Federal agents investigating cocaine trafficking in New Mexico discovered 60 snakes—including venomous cobras, mambas, and an inland taipan—alongside half a pound of cocaine, three firearms, and $22,000 during a raid in the South Valley near Albuquerque.
A parliamentary inquiry into Labor's gambling legislation heard allegations that problem gamblers received cocaine and sex workers, which Sportsbet and Tabcorp denied.
Federal officers at the Calexico Port of Entry seized 1,002 pounds of cocaine, valued at over $20 million, hidden in a commercial truck. Driver Jose Manuel Lopez Lopez was arrested and charged with importing narcotics into the United States.
Anti-gambling campaigners Tim Costello and Luke Bateman alleged at a parliamentary inquiry that betting firms Sportsbet and Tabcorp supplied vulnerable customers with cocaine, alcohol and sex workers. The firms deny the claims, saying they have no evidence.
ABC removed two Four Corners episodes and a Background Briefing after concerns that reporter Mahmood Fazal used a hired Mercedes‑Benz and a fabricated story about a Sydney cocaine dealer, claims disputed by Fazal and the broadcaster.
Former rugby league player Luke Bateman alleged to a parliamentary inquiry that gambling companies supplied him with cocaine and alcohol, leading to a $1 million gambling addiction. He detailed VIP managers offering illicit drugs and personalized betting inducements, urging the Albanese government to implement tougher gambling advertising limits.
Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, brother of slain cartel leader "El Mencho," pleaded guilty in Washington to conspiring to traffic cocaine and methamphetamine into the U.S. He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for November 13.
A Malaysian pilot, identified as MS, was arrested at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta airport after flying from Kuala Lumpur, found with over 70,000 ecstasy pills and meth. He tested positive for drugs and could face the death penalty under Indonesia's strict anti-drug laws. Malaysia Airlines is conducting an internal review.
Cristian Volpato, 22, tested positive for cocaine after being stopped twice by police in Sydney for speeding, just days after playing for Australia in the 2026 World Cup.
Australian World Cup midfielder Cristian Volpato allegedly tested positive for cocaine after being stopped twice for speeding on Anzac Bridge in Sydney. Police suspended his international driver's licence for six months and are conducting further analysis of a secondary oral fluid sample.
Australian World Cup representative Cristian Volpato, 22, allegedly tested positive for cocaine during a roadside drug test after being stopped for speeding 50km/h over the limit on Sydney's Anzac Bridge early Friday morning, according to New South Wales police.
A news briefing highlights the Christian Brothers' agreement to compensate abuse survivors, new US trade tariffs on Australian exports, and domestic concerns over an impending El Niño summer, alongside other headlines including a Socceroos star's alleged drug test and airport advertising disputes.
Socceroos forward Cristian Volpato, 22, allegedly tested positive for cocaine after being stopped for speeding on Sydney's Anzac Bridge. He was driving 109km/h in a 60km/h zone and had his international driver's licence suspended for six months, with NSW police continuing inquiries.
Socceroos midfielder Cristian Volpato, 22, allegedly tested positive for cocaine after being stopped twice for speeding in Sydney. Police suspended his international driver's licence for six months, and further analysis of a secondary oral fluid sample is underway. Football Australia is monitoring the situation.
Socceroos player Cristian Volpato, 22, allegedly tested positive for cocaine after being stopped for speeding on Sydney's Anzac Bridge. He was issued a fine and had his international driver's licence suspended for six months in NSW, with further police inquiries ongoing.
The ABC has withdrawn two Four Corners programs, "Meth Highway" and "Cocaine Nation," by sacked reporter Mahmood Fazal, citing concerns about the veracity of sources used. The decision is separate from Fazal's termination for a podcast appearance with a former underworld figure.
Liberian authorities seized nearly four tonnes of cocaine, valued at $317 million, near Roberts International Airport, leading to two foreign nationals' arrests. President Joseph Boakai vowed to dismantle drug trafficking networks following what is described as one of the country's largest drug busts.
An ABC NEWS Verify investigation found that 'independent' One News Australia, which claims to be reader-funded, is a pro-One Nation outlet. It uses a non-existent editor, rebranded from 'One Nation Supporters Network', and is linked to a director who previously served jail time for cocaine dealing.
Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, will stand trial in the US on June 1, 2027, for drug trafficking charges. Captured by US forces in Caracas, they pleaded not guilty. The defense plans to challenge the indictment based on sovereign immunity and the legality of their capture.
Liberian authorities seized over $370m worth of cocaine in a raid near Monrovia, marking the country's largest drug bust. Several people, including two foreigners carrying Spanish, Colombian, and Serbian passports, were arrested following a long-running investigation into trafficking networks.
Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada García, 76, a co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel, was sentenced to life in a US federal court in Brooklyn after a plea deal for drug trafficking. He was also ordered to forfeit $15bn from drug trade profits.
Brett McMaster, a former Australian Army rifleman, received a suspended four-year prison sentence for trafficking 45 grams of cocaine to fellow ADF soldiers in Townsville. He was also fined $10,000 and ordered to repay $36,000 from a retention bonus.
Matteullah Siddiqi was found guilty in Glasgow of exploiting a 14-year-old schoolboy to sell crack cocaine and heroin, one of Scotland's first convictions of its kind under the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act. The boy was forced to skip school and stay in drug dens before teachers intervened. Siddiqi, 20, faces a lengthy prison term.
Colombian farmers like Perea and Hernández are returning to coca cultivation due to delayed government support and economic hardship, despite ambitious substitution programs like PNIS and the new RenHacemos. This highlights the ongoing challenges of replacing the illicit coca economy amid high global demand and fragile security.
