He said the military and police had compiled the list which he insisted was not coloured by politics or personal links, adding that some of those named were even his friends. Duterte's spokesman Martin Andanar later said that criminal cases would be filed against those named. "The president is encouraging all of the persons of interest, the alleged drug lords and drug coddlers to come out in the open, to surrender themselves and submit themselves to thorough investigation," he told reporters. Some of those named have since come out in radio and television and denied their guilt. Duterte won election by vowing to wage a war on illegal drugs and other crime that would claim tens of thousands of lives. He has ordered police not to hesitate to kill and even urged ordinary citizens and communist guerrillas to join in the bloodshed. The country's largest broadcaster ABS-CBN has listed 852 drug suspects killed since Duterte's election. In his speech, Duterte scoffed at human rights groups opposed to the killings, saying they were free to protest. "I do not care," he said. However the head of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines made an emotional appeal to the public to denounce the wave of drug killings. "I am a human being. That is all it takes for me to stand up and say 'enough'," archbishop socrates Villegas said in a message read at all Catholic masses in his archdiocese, located 160 kilometres north of Manila. He said the largely Catholic Philippines was becoming a "killing fields nation" for tolerating the violence. Despite criticism from foreign and local human rights organisations and even UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, surveys have shown Duterte enjoys wide public support. (AFP)

Philippine president identifies 30 officials linked to narcotics

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