UK Seizes over 2 Tons of Cocaine Worth £96 Mln at London Port
British authorities have
announced
the seizure of 2.4 metric tons of cocaine at London Gateway port, one of the largest drug interceptions in the country's history. The estimated street value of the narcotics stands at £96 million.
According to the UK Home Office, this operation ranks as the sixth-largest cocaine seizure ever recorded in the United Kingdom.
The drugs were discovered concealed beneath dozens of shipping containers aboard a vessel arriving from Panama, a known transit hub for international narcotics trafficking.
The interdiction was carried out earlier this month by specialist officers from the UK Border Force, who worked in coordination with the port operator to relocate 37 large containers in order to reach the illicit cargo.
Authorities emphasized the strategic significance of this interception. Container ships remain a key method used by transnational criminal networks to smuggle cocaine into the United Kingdom. This seizure reflects the growing sophistication of British border security efforts.
Charlie Eastaugh, Director of Maritime Operations at UK Border Force, highlighted that the operation exemplifies the agency's proactive stance in combating organized crime. British law enforcement is increasingly leveraging intelligence-sharing and cross-border cooperation to identify and dismantle international drug networks.
The United Kingdom remains one of Europe's largest cocaine markets, with cocaine-related fatalities in England and Wales rising by 31% between 2022 and 2023, according to official government data. The National Crime Agency (NCA) continues to warn that the country is a major target for global narcotics traffickers.
read more
Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685
NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria
Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO
Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided
News
Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks
News
Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank
News
Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region
News
One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid
News
China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier
Sports
Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer
Videos & Features
Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall
Lifestyle
Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt
Business
Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War
Arts & Culture
Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
News
Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
Videos & Features
Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream
News
Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan
Technology
50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily News Egypt
an hour ago
- Daily News Egypt
Trump's Reckless Power Play: Why Mary Trump's Warnings Should Alarm the Middle East Today
Mary Trump's intimate revelations about her uncle's character resurface as the Middle East braces for unpredictable decisions with global repercussions. Dealing with the character of Donald Trump in the Middle East is no longer a matter of politics or diplomacy; it has become an issue that directly impacts the region's stability. Amid rapidly unfolding transformations—and at a time when a clear alliance is emerging between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—the Arab world is confronted with a volatile reality shaped by American decisions that defy conventional political logic. This fraught climate brings renewed relevance to a book that, since its publication, has offered key insights into the mindset of a man who manufactures crises as often as he generates headlines. Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man, written by clinical psychologist and Trump's niece Mary Trump, is more than a family memoir—it is a psychological case study of a figure whose whims have global consequences. The book, which sparked wide controversy upon its 2020 release, has not lost its urgency. On the contrary, its value has arguably doubled in light of today's extraordinarily delicate regional landscape, where alliances shift, interests collide, and spheres of influence are redrawn. With Arab powers unable to anticipate Washington's next moves, it becomes crucial to understand not just US policy—but the personality of the American decision-maker himself: his psychological drives, behavioural patterns, and deep-seated motivations. Trump's open embrace of Netanyahu's government at the expense of any Arab or Palestinian balance only reinforces this need. Having grown up in the Trump household, Mary recounts the formative years of her uncle's upbringing under a domineering father who showed no tolerance for emotion and worshipped only money and dominance. She describes how Donald Trump learned early to mask vulnerability, lie persuasively, and play the strongman who never admits fault. From this harsh environment emerged a personality that sees aggression as a survival strategy, denial as habit, and unchecked power as a rightful tool for imposing one's will. Drawing on her clinical expertise, Mary Trump diagnoses her uncle with acute narcissistic disorder—characterised by an insatiable hunger for praise, an inability to empathise, a vindictive response to criticism, and a compulsion to lie until he believes his own fabrications. The most alarming implication of this diagnosis lies in its ability to explain Trump's pattern of making fateful decisions without hesitation, foresight, or adherence to rational norms—a tendency repeatedly displayed on the international stage, particularly in the Middle East. The book also reveals a darker family legacy: a tangled web of financial manipulation, tax evasion, and conspiracies to hoard wealth. Mary recounts how the Trump patriarch, Fred Trump, built and preserved a vast financial empire through shell companies, fictitious transactions, and fraudulent schemes. In such an atmosphere, Donald Trump never internalised respect for law or regulation. Instead, he absorbed the belief that accountability is optional—so long as one wields power and money. According to Mary, when Trump entered the White House, he simply transferred his family's model of deceit and domination to the presidency. He governed through manipulation, institutional sabotage, and the propagation of alternative facts—ruling not through policy but through spectacle and disruption. What makes him most dangerous, she warns, is not his ideology but his instinct: the ability to destabilise opponents with erratic decisions and redirect the course of events through impulsive gambles. One striking anecdote in the book involves Trump paying a friend to take his college entrance exam while in high school—a secret long buried within the family. According to Mary, this revealed not just a willingness to cheat, but a lifelong pattern of exploiting others for personal gain without remorse. Trump later boasted in private that he 'always knows how to pay someone to handle the boring stuff for him.' Another telling moment involves Trump's response to his brother Fred Trump Jr.'s illness. While Fred was gravely ill in hospital, Donald ignored the family's pleas to visit him, opting instead to attend a social gathering—and later claimed ignorance of the severity of the condition. Mary presents this not just as cruelty, but as a revealing instance of emotional detachment, showing a man who sees others as disposable tools. This is precisely why revisiting Mary Trump's book is so urgent—particularly for the Middle East. The region is entering a perilous phase: unresolved conflicts in Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, mounting threats against Iran, and a crumbling Arab consensus. Against this backdrop, a US president driven by personal impulses and psychological dysfunction presents an existential danger. What worries observers today is not Trump's traditional pro-Israel stance—that is well known—but his deepening alliance with the most extremist government in Israel's history, and his pursuit of unpredictable, high-stakes strategies whose outcomes defy prediction. His recent economic and military actions targeting Iran, along with pressure on Arab states to shift positions on Tel Aviv, reinforce the conclusion that Trump is propelled not by strategy, but by obsession. Mary Trump's book thus becomes an indispensable psychological dossier. It is not just the biography of a president, but a chilling portrait of a personality that could once again plunge the Middle East into chaos. It lays bare the thinking of a man who equates strength with lawlessness and believes he is entitled to impose his will without constraint. Debate may continue over Mary Trump's motives for airing family secrets. Yet what remains beyond doubt is that her rare insider perspective exposes the most disturbing traits of a leader who continues to shape the world stage. And if politics requires knowing one's adversary, then reading this book today is no longer a luxury—it is a strategic necessity for anyone concerned with the region's fate in an age that can no longer afford reckless gambles. Marwa El-Shinawy – Academic and Writer
Daily News Egypt
an hour ago
- Daily News Egypt
From War Criminal to Peace Laureate: How Trump and Netanyahu Are Rewriting the Rules of History
They say history is written by the victors — but in today's world, it is not merely written. It is manufactured, weaponised, and imposed, shaped by tyranny and the cold logic of power. After the 12-day war that pitted Iran against Israel and the United States, all three emerged claiming victory, as though the real loser was the one who had not even taken part. In reality, only one man could claim victory with impunity — and do so effortlessly. In a swift, Hollywood-style assault that lasted barely two hours and shed not a drop of American blood, he declared the conflict over, ordering both sides to stand down. That man was US President Donald Trump. A businessman before he was a politician, Trump understands better than most how to monetise a moment. He quickly sought to turn this questionable 'victory' — contradicted by several US intelligence assessments — into a strategic opportunity to tackle a host of unresolved regional crises: ending the war in Gaza, proposing a reimagined two-state solution shaped by the post–October 7 realities, and expanding the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia and Syria, a vision he had first pursued in the twilight of his first White House term. What followed was the continuation of Trump's made-for-television approach to diplomacy — closing wars with spectacle and cutting deals with flair. It began with a tweet, or rather, a lifeline masquerading as diplomacy — a real-world illustration of Dostoevsky's famous line from The Brothers Karamazov: 'If God does not exist, everything is permitted — even the greatest of crimes.' Trump publicly called for the pardon of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding an end to his ongoing corruption trials. On Truth Social, he wrote: 'Netanyahu is enduring a tragedy. This is the first time a sitting Israeli Prime Minister has been prosecuted. It's a politically motivated case involving cigars, a Bugs Bunny doll, and other unfair charges. He deserves much better. His trial must be canceled immediately, or he should be granted a pardon. A great hero. It was America that saved Israel — and now it must save Netanyahu.' The post sent shockwaves through Israeli society. Writers, legal experts, and political figures condemned it as an unprecedented and shameless interference in the domestic affairs of a democratic ally. Yet over time, it became evident that this was no mere outburst — it was part of a larger deal. In exchange for Trump's political and rhetorical support, Netanyahu would accelerate peace overtures and regional normalisation. In return, Trump would gain a powerful platform for his long-coveted Nobel Peace Prize — an ambition reignited as he eyes a return to the presidency. Israeli media soon reported that a consensus was forming around a new framework to end the Gaza war. It included: a ceasefire within two weeks; the handover of Gaza's administration to a coalition of four Arab states (including Egypt and the UAE); Hamas leaders being exiled abroad; the release of hostages; the option for third countries to receive Gazans seeking emigration; and formal recognition of Israel by Saudi Arabia, Syria, and other Arab and Muslim nations. In return, Tel Aviv would signal readiness to pursue a two-state solution under a new framework, and the US would recognise limited Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank. To many in Israel, Netanyahu remains a national hero — the leader who struck Hezbollah, dismantled Iranian proxy networks, and now aims to defeat Hamas. But one thread binds Netanyahu and Trump to the region's current state of peril: both played central roles in bringing Iran closer than ever to building its first nuclear bomb. The nuclear deal signed with President Barack Obama — despite its shortcomings — had, according to global intelligence assessments (including Israel's Mossad), successfully curbed Iran's weapons programme. But when Trump took office, Netanyahu persuaded him to unilaterally abandon the agreement. Israeli defence officials warned this would remove vital restrictions on Tehran's programme, and history proved them right. By the eve of the latest Israeli strikes, Iran was reportedly just 18 days away from assembling its first nuclear bomb — a direct consequence of the 2018 withdrawal. Now, it seems Trump and Netanyahu are attempting to turn that crisis into a historic opportunity. Their shared objective: repackage the Iranian threat within a broader regional realignment. The proposed deal would see Iran halt its regional interference and uranium enrichment in exchange for broader Arab-Israeli normalisation and a gradual end to the Gaza war. As part of this broader understanding, Netanyahu is expected to pursue peace talks with Saudi Arabia — and possibly Lebanon and Syria — and then call early elections to consolidate his domestic mandate. For both Trump and Netanyahu, the ultimate prize would not just be regional transformation, but a joint bid for the Nobel Peace Prize — a shield of legitimacy for one man facing political extinction, and another facing trial for war crimes. But such a spectacle raises grave ethical and political questions. Can mass civilian deaths be whitewashed by a diplomatic handshake? Can war crimes be erased by a peace deal signed under coercion? Is the Nobel Prize now just another trophy in a transactional world where justice is deferred, and memory is rewritten? For those watching from the Middle East, the danger lies not only in the ambitions of these two men, but in the world's willingness to play along. Dr. Hatem Sadek – Professor at Helwan University
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Israel steps up campaign in Gaza ahead of Netanyahu's US visit - War on Gaza
Israel's military said Tuesday that it had expanded its operations in Gaza, where residents reported fierce gunfire and shelling days ahead of a planned trip to Washington by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The intensified operations came after days of mounting calls for a ceasefire, with US President Donald Trump -- whom Netanyahu is slated to meet with next week -- among those urging Israel to strike a new deal to halt the war and bring home the captives still held in Gaza. Israel's destrcutive campaign in Gaza has continued unabated, however, with the strip's civil defence agency reporting Israeli forces killed 17 people on Tuesday. The Israeli military said Tuesday morning that in recent days it had "expanded its operations to additional areas within the Gaza Strip". Raafat Halles, 39, from the Shujaiya district of Gaza City district, said "air strikes and shelling have intensified over the past week", and tanks have been advancing. "I believe that every time negotiations or a potential ceasefire are mentioned, the army escalates crimes and massacres on the ground," he said. "I don't know why." Amer Daloul, a 44-year-old resident of Gaza City, also reported fiercer clashes between Israeli forces and militants in recent days, telling AFP that he and his family were forced to flee the tent they were living in at dawn on Tuesday "due to heavy and random gunfire and shelling". In the southern city of Rafah, resident Mohammed Abdel Aal, 41, said "tanks are present" in most parts of town. Aid seekers killed Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that eight people were killed near aid distribution sites in central and southern Gaza Tuesday, in the latest in a long-running spate of deadly attacks on those seeking food. One person was killed and 50 wounded when tanks and drones opened fire as crowds were waiting to collect aid near the Wadi Gaza Bridge in the middle of the territory, Bassal said. The civil defence said another six people were killed nearby while trying to reach the same aid centre. At least one more person was killed near another aid centre in Rafah, the civil defence said. Israeli imposed media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by rescuers. A group of 169 aid organisations called Monday for an end to Gaza's "deadly" new US- and Israeli-backed aid distribution scheme, which they said forced starving civilians to "trek for hours through dangerous terrain and active conflict zones, only to face a violent, chaotic race" for food. They urged a return to the UN-led aid mechanism that existed until March, when Israel imposed a full blockade on humanitarian assistance entering Gaza. The new scheme's administrator, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), has distanced itself from reports of aid seekers being killed near its centres. The civil defence agency reported that the attack killed 24 people. Maher Al-Baqa, 40, the brother of the owner of the cafe, told AFP that several of his relatives including two nephews were killed in the strike. "It's one of the most well-known cafes on the Gaza coast, frequented by educated youth, journalists, artists, doctors, engineers and hardworking people," he said. "They used to feel free and safe there -- it was like a second home to them." PM's US visit Netanyahu announced he would visit Trump and senior US security officials next week, after previously saying Israel's campaign against Iran had created "opportunities". Israel's declaration of victory in the recent 12-day war has raised pressure on it to put a similar end to more than 20 months of devastating fighting in Gaza. "Taking advantage of the success is no less important than achieving the success," Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP the group is "ready to agree to any proposal if it will lead to an end to the war and a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of occupation forces". "So far, there has been no breakthrough." Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
