Bulgarian authorities seize large amount of cocaine hidden in van
According to customs officials, the nearly 206 kilograms of cocaine was the largest seizure at Bulgaria's land border. A vehicle inspection led to the discovery of the drugs valued at 20 million euros (USD22 million). The drugs were hidden in 179 sealed bags stashed among personal belongings in five suitcases.
Haskovo District Prosecutor Ivan Stoyanov identified the three people attempting to cross the border into Turkey as a 40-year-old diplomat from the Democratic Republic of Congo accredited in Belgium, a 54-year-old Belgian citizen and a 43-year-old Bulgarian driver.
Stoyanov told reporters that they could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on drug trafficking charges.
An investigation has been launched together with partner organizations in other EU countries into the origins of the cocaine and its final recipients.
Bulgaria, which has taken steps in recent years against drug trafficking, is considered a transit point on the Balkan drug-trafficking route, which is used to supply Western Europe with heroin from Asia and the Middle East, and with cocaine from Latin America.(AP) RD RD
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
31 minutes ago
- News18
Yash Dayal Booked In Another Rape Case Involving Minor During IPL 2025 In Jaipur
Last Updated: Royal Challengers Bengaluru pacer Yash Dayal faces another rape case allegation involving a teenager during IPL 2025 in Jaipur. In what has come as a major blow to Royal Challengers Bengaluru pacer Yash Dayal, he has been booked in another rape case involving a teenager, who has alleged harassment during IPL 2025 in Jaipur. Ahead of this allegation, Yash had already been facing legal proceedings for a sexual assault case, where a woman from Ghaziabad had accused him of similar activity. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Thailand-Cambodia border clashes escalate: 14 dead, over 100,000 flee amid the violence; airstrikes, artillery rock region
A sharp escalation in fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces has killed at least 14 people and displaced over 100,000 civilians, according to Thai authorities. The violence- involving small arms, rockets, artillery, and airstrikes- erupted Thursday and has been escalating along the long-disputed border and continued into Friday, marking the most serious confrontation between the two Southeast Asian neighbours in over a decade, as reported by AP. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Mass displacement and casualties amid cross-border bombardment The Thai Interior Ministry said the fighting had affected four provinces and ordered evacuations of civilians living within 50 kilometres of the border. The interior ministry said that one lakh six hundred seventy-two people from four border provinces were moved to shelters, while the health ministry announced that the death toll rose to fourteen. In Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodian families streamed away from the border, many transporting their belongings on homemade tractors before settling in makeshift camps. 'Suddenly I heard a loud noise,' said 45-year-old mother of four, Tep Savouen as quoted by AP. 'My son told me it might be thunder and I thought 'Is it thunder or is it loud, more like a gun?' At that time I was very scared.' In Bangkok, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin confirmed 14 deaths, including 13 civilians and one soldier, along with 46 injuries. He condemned what he described as Cambodian attacks on civilians and a hospital: 'We urge the Cambodian government to immediately halt these war criminal actions, and return to respecting the principles of peaceful coexistence.' Read more: Blame game and diplomatic breakdown The violence followed a landmine blast Wednesday that wounded five Thai soldiers — an incident that triggered the expulsion of ambassadors by both sides and a sharp diplomatic fallout. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Thai officials accused Cambodia of laying new Russian-made mines, while Cambodia dismissed the claims as 'baseless accusations', blaming leftover ordnance from past conflicts. On Thursday, clashes flared in at least six areas along the border, including near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple. Thai F-16 fighter jets conducted airstrikes in response to what the government said were Cambodian truck-mounted rockets. 'It was an act of self-defense,' Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura stated. Cambodia's Defense Ministry claimed the airstrikes hit a road near Preah Vihear, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and vowed legal action. 'The temple was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO... and is a 'historical legacy of the Cambodian people,'' Cambodia's Culture Ministry said. Defense Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata said Cambodia had 'no choice but to defend its territory against Thai threats,' insisting the attacks were 'focused on the military places, not on any other place.' International alarm and domestic fallout The conflict drew swift international concern. Secretary-General António Guterres urged both sides 'to exercise maximum restraint and address any issues through dialogue,' according to deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet requested an emergency session, which was held behind closed doors in New York on Friday. Thailand sealed all land border crossings and advised its citizens to leave Cambodia. All seven Thai airlines offered to help repatriate Thai nationals. Meanwhile, the conflict has added pressure to Thailand's domestic politics. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended on July 1 amid an ethics probe linked to her handling of a phone call with Cambodia's former leader Hun Sen. Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai is now leading the response, warning Cambodia against further aggression.
Mint
6 hours ago
- Mint
Appeals court says California law requiring background checks for ammunition is unconstitutional
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A voter-backed California law requiring background checks for people who buy bullets is unconstitutional, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday in a blow to the state's efforts to combat gun violence. In upholding a 2024 ruling by a lower court, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the state law violates the Second Amendment. Voters passed the law in 2016 and it took effect in 2019. Many states, including California, make people pass a background check before they can buy a gun. California went a step further by requiring a background check, which costs either $1 or $19 depending on eligibility, every time someone buys buy bullets. Last year, U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez decided that the law was unconstitutional because if people can't buy bullets, they can't use their guns for self-defense. The 9th Circuit agreed. Writing for two of the three judges on the appellate panel, Judge Sandra Segal Ikuta said the state law 'meaningfully constrains" the constitutional right to keep arms by forcing gun owners to get rechecked before each purchase of bullets. 'The right to keep and bear arms incorporates the right to operate them, which requires ammunition,' the judge wrote. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who supported the background checks, decried the court's decision. 'Strong gun laws save lives — and today's decision is a slap in the face to the progress California has made in recent years to keep its communities safer from gun violence," Newsom said in a statement. "Californians voted to require background checks on ammunition and their voices should matter.' Chuck Michel, president and general counsel of the California Rifle & Pistol Association, called the law 'absurdly restrictive.' 'This case has been a long hard fight against overreaching government gun control, but a firearm cannot be effective without the ammunition to make it operable. The state of California continues to try to strip our rights, and we continue to prove their actions are unconstitutional.' Benitez had criticized the state's automated background check system, which he said rejected about 11% of applicants, or 58,087 requests, in the first half of 2023. California's law was meant to help police find people who have guns illegally, such as convicted felons, people with certain mental illnesses and people with some domestic violence convictions.
