Illegal drug trade

Russia and the Taliban: here’s why Putin wants to get closer to Afghanistan’s current rulers

Retrieved on:

Thursday, April 18, 2024

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The Kremlin has opened up discussions with the Taliban before, and Russia was one of the few nations to accredit a diplomat when the organisation took control of Afghanistan.

Key Points:

The Kremlin has opened up discussions with the Taliban before, and Russia was one of the few nations to accredit a diplomat when the organisation took control of Afghanistan.
But Afghanistan’s political and economic crisis and western sanctions on Russia due to the Ukraine war mean both sides have something to gain from a stronger relationship.
A few months later, Vladimir Putin signed a decree implementing the UN resolution and imposing sanctions against the Taliban.

Interests and goals

The Taliban wants international sanctions to be withdrawn, to take Afghanistan’s UN seat and for frozen assets to be released, which will help the country’s economic development.
Russia taking the Taliban off their terrorism list would be a first step toward international recognition for the current Afghan government.
Russia’s 2023 foreign policy plan mentions prospects for Afghanistan’s integration into “the Eurasian space for cooperation”.

Russia’s relationship building

The increasing cooperation between the Taliban and Russia has implications in terms of the ongoing rivalry between Russia and the west.
Since the beginning of the Ukraine war, Moscow has tried to get other nations to support its strategic view of why the war is happening.
This version of history and policy positions Russia as a protector of traditional religions and values and places it among major world civilisations, contrasting it with the “godless” west.

Intigam Mamedov does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

ACAMS’ "Financial Crime Matters" Podcast Leads the Charge in Unraveling Financial Crime Complexities, Reaching Milestone of 500,000+ Downloads

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

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WASHINGTON, D.C., March 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ACAMS’ acclaimed podcast series, "Financial Crime Matters," which is dedicated to exploring the intricate world of financial crime, has reached a significant milestone with over 500,000 downloads as of March 2024.

Key Points:

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ACAMS’ acclaimed podcast series, "Financial Crime Matters," which is dedicated to exploring the intricate world of financial crime, has reached a significant milestone with over 500,000 downloads as of March 2024.
Launched in March 2019, the podcast has steadily gained traction among anti-financial crime (AFC) professionals and a broader audience interested in staying informed about illicit financial crime threats.
The inaugural episode of "Financial Crime Matters” featured Bradley Hope, co-author of the bestselling book "Billion Dollar Whale."
With an array of compelling episodes in the pipeline, "Financial Crime Matters" remains committed to fostering informed dialogue and empowering individuals with the knowledge to combat financial crime effectively.

New Poll Shows Arizonans Want Action on Homelessness

Retrieved on:

Monday, March 18, 2024

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"Arizonans want leaders to respond with urgency as crime, drugs, and homelessness in their communities continue to rise.

Key Points:

"Arizonans want leaders to respond with urgency as crime, drugs, and homelessness in their communities continue to rise.
Author of the poll and Cicero Director of Communications Stefani Buhajla added, "These results are not at all surprising.
Arizona has been battling crisis levels of drug trafficking and homelessness for years.
Key highlights from the survey:
Addressing Homelessness: The survey highlights significant concerns regarding homelessness, with 74% of all voters believing it is increasing in Arizona.

Federal Defenders Office Powers Cloud Content Management with Box

Retrieved on:

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Box, Inc. (NYSE: BOX), the leading Content Cloud, today announced that the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) has selected Box to power secure cloud content management and collaboration for the Defender Services Office (DSO).

Key Points:

Box, Inc. (NYSE: BOX), the leading Content Cloud, today announced that the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) has selected Box to power secure cloud content management and collaboration for the Defender Services Office (DSO).
With Box, DSO is able to securely share content internally as well as externally with investigators, Federal Public Defenders, and U.S. District Courts.
DSO supports Federal Public Defender Organizations and Criminal Justice Act panel attorneys around the country who represent indigent clients accused of committing federal crimes, such as drug trafficking, mortgage fraud, and terrorism.
There are currently 82 authorized federal defender organizations in the U.S. that employ more than 3,700 lawyers, investigators, paralegals, and support personnel, and serve all federal judicial districts.

Drug Abuse Testing Market, Size, Global Forecast Report 2024-2030: Focus on Alcohol, Cannabis/Marijuana, Cocaine, Opioids, Amphetamine & Methamphetamine, and LSD - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Drug of Abuse Testing Market size is expected to hit US$ 10.28 Billion by 2030 from US$ 6.18 Billion in 2023.

Key Points:

Drug of Abuse Testing Market size is expected to hit US$ 10.28 Billion by 2030 from US$ 6.18 Billion in 2023.
Innovations in technology are continuously emerging to expedite and enhance drug testing efficiency in response to the growing demand for such services.
The drug abuse testing market is generally pushed by strict laws that mandate drug abuse testing, growing government initiatives concerning drug abuse, rising consumption of alcohol and different drugs, and growing mortality because of drugs.
The growing global population engaged in alcohol and illicit drug use, encompassing substances like marijuana and cocaine, drives the drug abuse testing market's growth.

Nacha’s Payments Innovation Alliance Releases Infographic Warning Against Becoming an Unwitting Money Mule

Retrieved on:

Thursday, February 29, 2024

View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240229659686/en/

Key Points:

View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240229659686/en/
A money mule transfers or moves illegally acquired money on behalf of someone else.
Criminals recruit money mules to help launder proceeds derived from crimes such as human and drug trafficking.
"The Payment Innovation Alliance Consumer Financial Exploitation Project Team leverages Nacha's connections with financial institutions to provide educational resources, empowering communities to protect themselves against fraud."
To download the infographic, learn more about consumer protection initiatives, or join the Payments Innovation Alliance, visit nacha.org/consumer-financial-project-team.

Spice: the ‘zombie drug’ being found in some vape liquids

Retrieved on:

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Anxiety, Paranoia, Smoking, Pain, Spasm, Dizziness, Vomiting, Argyreia nervosa, Prison, Risk, Death, Psychosis, Illegal drug trade, Diarrhea, THC, Tobacco, Heart, Spice, Male, Glaucoma, Cannabis, Seizure, Brain

This incident is only the latest in what appears to be a growing problem in the UK with unregulated vape liquids, especially those marketed as containing THC or cannabis.

Key Points:

This incident is only the latest in what appears to be a growing problem in the UK with unregulated vape liquids, especially those marketed as containing THC or cannabis.
This is why it’s so important for users to think carefully about what vape products they use.

What is spice?

While these lab-made drugs are designed to mimic the effects of cannabis, they tend to be far more unpredictable and harmful.
There’s currently no data on how these drugs are manufactured in clandestine laboratories thought to be located in China and India.
But we do have some idea of how spice may be synthesised, based on academic experiments that have been published in peer-reviewed journals.

What makes spice harmful?

Studies have shown that the compounds contained in spice act on both types of cannabinoid receptors that the body has.
Those who use spice repeatedly can develop a tolerance to it, requiring more to achieve the desired effect – ultimately putting them at higher risk of harm.

How does spice affect users?

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists were initially explored as experimental drugs to alleviate suffering related to a variety of conditions – including pain, anorexia, muscle spasms and glaucoma.

Many people use spice in the hopes of experiencing effects similar to those caused by cannabis.
It isn’t possible to predict who will suffer which of these side effects, but all spice users are at risk.

Is spice a growing problem?

One investigation even found that nearly half of male prison deaths that happened between 2015-2020 in England and Wales were due to Spice.
There is also an increasing number of reports in the press of vape liquids being laced with spice – leading public health authorities to issue warnings.
There are now calls to make young people more aware of the dangers of spice and using certain types of vape liquids.

Michael Cole receives funding and "in kind" support from the European Union and a number police forces and forensic science organisations around the world to carry out research.

Police Seizures of Psychedelic Drugs Are Soaring Throughout the United States

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Their analysis of national and state-level trafficking data revealed that across the country, seizures of psilocybin rose from 402 confiscations in 2017 to 1,393 confiscations in 2022.

Key Points:

Their analysis of national and state-level trafficking data revealed that across the country, seizures of psilocybin rose from 402 confiscations in 2017 to 1,393 confiscations in 2022.
The amount of the seized drugs nearly quadrupled, from 226 kilograms to 844 kilograms in the same time frame.
"Our findings, which uncover an increase in confiscations of psilocybin, suggest that popularity and availability of this psychedelic may be increasing," said study lead author Joseph Palamar, PhD, MPH.
For example, some of the reports in the data reference large shipments that may have been headed to other states for sale.

Press release - Belgium Presidency debriefs EP committees on priorities

Retrieved on:

Sunday, February 4, 2024

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Ministers are holding a series of meetings in parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the Council.Committee on Culture and EducationCommittee on DevelopmentCommittee on Economic and Monetary AffairsCommittee on Employment and Social AffairsCommittee on the Environment, Public Health and Food SafetyCommittee on Women’s Rights and Gender EqualityCommittee on the Internal Market and Consumer ProtectionCommittee on International TradeCommittee on Industry, Research and EnergyCommittee on Legal AffairsCommittee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home AffairsCommittee on Regional DevelopmentCommittee on Transport and Tourism Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Key Points:

Ministers are holding a series of meetings in parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the Council.Committee on Culture and EducationCommittee on DevelopmentCommittee on Economic and Monetary AffairsCommittee on Employment and Social AffairsCommittee on the Environment, Public Health and Food SafetyCommittee on Women’s Rights and Gender EqualityCommittee on the Internal Market and Consumer ProtectionCommittee on International TradeCommittee on Industry, Research and EnergyCommittee on Legal AffairsCommittee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home AffairsCommittee on Regional DevelopmentCommittee on Transport and Tourism Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

New Virtue Recovery Drug & Alcohol Rehab Center Opens in Killeen, TX to Serve the Local Community

Retrieved on:

Monday, January 29, 2024

KILLEEN, Texas, Jan. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Killeen, Texas, a vibrant city renowned for its military base (Ft Hood), aquatics park, and cultural diversity, has welcomed a crucial addition to its community resources - the recently opened Virtue Recovery Drug & Alcohol Rehab Center in Killeen. In the face of significant challenges related to drug and alcohol abuse, this state-of-the-art facility has emerged as a beacon of hope. Recent statistics have illuminated the extent of the issue, underscoring the pressing need for community awareness, prevention, and support, which are now being addressed by the center's comprehensive programs and dedicated staff.

Key Points:

In response, the Killeen community has rallied together, welcoming the new Virtue Recovery Center in Killeen, a pivotal addition in their efforts to tackle these issues head-on.
KILLEEN, Texas, Jan. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Killeen, Texas, a vibrant city renowned for its military base (Ft Hood), aquatics park, and cultural diversity, has welcomed a crucial addition to its community resources - the recently opened Virtue Recovery Drug & Alcohol Rehab Center in Killeen .
In the face of significant challenges related to drug and alcohol abuse, this state-of-the-art facility has emerged as a beacon of hope.
Our newly opened Drug & Alcohol Rehab Center is the beacon of hope Killeen needs to combat substance abuse effectively, in light of the concerning statistics.