Latest news with #Yaba
New Straits Times
21 hours ago
- New Straits Times
GOF foils smuggling bid, arrest undocumented migrants
KOTA BARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) stopped two human smuggling attempts in Kelantan over two days, arresting several undocumented migrants and two suspected tekong darat (name given by locals to those harbouring illegal immigrants). GOF Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abd Hamid said the operations, which began on Sunday, were part of Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan. He said the Seventh Battalion detained a vehicle at a roadblock in Chabang Empat Salam, Rantau Panjang, around 3pm Sunday, on suspicion of transporting undocumented migrants. "Upon inspection, (they) found three men and two women from Myanmar, all without valid identification. "The 38-year-old local driver was arrested under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM), while the five Myanmar nationals were held under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63," he said. He said the driver also tested positive for methamphetamine. In a separate raid just after midnight on Monday, GOF personnel stormed a house in Kampung Slow Machang, Pasir Mas. "The raid followed intelligence on smuggling activities. "A 50-year-old local man, believed to be the tekong darat, tried to flee but was swiftly apprehended. Officers also found two men and two women from Myanmar, all undocumented and believed to have entered Malaysia illegally. The team also seized 14 Yaba pills hidden in a cigarette box belonging to the suspect. All undocumented migrants were held under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act, while the suspected smugglers were arrested under Section 26J of the ATIPSOM Act and Sections 12(2) and 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. He said the GOF remains committed to tackling cross-border crimes, especially human trafficking and drug-related offences.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
6-crore Yaba tablets seized in Silchar, 2 held
1 2 Silchar: Police in Cachar district on Monday seized Yaba tablets valued at Rs 6 crore in the international black market and arrested two suspected drug peddlers. The haul was made on the Silchar-Aizawl road near Ghungoor bypass. Cachar SP Numal Mahatta told the media that the operation was launched based on credible intelligence regarding the transportation of narcotics. A vehicle was intercepted on the Silchar-Aizawl road, and during a search, 20,000 Yaba tablets were recovered from a specially designed hidden chambers within the vehicle. The two individuals found in the vehicle, identified as Injamul Hoque Laskar of Kabuganj, Sonai, and Hussain Ahmed Borbhuyan of Bhaga — both in Cachar district — were arrested. Preliminary investigation suggests that the psychotropic substances were transported from Aizawl, Mizoram, SP Mahatta added. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma lauded the Assam Police for their successful operation in a post on social media on Monday.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Primary school teacher claims trial to Yaba pill possession
SHAH ALAM: A primary school teacher claimed trial at the magistrate's court here today to a charge of possessing 5.1 grammes of Yaba pills, commonly known as 'pil kuda', last Friday. Mohd Amirul Amin Ismail, 34, a physical education teacher, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him before Magistrate Muhammad Syafiq Sulaiman. Amirul, a father of one, was charged with possessing the drugs without authorisation under the Dangerous Drugs Act, an offence under Section 12(2) punishable under Section 39A. He allegedly committed the offence at about 12.30am at the teachers' quarters in Subang Jaya on July 25. He faces a jail term of not less than two years and up to five years, as well as three to nine strokes of the rotan, if found guilty. Deputy public prosecutor Muaz Khawarizmi Azfar offered RM6,000 bail with one surety. Lawyer Anasuha Atiqah Mat Saidi, who represented Amirul, asked the court to set bail at RM3,000, citing that it was all her client's wife, who would post bail, could afford. "The accused earns RM3,500 monthly and is the sole breadwinner for his family. He supports his unemployed wife, their three-year-old child and an aged mother. "This is his first charge linked to drug possession. He is a civil servant, has cooperated fully with the police during remand and is not a flight risk. "As bail is to guarantee his attendance in court, I ask that it be set at RM3,000. "His wife is here and ready to be his bailor," she said.
India.com
3 days ago
- India.com
Assam Rifles Seizes Meth Tablets, Heroin Valued At Rs 40.05 Crore In Mizoram
The Assam Rifles have seized highly addictive methamphetamine tablets and heroin valued at around Rs 40.05 crore in Mizoram, officials said on Sunday. A Defence spokesman said that after getting intelligence inputs, the Assam Rifles troops have launched an operation at Melbuk areas in border town Zokhawthar in eastern Mizoram's Champhai district on Saturday night. 'On conducting a thorough search, the para-military personnel recovered 1.041 kg heroin and 9.381 kg methamphetamine tablets valued approximately 40.05 crores from an abandoned place,' he said. The seized contrabands have been handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Officials suspect that the Methamphetamine tablets, also known as Yaba or party tablets, and heroin were smuggled from Myanmar. Methamphetamine, which comes in tablet, powder, or crystalline form -- commonly called ice or crystal meth -- is a stimulant that suppresses the need for sleep and is often used by partygoers and young adults. Myanmar's Chin State has emerged as a major hub for drug trafficking, wildlife smuggling, and other illicit activities. The contraband is often routed through six districts in Mizoram, Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip -- which share unfenced borders of 510 km with Myanmar. Meanwhile, Assam Rifles have been conducting awareness campaigns like seminars and group discussions highlighting the bad effects of the drugs and drugs trafficking are a punishable offence under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985. The Defence spokesman said that the aim of these awareness campaigns is to educate the local population, especially the youth, about the harmful effects of drug abuse and the serious legal consequences associated with drug trafficking and peddling. The speakers in this campaign highlighted the rising threat of narcotics in society and especially in border areas of Mizoram and urged the participants to stay vigilant and not to get entrapped.
Time Out
23-07-2025
- General
- Time Out
Kafe Utu, Singapore's first African café, just updated its brunch menu – here's why you need to try it
The year is 2019, and Singapore's first African café and lounge just landed on the scene. These days, founder Kurt Wagner is more known for his West African restaurant Tamba, which offers a reasonable $138 dinner tasting menu, but before that, Kafe Utu was where curious diners would flock to for a taste of African cuisine. My first visit to the café was in 2022. It didn't accept reservations back then so a crowd was pooling outside during dinner time, but what turned out to be a 90-minute wait proved to be worth it. The three-storey building was impressive at every corner – stunning portraits of African women on the first floor, large leather couches on the second floor for lounging around and mingling with strangers, and a charming alfresco area overlooking the neighbourhood. Tasteful decor aside, the vibe was lively and communal, and the service warm and friendly. Kafe Utu's dinner offerings consist of a pan-African spread of curries paired with rice and condiments, and it also serves brunch and an extensive list of specialty coffee, all roasted in-house. The recent brunch menu refresh sees returns of fan-favourite dishes as well as a couple of additions to keep things fresh. We're told that the previous version leaned more towards stews, rice and curries, while the updated features more bread – think chapati and batbout (a kind of Moroccan pita). Back by popular demand is the pulled pork breakfast ($27), a vibrant platter of spiced shredded pork shoulder topped with a poached egg and smoked barbecue sauce. On the side: refreshing kachumbari, fried plantains and viazi karai (deep-fried potatoes). Get a bit of everything and roll it all up in freshly baked chapati sheets. Or try the Mbuzi Mbaya 'Bad Goat' ($34), highly recommended by my dining companion. Think of it as an African version of the English big breakfast, with homemade goat sausages, marinated goat cheese, smoked pepper sauce, and the same fixings of kachumbari and chapati. We couldn't pass up the Yaba 'Wise Chief' Burger ($42), another much-anticipated comeback on the brunch menu. This towering burger was a mainstay at the café back in 2020, available only in limited quantities each day. At its heart is a thick, juicy slab of Angus brisket and chuck patty, stacked with another layer of smoked ox tongue. Yes, ox tongue – it appears intimidating at first, with a glossy, deep-red sheen, but don't be fooled. It's remarkably tender, richly beefy and completely free of any funky aftertaste. Smoky melted pepper jack cheese adds depth, while house-made pickles cut through the fattiness. Everything we try is spot-on so far and the portions are far from paltry – it's just a tad heavy for brunch. You get your fair share of deep-fried, spicy, smoky and meaty flavours here, so if that's not quite your idea of breakfast, it might be wiser to pop by later in the day before the café closes at 4.30pm for the dinner service. That said, coffee and desserts are a hit with our table. The alcoholic Utu Dome dessert is a classic – and quite the showstopper – with melted dark chocolate poured over a thin chocolate shell encasing crème de pâtissière, pink peppercorns, raspberry liqueur and seasonal berries ($24). New desserts include the sour cream cheesecake with peanut butter ($12) and tapioca fritters with coconut cream and an accompanying chocolate dip ($18). There are over six coffee options on the menu and eight specialty drinks under the Utu Specials section. Hatsu-Koi ($12) is the café's answer to the recently trending strawberry matcha latte, blending jasmine tea with matcha for added florality and using homemade strawberry purée. Meanwhile, classic beverages include the Bidibado ($8) – mocha with a peanut butter rim laced with roasted almonds and pink peppercorn; Malindi Latte ($8) – latte with a secret seven spice syrup; and The Karanga ($12) for sweet tooths, where iced white coffee is topped with peanut butter mascarpone cream.
