All articles tagged with #drug trafficking
Facing a long-running border dispute over drug trafficking and security, Ecuador raised tariffs on Colombian imports to 100% (effective May 1), following earlier 50% hikes. The move drew sharp rebuke from Colombia's Gustavo Petro, who warned it could spell the end of the Andean Pact and push focus toward Mercosur, amid broader tensions including ambassador recalls and cross-border energy disruptions.
Jasveen Sangha, the 'Ketamine Queen,' was sentenced to 15 years in a Los Angeles federal prison for supplying ketamine—including the dose linked to Matthew Perry’s death—after pleading guilty to five counts; prosecutors said she was among the most culpable in a network that included doctors and Perry’s aide, who delivered and administered the drug; she supplied 51 vials to the aide, who gave Perry injections the day he died. She’ll also face three years of supervised release, drug testing, and restrictions on encrypted messaging.
Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the 'Ketamine Queen,' was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple ketamine distribution charges tied to Matthew Perry's 2023 death, with prosecutors describing a high-volume operation catering to Hollywood clients; other co-defendants in the case have also faced sentences or pending hearings.
Jasveen Sangha, the North Hollywood dealer nicknamed the 'Ketamine Queen,' was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to maintaining a drug-involved premises and several counts of ketamine distribution, including a sale that contributed to actor Matthew Perry’s October 2023 overdose death. Prosecutors describe a high-volume trafficking operation run from her home, with Sangha coordinating with Erik Fleming and distributing ketamine that killed at least two people (including Perry) and harmed others; a 2019 overdose linked to a separate victim and a 2024 police search uncovering thousands of meth pills and numerous ketamine vials are also noted. Several co-defendants have faced or will face sentencing as part of the same case.
Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the “Ketamine Queen,” was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to five charges for running a large ketamine trafficking operation from North Hollywood that supplied Matthew Perry; Perry’s 2023 death was attributed to ketamine injections given to him by his personal assistant, with Sangha’s associate also pleading guilty to narcotics charges. Two other men who sold ketamine to Perry—Salvador Plasencia (2.5 years) and Mark Chavez (probation)—had been sentenced previously. Sangha marketed to high-profile Hollywood clients during the operation.
Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the "Ketamine Queen", was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for distributing ketamine that caused Matthew Perry's death; she pleaded guilty to multiple charges and acknowledged that her actions caused Perry's death, while doctors involved in the case received lighter sentences; Perry died in October 2023 from a ketamine overdose after Sangha sold him 25 vials for $6,000 four days before his death.
Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the 'Ketamine queen,' was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for running a high-volume ketamine distribution operation that supplied actor Matthew Perry and others, including the batch linked to Perry’s death. She pleaded guilty to maintaining a drug-involved premises and several counts of ketamine distribution, with prosecutors saying she acted out of greed and caused multiple deaths.
British authorities charged three men after more than 2,000 pounds (about 1 ton) of cocaine was found concealed inside a container of bananas arriving at Southampton Docks from Central America, with a street value around £75 million ($99 million); they could face life in prison if convicted.
The U.S. military says it carried out a strike on a boat suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in four fatalities.
A federal judge in New York refused to dismiss the narcotics indictment against Nicolás Maduro and his wife, allowing the case to proceed. Defense arguments that the U.S. blocked access to Venezuelan government funds for their representation were not sustained, with the judge saying a ruling on funding would come later. Prosecutors also sought a protective order to limit discovery sharing with co-defendants at large. Maduro and his wife have pleaded not guilty and are detained as the high-profile case heads toward trial amid outside demonstrations.
The U.S. military says it struck a Caribbean boat suspected of drug trafficking, killing four people, as Washington expands its crackdown on smugglers in Latin America. The Pentagon offered no evidence the vessel carried drugs, and critics question the legality and effectiveness of such strikes, which have resulted in at least 163 fatalities since September.
Two US probes in Brooklyn and Manhattan reportedly examine whether Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro met with drug traffickers or solicited donations for his 2022 campaign. Petro denies any ties and says he never spoke to drug traffickers; prosecutors have not charged him and the investigations are in early stages. The reports, released ahead of Colombia’s May 31 presidential election, highlight the ongoing tension between the US and Colombia over narcotics and influence in regional politics.
U.S. prosecutors are examining possible ties between drug traffickers and people connected to Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, prompting the DEA to designate Petro a 'priority target' in the ongoing probe.
The U.S. military struck a boat in the eastern Pacific, sinking its vessel and leaving three men adrift. The U.S. Coast Guard recovered two dead bodies and one seriously injured survivor from the same area and handed them to Costa Rica’s Coast Guard; the survivor was transported to Golfito for medical care. While officials said the rescue operation was not explicitly tied to the strike, the event occurred in the context of a broader anti‑drug campaign that has produced numerous casualties and drawn legal criticisms, making it the 46th such strike with at least 159 deaths.
The U.S. military says six men were killed in a strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific as part of the Trump administration’s campaign against traffickers, bringing the toll in these operations to at least 157 since September. The Pentagon provided no evidence that the vessel carried drugs, though it released a video of the boat exploding. Trump has framed the actions as an armed conflict with cartels, while critics question legal justifications and effectiveness, noting concerns from a prior attack in which survivors were killed in a follow-up strike.