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drug trafficking

Police raid a building during a wave of arrests carried out against suspects in a drug and arms trafficking network in southern Israel and East Jerusalem, on July 13, 2026. (Israel Police)
July 13, 2026, 11:39 am
Police arrest dozens as undercover agent busts suspected arms, drug smuggling network
Police say operation marks first time Bedouin agent used for elite undercover probe; police say 4 M16s, dozens of handguns and cocaine among the contraband seized in multiple raids
By Charlie Summers
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks in a news briefing after attending a conference titled "International Law Under Assault: Aggression and Self-Defense," in Tehran, Iran, November 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
November 26, 2025, 11:39 am
Iran accuses US of ‘bullying’ Venezuela with anti-drug campaign
Trump has deployed the world’s largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean and launched airstrikes on drug trafficking vessels
By AFP
A greenhouse of khat plant in the south of Israel, on October 20, 2021. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
August 17, 2025, 3:48 pm
Greece intercepts massive drug shipment transiting from Israel
Bust at Athens International Airport valued at €1.5 million is biggest Greek seizure of smuggled khat leaf since 2014
By AFP
Pills of captagon are pictured after their burning to be disposed of upon their discovery at Mazzeh Military Airport in the west of Damascus on December 12, 2024. (Aris Messinis/AFP)
June 28, 2025, 4:19 pm
Syrian forces seize 3 million captagon pills in operation near Lebanese border
Damascus says forces set up a roadside ambush that ‘led to clashes between the security forces and members of the cell’; drug was key source of income for ousted Assad regime
By AFP
Weapons seized from a drone during an attempted smuggling over the Egyptian border, April 15, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
April 16, 2025, 9:15 am
IDF downs drone smuggling guns from Egypt, seizes weapons
Failed smuggling attempt one of several of past few weeks; recent months have seen IDF also down drones flying items from Israel to Gaza, as well as strike suspects on Gazan side
By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff
A member of the Syrian security forces searches a defunct drug factory inside an abandoned building near the village of Hawik in the countryside of Qusair, Syria on February 12, 2025. (Louai Beshara/AFP)
February 14, 2025, 4:42 pm
Remnants of Hezbollah drug ops found in abandoned factories in Syria
Large bags of captagon pills found in village of Qusair, where residents return after more than a decade of civil war
By AFP and ToI Staff
Four women suspected of trying to smuggle 15kg of cocaine and ketamine from Germany into Israel, arrive for a court hearing in Lod on February 2, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
January 6, 2025, 6:34 pm
Slap on the wrist for 3 women who tried to smuggle vast amounts of cocaine, ketamine
Judge hands down light sentences after defendants plead guilty and express regret for attempt to import contraband stuffed in shampoo bottles and video game consoles
By Charlie Summers
A Syrian rebel fighter holds a bag containing pills of captagon found at Mazzeh Military Airport in the west of Damascus on December 12, 2024. (Aris Messinis/AFP)
December 13, 2024, 2:44 am
Syrian rebels find heaps of illicit stimulant trafficked by Assad regime
Islamist-led fighters vow to destroy the vast quantities of captagon, the lucrative trade which helped keep the now-deposed strongman in power amid Syria’s civil war
By Dave Clark
FILE - Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov, seen after his meeting with Indonesian Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana, File)
August 26, 2024, 3:17 pm
France detains Telegram chief accused of failing to curb use of app for crime, terror
Russian-born founder also suspected of not preventing drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime on platform; Moscow says Paris ‘refusing to cooperate’ over detention
By Sylvie MALIGORNE, Julia Pavesi, Jurgen HECKER and Stuart Williams
Police officers arrest one of the unidentified gunmen who burst into a studio of the state-owned TC television while live, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on January 9, 2024, a day after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency following the escape from prison of a dangerous narco boss. (AFP)
January 10, 2024, 12:44 am
Armed men break into Ecuador live TV studio; president declares ‘internal conflict’
Daniel Noboa authorizes military to ‘neutralize’ 20 drug trafficking groups, amid series of attacks after top gang leader escaped from prison
By AP
Drugs found in the Tel Aviv home of a doctor, September 19, 2023. (Israel Police)
September 19, 2023, 2:45 pm
Doctor arrested for importing date rape drugs from abroad
Cops raid Tel Aviv resident’s home, find more substances suspected to be illegal drugs; he is released to house arrest
By ToI Staff
Bottles of almond syrup allegedly used to smuggle cocaine into the country, June 10, 2023. (Israel Police)
June 11, 2023, 12:40 pm
Police bust drug ring smuggling large cocaine haul disguised as almond syrup
Some 140 liters of liquefied drug imported from South America, valued at tens of millions of shekels; suspects from Qalansawe, Tira, and northern villages arrested
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: A prisoner being held in an Iranian prison. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)
May 15, 2023, 5:10 pm
Iran executes five people for ‘armed drug smuggling’
Hangings follow executions of several others in past week for drug trafficking, desecrating the Quran and insulting Muhammad
By AFP
Illustrative: Khat leaves (YouTube screenshot)
March 17, 2023, 9:25 pm
Israeli TikTok star, 3 others arrested in France for trying to smuggle khat leaves
Four suspected of trying to bring 220 kilograms intro country; stimulant leaves are legal in Israel but not in Europe
By ToI Staff
Four women suspected of trying to smuggle 15kg of cocaine and ketamine from Germany into Israel, arrive for a court hearing in Lod on February 2, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
February 3, 2023, 10:43 am
4 women indicted for attempting to smuggle drugs worth millions
Young suspects accused of trying to ferry 15 kilos of cocaine and ketamine through airport by concealing them in PlayStation, toiletry containers
By Ash Obel
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