Diamorphine

Cachar police arrested Rasul Hussain and Rebul Hussain with 70 grams of heroin in Digorkhal, hidden in soap cases under other items in a car boot, during a routine check. This bust supports Assam Police’s ongoing campaign against drug trafficking.

Udhampur District Police arrested two high-profile female drug peddlers in Dabreh, seizing 19.69 grams of heroin-like substance. A raid led by SHOs of PS Udhampur and Women’s Police Station Udhampur, conducted in the presence of an Executive Magistrate, resulted in the arrest of Halima and Nishad. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered, and a thorough investigation is underway.

Drug-related deaths in England and Wales reached a record high of 5,448 in 2023, a 11% increase from the previous year. Oxfordshire saw a decrease from 39 to 29 deaths. The North East had the highest rate of drug deaths at 15.7 per 100,000, while London had the lowest at 5.5 per 100,000. Opiates and cocaine were the main substances involved, with synthetic opioids like nitazenes also contributing to the rise. Experts warn of a drug abuse crisis and call for better drug checking services and increased access to Naloxone.

Jalandhar Police arrest 4, including Amritpal Singh's key aide, for illegal arms smuggling, drug trafficking, extortion. Recovered 10 cartridges of 12-bore, 8 of 315-bore, and 100 grams of heroin. Ongoing investigation.

Punjab Police arrest two associates of Turkey-based drug smuggler Navpreet Singh, seizing 105 kg of heroin and multiple firearms in Baba Bakala. The heroin was mixed with scheduled drugs to increase volume. Investigations continue to uncover smuggling routes and identify additional cartel members.

In Singapore, harsh drug laws lead to forced rehab in austere conditions for users like Kim, who faces trafficking charges. The Drug Rehabilitation Centre, run by the Prison Service, houses inmates in concrete cells for at least six months, aiming to deter drug use through strict rehabilitation programs. Critics argue the system is inhumane, focusing on shame rather than addressing root causes of addiction.

West Virginia passed a bill allowing two medical research trials on opioid use disorder, comparing buprenorphine and methadone. The study, led by Yale and Pittsburgh universities, aims to improve treatment access and effectiveness, with potential implications for state laws and public perception of methadone.

Chris, a 41-year-old former painter and decorator, struggles with a £1,000-a-month heroin addiction in Glasgow, where he injects drugs in makeshift dens. Scotland, with the highest drug death rate in Europe, is set to open its first safer drug consumption room to tackle the issue. Despite the initiative, Chris remains skeptical, questioning the trustworthiness of such facilities.

Kratom, an unregulated herbal supplement, binds to opioid receptors, offering benefits like mood enhancement and pain relief but also risks like dependence and potential interactions with other drugs. Despite rare overdose deaths, its unregulated status raises concerns about purity and safety.