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☆ Opinion: Why gangs hold so much power in Haiti
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Opinion Garry Pierre-Pierre | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

CNN —The last few weeks have brought unthinkable upheaval in Haiti, a country that is no stranger to tragedy and suffering. Nothing can compare to the current upheaval in Haiti though, and I would expect new waves of Haitians to seek refuge on foreign shores. After securing its independence, Haiti was subjected to neocolonialism and neglect by the global superpower on its doorstep, the US. Haiti needs help combating corruption and loosening the stranglehold that the country’s oligarchic masters have on its economy. He remains sequestered in Haiti however, because he knows that leaving would mean his business would be looted and pillaged.

Persons: Garry Pierre, Pierre, Ariel Henry, Henry, —, ‘ Papa Doc ’, François “ Papa Doc ” Duvalier, Jean, Claude “ Baby Doc ” Duvalier, Claude Duvalier, Bertrand Aristide, Duvalier, — Aristide, ”, Jimmy, Giles Clarke, Jimmy Cherizier, Guy Philippe, Aristide, Philippe, Cherizier, Henry’s, Uncle Sam, strongmen, America sneezes Organizations: Haitian Times, New York Times, World Trade Center, City University Graduate School, Journalism‘s Center for Community, Ethnic Media, CNN, Haitian, ., UN, Haiti, US, Haiti —, Caribbean, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Drug, Agency, America Locations: New York, Haitian, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Caribbean, France, Canada, Washington, Kenya, Nairobi, Port, Haiti’s, Africa, Delmas, Prince, Jamaica, America, Maryland

☆ Opinion: How my homeland Haiti came to be such a troubled place
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Opinion Garry Pierre-Pierre | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

CNN —The last few weeks have brought unthinkable upheaval in Haiti, a country that is no stranger to tragedy and suffering. Nothing can compare to the current upheaval in Haiti though, and I would expect new waves of Haitians to seek refuge on foreign shores. Haiti needs help combating corruption and loosening the stranglehold that the country’s oligarchic masters have on its economy. He remains sequestered in Haiti however, because he knows that leaving would mean his business would be looted and pillaged. Although formidable challenges lie ahead, the path to peace and stability in Haiti is possible with help from Washington.

Persons: Garry Pierre, Pierre, Gary Pierre, Ariel Henry, Henry, —, ‘ Papa Doc ’, François “ Papa Doc ” Duvalier, Jean, Claude “ Baby Doc ” Duvalier, Claude Duvalier, Bertrand Aristide, Duvalier, — Aristide, ”, Jimmy, Giles Clarke, Jimmy Cherizier, Guy Philippe, Aristide, Philippe, Cherizier, Henry’s, Uncle Sam, strongmen, America sneezes Organizations: Haitian Times, New York Times, World Trade Center, City University Graduate School, Journalism‘s Center for Community, Ethnic Media, CNN, Haitian, ., UN, Haiti, US, Haiti —, Caribbean, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Drug, Agency, America Locations: New York, Haitian, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Caribbean, France, Canada, Washington, Kenya, Nairobi, Port, Haiti’s, Africa, Delmas, Prince, Jamaica, America, Maryland

☆ Was Carmen in Netflix's 'Griselda' a real person? The character seems to be based on several real women in the drug lord's life
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Palmer Haasch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Netflix's "Griselda" adapts the life of drug lord Griselda Blanco. Carmen's storyline bears similarities to several real women in Blanco's life. Miami PD analyst June Hawkins was another character in the show, and the real Hawkins also consulted. One character in the show, Carmen Gutiérrez (Vanessa Ferlito), appears to be based on several women in Blanco's life who turned on her at some point. Here's everything you need to know about how her character actually corresponds to real life.

Persons: Griselda, Griselda Blanco, Carmen Gutiérrez didn't, —, Blanco, Sofia Vergara, Hawkins, Jorge, Rivi, Ayala, Carmen Gutiérrez, Vanessa Ferlito, Elizabeth Morris, Carmen, " Blanco, doesn't, Blanco's, Dario, she'll, Carmen Gutiérrez wasn't, Gloria Cabán, Maria Gutiérrez, Martin Rodriguez, Netflix Carmen Cabán, Per, Cabán, Elaine Carey, Gloria, Alberto Bravo's, Carey, Carmen —, Amparo, Gilman Atehortua — Organizations: Service, Miami, Netflix, United Nations Office, Drugs, Drug, Blanco, Bravo, Drug Enforcement Agency, DEA, Independent Locations: Miami, Colombia, United States, Blanco, New York City, New York, NYC

☆ 'I Think It's the Fentanyl': Philippines' Marcos Hits Back at Predecessor Duterte
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. struck back on Monday at his firebrand predecessor Rodrigo Duterte who called him a "drug addict", saying the former leader's fentanyl use could have affected his judgment. "I think it's the fentanyl," Marcos told reporters shortly before leaving for Vietnam in response to claims made by Duterte on Sunday while speaking at a rally in his hometown Davao against moves to amend the country's constitution. In 2016, Duterte admitted he used to take the highly addictive synthetic opioid fentanyl for pain relief after a motorcyle accident. Former president Duterte has earned international rebuke for unleashing a brutal campaign against illegal drugs when he assumed power in 2016, killing more 6,000 dealers whom police said resisted arrest during anti-drug operations. The International Criminal Court has allowed an investigation into the killings to resume, but Marcos said his government will not cooperate.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos, Duterte, Mikhail Flores, Michael Perry Organizations: Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Locations: MANILA, Philippine, Vietnam, Davao

Duterte also accused Marcos of being a drug addict. He has not commented on Duterte’s claim about lifting term limits, under which the president can serve only a single six-year term. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said Monday that Marcos was never on such a list, contrary to Duterte’s claim. Early last year, Marcos allowed an expansion of the U.S. military presence in the Philippines under a 2014 defense pact. Marcos led his own rally Sunday at a seaside park in Manila, which police said drew about 400,000 people after nightfall.

Persons: —, Rodrigo Duterte, Fernando Marcos Jr, Marcos, Ferdinand Marcos, Duterte, Martin Romualdez, Duterte’s, Sara, Marcos ’, who’s, ” Duterte, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, ” Marcos, “ Organizations: Criminal, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S Locations: MANILA, Philippines, Philippine, Davao city, Washington, China, South China, Manila

☆ Biden administration announces new financial strike force to curb deadly fentanyl trade
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Sam Fossum | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“The Treasury Department’s Counter-Fentanyl Strike Force will allow us to bring the Department’s unrivaled expertise in fighting financial crime to bear against this deadly epidemic. The strike force will be led by the department’s top sanctions official, Brian Nelson, and the chief of the Internal Revenue Service’s criminal investigations unit, James Lee. It will “redouble Treasury’s existing work streams, including using financial intelligence to understand risks and map transnational criminal organization (TCO) financial networks,” according to a news release. Several key units within the Treasury Department that specialize in financial crimes, sanctions, and tracking terrorist and illicit financing will be part of the new strike force. The new strike force will also help streamline the Treasury Department’s efforts to coordinate with local and federal law enforcement bodies on potential financial leads.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Brian Nelson, James Lee, ” Nelson, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Biden, Yellen, Nelson, “ Organizations: Washington CNN, Monday, Treasury Department, Treasury, Network, Foreign Assets Control, of Intelligence, US Treasury Department, Strike Force, Department, Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, US Centers for Disease Control, CNN, Mexican, Biden Locations: United States, China, Ukraine, Mexico

☆ Cannabis 'legalization is inevitable,' says policy analyst—what to know before you invest
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Cannabis stocks aren't the only ones that were riding high in early 2021. Those changes have yet to come on a federal level, and dimming enthusiasm from investors, among other factors, has led to a major slide in pot stocks. The AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF, which holds U.S.-based cannabis companies, currently trades for $6.80 a share, down from nearly $52 in February 2021. But for experts in the space, the question surrounding cannabis legalization (and a subsequent boom in the industry) isn't if, but when. "Legalization of cannabis is inevitable," says Jaret Seiberg, a policy analyst at TD Cowen.

Persons: Jaret Seiberg, Cowen, Brady Cobb, Mike Johnson's ascendency, Johnson, Cobb, Joe Biden, Jason Wild Organizations: Democratic, Cannabis ETF, Department of Health, Human Services, Bloomberg, HHS, Drug Enforcement Agency, JW Asset Management Locations: Ohio, Massachusetts

Mexico and China are the primary sources for fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked directly into the U.S., according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, which is tasked with combating illicit drug trafficking. And last year a group of Republican attorneys general asked the president to declare fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction. The U.S. has taken a slew of actions to stem the tide of fentanyl coming into the country. And state lawmakers nationwide are responding to the deadliest overdose crisis in U.S. history by pushing harsher penalties for possessing fentanyl. It would also impose reporting requirements and enable the president to confiscate sanctioned property of fentanyl traffickers to use for law enforcement efforts.

Persons: “, ”, Wally Adeyemo, Adeyemo, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Biden, General Merrick Garland, Lindsay Whitehurst Organizations: WASHINGTON, United States, Treasury, Justice, Homeland Security, Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S . Postal, Justice Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Republican, Disease Control, Banking, Armed Services, Associated Locations: U.S, China, Canada, United, Mexico, Sinaloa, Mexican, Wilmington , Delaware

Arizona’s governor was out of the state for a day this week, prompting false claims that she’d abruptly resigned or vanished entirely. The Democrat, who has been the target of misinformation since taking office this year, was out of state for meetings in Washington for a day, so the state treasurer briefly served as acting governor. Political Cartoons View All 1190 Images“She has now stepped down as Arizona governor, and it’s raising questions,” claimed one Facebook user in a widely shared video posted on Thursday. “Republican State Treasurer Kimberly Yee is currently the Acting Governor,” wrote another user on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter on Wednesday. The usually unremarkable handover gained attention when Yee released a statement Wednesday acknowledging she’d be serving as acting governor from that evening through Thursday morning.

Persons: she’d, Katie Hobbs, Hobbs, Joe Biden, ”, Kimberly Yee, “, Christian Slater, Yee, hasn’t, Slater, Alejandro Mayorkas, Sen, John McCain, Adrian Fontes, Kyrsten Sinema, Paul Smith, Leonard, Kris Mayes, Richie Taylor, baselessly, ” Slater Organizations: Arizona, Democrat, “ Republican, Twitter, Democratic, Republican, U.S . Homeland, Tempe Center, Arts, of Regents, U.S, Sen, Infrastructure Security Agency, White House, Drug, Agency, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Kroger Locations: Washington, Arizona, U.S, Flagstaff

REUTERS/Erica Dischino/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 27 (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate committee on Wednesday voted to advance a marijuana banking bill, raising hopes for the cash-dependent cannabis sector to get access to regular banking services. The Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act (SAFER) bill, introduced by a bipartisan group of senators last week, will now move to the Senate floor. Shares of SNDL (SNDL.O), Trulieve Cannabis (TRUL.CD), Cronos Group (CRON.TO), rose between 1% and 3% following the vote. An earlier version of the bill, the SAFE Banking Act, had failed to secure a Senate vote despite the House of Representatives passing it seven times. "Realizing this first vote out of the Senate signals strong bipartisan support from both chambers of Congress," said Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers.

Persons: Erica Dischino, Kim Rivers, Arunima Kumar, Sourasis Bose, Sriraj Organizations: Red, REUTERS, U.S, Cronos, Cannabis ETF, Holdings, SAFE, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, Drug Enforcement Agency, Thomson Locations: Red Lake, Red Lake , Minnesota, U.S, Bengaluru

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A group photo of about two dozen law officers in tactical gear posing with escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante minutes after his capture Wednesday in southeastern Pennsylvania drew criticism from policing reform advocates and some members of the public. Policing experts said the celebratory moment after the grueling 14-day search for the armed suspect was inappropriate and dehumanizing. Photos of Cavalcante immediately after being arrested, with the police dog pinning him down, circulated widely on social media Wednesday in the hours after the arrest was announced. The photos did not include information about who took them, but they were taken inside the secured perimeter where only law enforcement officers were allowed. If I was on the scene as the public affairs officer representing a law enforcement agency, I would have discouraged it.”

Persons: Danelo, George Bivens, “ They’re, ” Bivens, “ I’m, ”, Adam Scott Wandt, John Jay, “, ” Wandt, Cavalcante, Tyre Nichols, Demetrius Haley, Nichols, Wilson, ” Wilson, that's, ” Leonard Sipes, ” Sipes Organizations: PHILADELPHIA, KYW, Pennsylvania, Police, John, John Jay College of Criminal, Pennsylvania State Police, State Police, Associated Press, U.S . Marshals Service, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Agency, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, Memphis, Niles, Center for Policing Equity, Civil Locations: Pennsylvania, U.S, Newark , New Jersey

☆ Cannabis ETFs are off to a strong September. Will the buzz last?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Kevin Schmidt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"We've seen most cannabis ETFs rally over 30% since the news broke last week on this recommendation," Amplify ETFs CEO Christian Magoon told CNBC's Courtney Reagan on "ETF Edge" on Wednesday. The Roundhill Cannabis ETF (WEED) has soared nearly 71% since the announcement, while the AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (MSOS ) and AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF (YOLO) have jumped 64% and 45%, respectively. "Consumer packaged goods and pharmaceutical companies are going to be able to now look at these cannabis companies as M&A targets to partner with them." "The great thing about the ETF industry is there's a lot of opportunity," Lydon said in the same interview on Wednesday. Lydon pointed out that Amplify ETFs holds a great "first mover advantage" with its pair of cannabis-based funds.

Persons: Christian Magoon, CNBC's Courtney Reagan, Magoon, marijuana's, Tom Lydon, Lydon Organizations: Cannabis ETF, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, HHS, DEA, Cannabis, VettaFi Locations: YOLO

☆ Zambia frees five Egyptians arrested on plane with guns and fake gold
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LUSAKA, Sept 1 (Reuters) - A Zambian court freed five Egyptians and one Zambian on Friday, after prosecutors dropped espionage charges against them three weeks after they arrived on a private plane with guns, bullets, cash and fake gold. Two of the Egyptians would be rearrested on unspecified lesser charges and freed on bond, Zambia's Drug Enforcement Commission said. We knew from day one that we were clean," one of the freed Egyptians told journalists outside the court. While the initial charge sheet did not mention the aircraft or seized goods, lawyers for the defendants had said earlier that those arrested were on the plane. Two Egyptian security sources had said the plane seized in Zambia had been inspected by authorities before leaving Cairo, but that one of the arrested Egyptians was able to board with bags that were not searched, which is now under investigation.

Persons: Gracilia Mulenga, Chris Mfula, Bhargav Acharya, Peter Graff Organizations: Drug, Commission, Zambia's Drug, Agency, DPP, Public Prosecutions, Thomson Locations: LUSAKA, Lusaka, Egypt, Zambia, Cairo

☆ Pot firms surge as US move to ease curbs sparks hopes of legalization
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shares of cannabis firms Cronos Group (CRON.TO), OrganiGram Holdings (OGI.TO), Aurora Cannabis (ACB.TO), Canopy Growth (WEED.TO) jumped between 6% and 25%. Verano Holdings (VRNO.CD), Green Thumb Industries (GTII.CD), Cresco Labs (CL.CD) and Curaleaf Holdings (CURA.CD) and Goodness Growth (GDNS.CD) rose between 15% and 37%. "Certainly moving cannabis off of Schedule 1 is the right decision and long overdue. The firm held investments in cannabis retailer and producer Green Thumb, and cannabis data platform Flowhub, according to its website. Reporting by Arunima Kumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj KalluvilaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: cagey, Ty Collin, Patrick Rea, Green, Arunima Kumar, Sriraj Organizations: Cronos Group, OrganiGram Holdings, Verano Holdings, Green Thumb Industries, Cresco Labs, Curaleaf Holdings, Cannabis ETF, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, Drug Enforcement Agency, Banking, Poseidon Garden Ventures, Thomson Locations: U.S, Aurora, Bengaluru

☆ U.S. health officials want to loosen marijuana restrictions. Here's what it means
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Jeenah Moon | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesThis week, the Department of Health and Human Services asked the Drug Enforcement Agency to consider easing restrictions on marijuana upon a review of its classification under the Controlled Substances Act. It could be a significant catalyst for an industry hemmed in by federal regulations even as legalization picks up on the state level. Marijuana is legal in 39 states medically and 23 states recreationally. If marijuana moves down to a Schedule III substance, this will effectively ease a number of restrictions holding the sector back. While many states have legal markets within their borders, transporting Schedule I substances across state lines in illegal, resulting in a glut of marijuana in some states.

Persons: What's, Roth, Scott Fortune, Fortune, Jeff Schultz, Foley Hoag Organizations: ACB, Housing, Cannabis Co, Bloomberg, Getty, Department of Health, Human Services, Drug Enforcement Agency, Aurora, Tilray Brands, DEA, Marijuana, HHS, Regulators, Internal Revenue Locations: New York

☆ Pot stocks jump as federal agency reportedly seeks to downgrade cannabis from the hard-drug category
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Drug Enforcement Agency received an official recommendation to downgrade marijuana. Currently, pot is classified as a Schedule I drug, on par with heroin. Marijuana's category downgrade would be a serious shift for the cannabis industry, easing restrictions on its use. The largest marijuana exchange traded fund, the AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF, gained around 19%. It was outpaced by the Roundhill Cannabis ETF, at 20%.

Persons: Anne Milgram, Cronos, SNDL Organizations: Drug Enforcement Agency, Service, Bloomberg, Department of Health, Human Services, Drug, DEA, Cannabis ETF, Cannabis, Aurora Cannabis Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ US health officials look to move marijuana to lower-risk drug category
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Tom Brenner/Pool/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recommended easing restrictions on marijuana, a department spokesperson said on Wednesday, following a review request from the Biden Administration last year. Nearly 40 U.S. states have legalized marijuana use in some form, but it remains completely illegal in some states and at the federal level. The scheduling recommendation for marijuana was provided to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) on Tuesday as part of President Biden's directive to HHS, the spokesperson said. "As part of this process, HHS conducted a scientific and medical evaluation for consideration by DEA. DEA will now initiate its review," a DEA spokesperson said.

Persons: Rachel Levine, Tom Brenner, Biden, Biden's, Karine Jean, Pierre said, Cannabis, George Archos, Sourasis Bose, Mrinalika Roy, Shilpi Majumdar, Shounak Dasgupta, Shailesh Organizations: Department of Health, Human Services, Health, Education, Labor, Capitol, REUTERS, U.S . Department of Health, Drug Enforcement Agency, HHS, DEA, Marijuana, Department of Justice, House Press, Tilray Brands, Cronos, Verano Holdings, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, United States, Canada, North America, Bengaluru

☆ Zambia seeks to deny bail to five Egyptians, 6 nationals charged with spying
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LUSAKA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Zambia sought to deny bail to five Egyptians and six Zambians charged with espionage for entering a restricted zone of Lusaka airport, two weeks after Zambian authorities said their plane had been seized along with guns, bullets, cash and fake gold. "The state must give reasons as to why accused persons whose liberties to freedom are being taken away must be denied bail," defence lawyer Martha Mushipe told the court. That fuelled speculation in Zambian media that some of the suspects might have sought to swindle gold buyers in a fake bullion scam. Two Egyptian security sources said the plane seized in Zambia had been inspected by authorities before leaving Cairo, but that bags with one of the arrested Egyptians were not searched, and this was currently under investigation. Reporting by Chris Mfula; additional reporting by Cairo Newsroom; writing by Tim Cocks; editing by Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Davies Chibwili, Martha Mushipe, Zambian Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe, Chris Mfula, Tim Cocks, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Drug Enforcement Agency, Zambian Mines Minister, Cairo Newsroom, Thomson Locations: LUSAKA, Zambia, Lusaka, Lusaka's, Cairo, Egyptian

☆ AI-Targeted Internet Advertisements Fueling Looming Addiction Crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Albert Fox Cahn | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

A new breed of direct-to-consumer services is aggressively using targeted ads to sell habit-forming medications. In short, AI and surveillance capitalism, which empower today's targeted ads, have joined forces with the deadly OxyContin playbook. As the Journal reported, after ADHD medications grew to 20% of the VC-funded company's business, driving a $4.8 billion valuation, things came crashing to earth. We as a society may have come to accept being stalked by targeted ads, but consequences are much graver when the product itself is a danger. But above all, we need rules that ban targeted ads for drugs that can get patients hooked.

Persons: Taylor Swift, they're, haven't, Van Zee, OxyContin, prescribers, Dr, David Sack, Anthony Yeung, recreationally, Yann Poncin, shih, Ryan Haight, Ryan Haight Act's, Albert Fox Cahn Organizations: Circle, Purdue, American, of Public Health, Sackler family's pharma, Physicians, Yale School of Medicine, Bloomberg, Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of Health, Human Services, Ryan, Twitter, FDA Locations: Canadian, California, United States, New Zealand, New York

☆ The ruthless Sinaloa Cartel has flooded the US with fentanyl — and business is booming. A shocking DoJ indictment reveals how they do it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Sinaloa Cartel is the driving force behind the US's deadliest-ever drug threat — fentanyl. A recent DoJ indictment shed light on how the cartel has successfully flooded the US with the drug. This is largely due to the ruthless Sinaloa Cartel crime empire, one of the world's most powerful drug trafficking organizations. He was quickly released the same day after a violent confrontation between cartel members and security forces. As the Sinaloa Cartel's operations have expanded, it has also established secret fentanyl laboratories around Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa state.

☆ Opinion: Fentanyl is killing a shocking number of young Americans. What the US can do to respond
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Opinion Joni Ernst | Tim Kaine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Illicit fentanyl that originates abroad is one of the most damaging weapons employed against our homeland, destroying lives and families across our country. Cartels’ fentanyl trafficking far surpasses the US government’s response. Between 2017 and 2021, the number of fentanyl trafficking offenders increased 950%, from 146 to 1,533 in the US. Curbing fentanyl trafficking and breaking up cartel networks demands an aggressive and clear approach. Mexico and the US need to be active partners in combating criminal organizations and curtailing illicit drug trafficking.

☆ A former fentanyl user describes the first time she took the illicit drug laced with xylazine as 'the scariest experience of my life'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Kelly Burch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Opioids contributed to 80,411 overdose deaths in 2021, up from 68,630 deaths in 2020, data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows. Xylazine is a sedative that can lead to respiratory and cardiac issuesOpioids, like fentanyl, contributed to more than 80,000 overdose deaths in 2021. Mixing xylazine with fentanyl is particularly problematicMixing xylazine and fentanyl can amplify xylazine's sedative effect and the associated health risks. ReutersThe opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan, also known as naloxone, will not reverse the impact of xylazine, since the drug is not an opioid, according to the DEA. That's because opioids account for nearly 75% of all drug overdose deaths in the US.

☆ Newly freed Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout said he 'wholeheartedly' supports Russia's war in Ukraine and would 'certainly' volunteer: report
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout said he would "certainly" volunteer to fight in Russia's war against Ukraine. Bout is newly free after being swapped for Brittney Griner, who was detained in Moscow for nine months. Bout was imprisoned in the US on a 25-year sentence for conspiring with a terrorist organization. "If I could, I would share the skills I have and I would readily volunteer," Bout said on the Russian state television network RT, formerly known as Russia Today. While he was in prison, he said he had a portrait of Russian President Putin displayed in his cell, according to CNN.

☆ Senior officials argued that Viktor Bout's release in exchange for Brittney Griner would be a mistake, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

WNBA star Brittney Griner was swapped for arms dealer Viktor Bout on Thursday. Her release marked the end of prolonged and agonizing negotiations for Biden, CNN reported. Some senior officials told Biden they thought Russia was getting the better deal, the outlet said. But some senior law enforcement officials told Biden prior to his decision that Bout was too notorious of a figure to release in exchange for Griner, whose offense was only minor, one official told CNN. Her release marked the end of prolonged and agonizing negotiations for Biden, CNN reported.

☆ Video shows Brittney Griner touching down on US soil after being released from Russian custody
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

WNBA star Brittney Griner was released from Russia on Thursday after nine months in custody. Griner was released from Russian custody in exchange for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyA video shows the moment WNBA star Brittney Griner touched down on US soil after nine months in Russian custody. US officials who met Griner upon her arrival told CNN that she was "in good spirits and incredibly gracious." Roger Carstens, a State Department official who was traveling with Griner, tweeted on Friday morning: "So happy to have Brittney back on US soil.

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