Some of the gambling machines recovered in the raids. (Photo courtesy of the San Diego Police)
San Diego Police raided two illegal gambling operations this week, seizing a total of 62 machines at a vacant building on El Cajon Boulevard and a storage facility in Chula Vista.
On Tuesday, officers first raided the building at 4835 El Cajon Boulevard, detaining several individuals and confiscating 23 machines, money and narcotics.
Then officers searched three storage units at 1160 Third Avenue in Chula Vista, finding 39 gambling machines and “a large amount of money.”
“Illegal gambling establishments pose significant risks to the community,” the department said in a statement following the raids. “These locations often attract additional criminal activity, including narcotics sales, theft and violence.”
Anyone with information about the gambling at the two locations was encouraged to call police at 619-531-2000 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
The U.S. military’s 20th strike on a boat accused of transporting drugs has killed four people in the Caribbean Sea, the U.S. military said Friday, coming as the Trump administration escalates its campaign in South American waters.The latest strike happened Monday, according to a social media post on Friday by U.S. Southern Command, which oversees military operations in the Caribbean and Latin America. The latest strike brings the death toll from the attacks that began in September to 80, with the Mexican Navy suspending its search for a survivor of a strike in late October after four days.Southern Command’s post on X shows a boat speeding over water before it’s engulfed in flames. The command said intelligence confirmed the vessel “was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics.”Southern Command’s post marked a shift away from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s practice of typically announcing the attacks on social media, although he quickly reposted Southern Command’s statement.Hegseth had announced the previous two strikes on Monday after they had been carried out on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is expanding the U.S. military’s already large presence in the region by bringing in the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier. The nation’s most advanced warship is expected to arrive in the coming days after traveling from the Mediterranean Sea.Hegseth on Thursday formally named the mission “Operation Southern Spear,” emphasizing the growing significance and permanence of the military’s presence in the region. Once the Ford arrives, the mission will encompass nearly a dozen Navy ships as well about 12,000 sailors and Marines.The Trump administration has insisted that the buildup of warships is focused on stopping the flow of drugs into the U.S., but it has released no evidence to support its assertions that those killed in the boats were “narcoterrorists.” The strikes have targeted vessels largely in the Caribbean Sea but also have taken place in the eastern Pacific Ocean, where much of the cocaine from the world’s largest producers is smuggled.Some observers say the aircraft carrier is a big new tool of intimidation against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces charges of narcoterrorism in the U.S. Experts disagree on whether American warplanes may bomb land targets to pressure Maduro to step down.Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the U.S. doesn’t recognize Maduro, who was widely accused of stealing last year’s election, as the leader of Venezuela and has called the government a “transshipment organization” that openly cooperates with those trafficking drugs toward the U.S.Maduro has said the U.S. government is “fabricating” a war against him. Venezuela’s government this week touted a “massive” mobilization of troops and civilians to defend against possible U.S. attacks.Trump has justified the attacks by saying the United States is in “armed conflict” with drug cartels and claiming the boats are operated by foreign terror organizations that are flooding America’s cities with drugs.Lawmakers, including Republicans, have pressed for more information on who is being targeted and the legal justification for the strikes.Rubio and Hegseth met with a bipartisan group of lawmakers who oversee national security issues last week, providing one of the first high-level glimpses into the legal rationale and strategy behind the strikes.Senate Republicans voted a day later to reject legislation that would have put a check on Trump’s ability to launch an attack against Venezuela without congressional authorization.
WASHINGTON —
The U.S. military’s 20th strike on a boat accused of transporting drugs has killed four people in the Caribbean Sea, the U.S. military said Friday, coming as the Trump administration escalates its campaign in South American waters.
The latest strike happened Monday, according to a social media post on Friday by U.S. Southern Command, which oversees military operations in the Caribbean and Latin America. The latest strike brings the death toll from the attacks that began in September to 80, with the Mexican Navy suspending its search for a survivor of a strike in late October after four days.
Southern Command’s post on X shows a boat speeding over water before it’s engulfed in flames. The command said intelligence confirmed the vessel “was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics.”
Southern Command’s post marked a shift away from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s practice of typically announcing the attacks on social media, although he quickly reposted Southern Command’s statement.
Hegseth had announced the previous two strikes on Monday after they had been carried out on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is expanding the U.S. military’s already large presence in the region by bringing in the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier. The nation’s most advanced warship is expected to arrive in the coming days after traveling from the Mediterranean Sea.
Hegseth on Thursday formally named the mission “Operation Southern Spear,” emphasizing the growing significance and permanence of the military’s presence in the region. Once the Ford arrives, the mission will encompass nearly a dozen Navy ships as well about 12,000 sailors and Marines.
The Trump administration has insisted that the buildup of warships is focused on stopping the flow of drugs into the U.S., but it has released no evidence to support its assertions that those killed in the boats were “narcoterrorists.” The strikes have targeted vessels largely in the Caribbean Sea but also have taken place in the eastern Pacific Ocean, where much of the cocaine from the world’s largest producers is smuggled.
Some observers say the aircraft carrier is a big new tool of intimidation against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces charges of narcoterrorism in the U.S. Experts disagree on whether American warplanes may bomb land targets to pressure Maduro to step down.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the U.S. doesn’t recognize Maduro, who was widely accused of stealing last year’s election, as the leader of Venezuela and has called the government a “transshipment organization” that openly cooperates with those trafficking drugs toward the U.S.
Maduro has said the U.S. government is “fabricating” a war against him. Venezuela’s government this week touted a “massive” mobilization of troops and civilians to defend against possible U.S. attacks.
Trump has justified the attacks by saying the United States is in “armed conflict” with drug cartels and claiming the boats are operated by foreign terror organizations that are flooding America’s cities with drugs.
Lawmakers, including Republicans, have pressed for more information on who is being targeted and the legal justification for the strikes.
Senate Republicans voted a day later to reject legislation that would have put a check on Trump’s ability to launch an attack against Venezuela without congressional authorization.
Sheriff’s deputies discovered guns in a search of a driver’s vehicle. (Photos courtesy of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department)
A man was arrested early Friday after San Marcos Sheriff’s deputies found him with drugs and two firearms, including a ghost gun.
Just after 3 a.m. on Oct. 10, deputies discovered Manuel Vargas, 31, asleep behind the wheel of his car in the 1500 block of Linda Vista Drive.
Narcotic contraband was visible inside the vehicle, leading to his arrest on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia. Deputies, Sheriff’s officials said in a news release, later located additional narcotics.
A search of the car, they said, also uncovered a small case on the passenger floorboard containing two handguns — a loaded, unserialized Glock-style 9mm with a high-capacity magazine and an unloaded .22 LR Pietro Beretta semi-automatic.
The other firearm seized in San Marcos. (Photo courtesy of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department)
Investigators determined Vargas was prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. The weapons, ammunition and narcotics were seized.
Vargas was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on felony charges, including carrying a loaded firearm in public, possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of a high-capacity magazine and possession of narcotics and paraphernalia.
Who is Sameer Wankhede? Ex-Narcotics Bureau officer has moved Delhi High Court over…
Read everything about Sameer Wankhede and his link to Aryan Khan and legal action against ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood.’
Sameer Wankhede, a former Mumbai zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and an IRS officer, is once again in the news. Known for leading high-profile drug cases, Wankhede is also married to actress Kranti Redkar. But what keeps him in the spotlight now is his long-running connection with Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan. In 2021, Aryan was arrested in a major drug case led by Wankhede. The case quickly became one of the most talked-about controversies in the country. Aryan spent time in custody, before being granted bail, and eventually all charges against him were dropped. A different NCB team later admitted that the evidence in the case was weak.
Fast forward to today, Wankhede has filed a lawsuit against Aryan Khan’s directorial debut, The Ba**ds of Bollywood*, streaming on Netflix. Produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan’s banner, the show has drawn Wankhede’s anger for allegedly portraying him unfairly. He claims the series defames him, misrepresents his role as an officer, and damages his reputation.
One scene in particular upset him, where a character makes an obscene gesture right after saying ‘Satyamev Jayate.’ Wankhede argues that this not only insults a national symbol but also hurts public sentiment, which he says is against the law.
In his petition to the Delhi High Court, Wankhede has asked for the series to be restrained from streaming and distribution. He also wants a declaration that the show is defamatory. Interestingly, he has sought ₹2 crore in damages, but not for himself, he has proposed that the amount should be donated to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital.
As for the show itself, The Ba**ds of Bollywood* is Aryan Khan’s first outing as a director. Set in the world of cinema, it follows the journey of ambitious newcomers trying to find their place in Bollywood, with appearances from some familiar faces.
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Authorities in Utah say two men have been arrested on suspicion of placing an incendiary device under a news media vehicle in Salt Lake City. The bomb didn’t go off.Police and fire department bomb squads responded Friday when a suspicious device was found under the vehicle parked near an occupied building.Investigators determined the bomb “had been lit but failed to function as designed,” according to court records cited by KUTV.The FBI identified two suspects and served a search warrant at a home in the Magna neighborhood west of the city’s downtown. Two men, ages 58 and 31, were arrested and could face charges related to weapons possession and threats of terrorism, KTVX reported Sunday.Neighboring homes were evacuated during the search, which turned up explosives and “explosive-related components,” firearms, illegal narcotics and other paraphernalia, court records say. Authorities say they also found at least two devices that turned out to be hoax weapons of mass destruction.There was no information about a possible motive and the relationship between the two suspects wasn’t immediately known.News media have descended on Salt Lake City following last week’s assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk.
SALT LAKE CITY —
Authorities in Utah say two men have been arrested on suspicion of placing an incendiary device under a news media vehicle in Salt Lake City. The bomb didn’t go off.
Police and fire department bomb squads responded Friday when a suspicious device was found under the vehicle parked near an occupied building.
Investigators determined the bomb “had been lit but failed to function as designed,” according to court records cited by KUTV.
The FBI identified two suspects and served a search warrant at a home in the Magna neighborhood west of the city’s downtown. Two men, ages 58 and 31, were arrested and could face charges related to weapons possession and threats of terrorism, KTVX reported Sunday.
Neighboring homes were evacuated during the search, which turned up explosives and “explosive-related components,” firearms, illegal narcotics and other paraphernalia, court records say. Authorities say they also found at least two devices that turned out to be hoax weapons of mass destruction.
There was no information about a possible motive and the relationship between the two suspects wasn’t immediately known.
News media have descended on Salt Lake City following last week’s assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk.
A Border Patrol agent is positioned by the border fence. (File photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego)
Last week, Border Patrol agents teamed up with San Diego Sheriff’s deputies to track down a Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling near Carlsbad and carrying cocaine and methamphetamine inside its battery.
The Aug. 20 incident was the San Diego Sector’s fourth case this year involving narcotics being smuggled inside car batteries, according to the agency.
The agents seized 9.25 pounds of cocaine and 2.1 pounds of methamphetamine this time.
The first instance took place on April 14, where agents seized 32.8 pounds of fentanyl from inside a car battery. On July 24, agents discovered 4.85 pounds of fentanyl concealed the same way, and on July 28, they discovered 16.2 pounds of fentanyl and $1,000 inside another vehicle’s hood.
“As we continue to gain operational control of the southern border, smugglers are going to great lengths to push dangerous drugs into this country,” Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey D. Stalnaker said in a release. “But the Border Patrol is using every possible resource to dismantle the criminal networks that threaten American communities. I am deeply proud of the work our agents do every day.”
While specifics were not revealed, the San Diego Sector explained that they use K-9 detection units and battery examinations to investigate a suspected vehicle.
The San Diego Sector reported that, since October 2024, it has seized 10,696 pounds of methamphetamine, 2,751 pounds of cocaine, 521 pounds of fentanyl and 56 pounds of heroin.
Border Patrol Agents transported the smuggled narcotics and the driver of the Jeep Grand Cherokee to the Vista Sheriff’s Station for processing.
The agency urges anyone encountering suspicious activity to report it by calling 911 or the San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.
Increased traffic enforcement efforts try to curb dangerous driving in Tampa, with a particular focus on the Courtney Campbell Causeway over the extended Labor Day weekend. This increased presence resulted in a significant number of traffic stops and citations, highlighting the department’s commitment to public safety.
Over the extended weekend, officers conducted 207 total traffic stops along the Courtney Campbell Causeway, issuing 103 warnings and 106 citations for speeding. Citywide, officers conducted 1,183 traffic stops, issuing 1,012 warnings and 531 citations.
According to Tampa Police, the goal for the weekend operation was to balance education and enforcement. Drivers were reminded of the importance of obeying traffic rules and sharing the road responsibly. However, the department also made it clear that street racing and takeovers are not tolerated in the City of Tampa.
“Our officers, whether in cars, on motorcycles, or in the air, are dedicated to ensuring the safety of our community,” said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw. “The Labor Day weekend operation is just one example of their everyday commitment to reducing traffic-related incidents and ensuring our roads are safe for everyone.”
In one notable incident, just before 2:00am on September 1st, TampaPolice officers responded to an attempted street takeover event near the Tampa Convention Center. A BMW sedan was observed entering the intersection and performing burnouts and slides before heading southbound on Franklin St. onto Harbour Island. Aviation officers provided ground units with the vehicle’s updated location and direction of travel. The car was stopped, and the driver, 18-year-old Elian Michele, was arrested for Unlawful Racing on a Highway While Engaged in a Coordinated Street Takeover, and two narcotics charges. The BMW was impounded. This remains an active investigation, according to local law enforcement.
“Those who engage in such reckless and dangerous behavior will face the full consequences of the law,” said Chief Bercaw, reiterating the department’s stance on street racing and takeovers. “It should be clear that this type of activity is not tolerated in Tampa. You will be caught, you will be arrested, and your car will be seized.”
The TampaPolice Department reminds the community of the following consequences if they are involved in or spectating dangerous driving like illegal street racing, takeovers, or stunt driving: • Suspect(s) can be charged with a third-degree felony • Suspect(s) can be fined up to $4,000 • Vehicles can be seized or impounded • Suspect(s) can lose their license for two years • Spectators can be fined
If you see a street takeover or illegal street racing, do not engage. Leave the area and report it immediately by calling 911.
In Hillsborough County, the final results of Operation Summer’s End, a joint-agency enforcement initiative focused on addressing DUI (Driving Under the Influence) and BUI (Boating Under the Influence) offenses in Central Florida were also recently announced.
A Texas man died after police say they responded to an exposure call and ultimately tased the man.
Screengrab from Houston Police Department’s video on Facebook
A Texas man died after police say they responded to an exposure call and ultimately tased him.
Just after 7 a.m. April 28, police responded to a southeast Houston neighborhood after they were called about a naked man running around in the street, Houston Police Assistant Chief Wyatt Martin said at a news conference streamed on Facebook.
People in the area reported they could hear the man screaming. When officers arrived, they found the man inside a back enclosed porch of a home in the neighborhood.
Martin said police confronted the man and ordered him to come out, but he was uncooperative. The officers backed off and called for backup because the man was in an “agitated state”, Martin said.
When fire crews and backup units arrived, police tried to take the man into custody, Martin said.
“He fought with the officers and was eventually tased,” Martin said.
The man, whose identity has not been released, was placed into handcuffs, and about a minute later he became unresponsive, police said.
Paramedics were already on the scene and treated the man but were not able to revive him, police said. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“We use tasers as a less lethal weapon quite often, most of the time people have no adverse effects. This gentleman, we do know for certain was on a narcotic, and that very likely, given what he was on, could have contributed,” Martin said.
Martin said the man was tased at least one time after wrestling with officers. He said a full investigation into the man’s death will be done.
A cause of death has not yet been determined.
Jennifer Rodriguez is a McClatchy National Real-Time reporter covering the Central and Midwest regions. She joined McClatchy in 2023 after covering local news in Youngstown, Ohio, for over six years. Jennifer has made several achievements in her journalism career, including receiving the Robert R. Hare Award in English, the Emerging Leader Justice and Equality Award, the Regional Edward R. Murrow Award and the Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan Award.
Used at airports, train stations and major event, dog sniffing dogs are common. They have been featured on TV and movies and occasionally, at retirement, celebrated in on the media. But how accurate are drug sniffing dogs?
Belgian Malinois have become increasingly popular for narcotics detection tasks, making German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois two of the most popular narcotics detection breeds. Labrador Retrievers, Terriers (e.g., Fox, Welsh, and Jack Russell) and English Springer Spaniels are also used.
To train a narcotics detection canine, an association must be developed between the canine’s training toy and the odor of controlled substances, usually cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana. When the dog smells the odor of the designated narcotics, it believes it has found its toy. Dogs do not know they are smelling narcotics and not the toy itself. Once this connection between the odor of narcotics and the toy has been implanted in the dog’s memory, it is then taught to perform a certain behavior to signal the handler it has located the odor of what it believes is its toy. This demonstration is commonly referred to as the “alert.”
So how effective are they? It is a mixed bag, and it clear in all studies they aren’t always accurate. Law firms like Keller Law Office in Minnesota claim drug-sniffing dogs are not very accurate. They say multiple studies show alarmingly high error rates, with some results exceeding 50 percent.
A study by Polish researchers from the Department of Animal Behavior at the Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Science, found on average, dogs found hidden drugs correctly 87.7% of the time, with false indications happening about 5% of the time, and in 7% of cases, the dogs were unable to find the hidden substances.
The group found German Shepherds were the top narc dog, while terriers, who are often used due to their small size, were poor performers. Dogs performed better indoors than outdoors, while familiarity with room had no significant impact. Finding drugs outdoors or inside of a car were the most difficult tasks; these drug sniffing dogs were only 58% accurate when searching within a car.
Some drugs can also leave residual odors dogs do not distinguish from the actual presence of substances, with cannabis buds and hashish leaving the strongest after-odors, all dogs signaled the presence of hashish a day after it was removed from the location, and 80% did so after 48 hours.
In the UK, revealed drug sniffing dogs had incorrectly detected illicit substances on patrons in almost 75% of the 95,000 searches undertaken since 2012. While they are doing a review, the practice continues.
Police dogs and their efficacy is often perceived as highly accurate and nearly infallible which data doesn’t always support. The good new is K9s are also immune from racial and other biases. Enforcement agencies globally rely on their keen sense of smell to find hidden narcotics.
Other opportunities for is in sniffing out explosives, but dog teams alerted to the training sample in both trials (alert rate = 100%), indicating a strong response to the training sample. On average, dog teams alerted to the 30 g subsample of the confiscated explosive in 10 of 14 trials across all dogs at an alert rate of 71.43%. So still not the best score, but better than average.
The most successful dogs are trained to detect crop pests and diseases. A study by the US Department of Agriculture found these dogs identified trees infected with citrus greening disease with 99% accuracy; they could detect infection as early as two weeks after onset. Maybe it would be a better use?
Chronic pain can be a tough diagnosis, yet about 20% of the population suffer from some sort of long term issue. For those of us without this condition, it’s hard to imagine what someone with chronic pain is going through. Chronic pain is usually secondary to some form of trauma, making a bad situation far worse. Imagine the worst pain you have every experienced and then try to imagine having pain day in and day out for months or worse, for years.
Imagine not being able to sleep and becoming chronically sleep deprived. Imagine not being able to find a comfortable position to sit, stand or sleep. Imagine your significant other or children wanting your attention and you not having the capacity to give any. Imagine not being able to have enjoyable sex with the one you love. Experiencing chronic pain continuously changes you. Depression and anxiety are commonplace among this patient population.
While physicians have access to tools to deal with pain, chronic pain is resistant to a quick fix. Interventional procedures, surgery, physical therapy and pain medications have historically been the go-to therapies to address pain. Historically, because they are accessible and inexpensive, narcotics — particularly opioid narcotics — have also been one of the go-to therapies.
Given the opioid crisis, physicians are less likely to lead with narcotics, and some of us are deciding not to prescribe them altogether. The problem with narcotics is they work. They work really well. Sometimes too well, leading to a patient becoming so comfortable they “forget” to breathe. So, while reducing the amount of narcotics prescribed to patients is a good thing, the problem is physicians don’t have a lot of good alternatives to recommend to their patients, until now.
Photo by OlegMalyshev/Getty Images
Not all of America has access to medical cannabis yet, but the whole country has access to hemp-derived CBD. The eight pain clinics I run in North Carolina have been recommending CBD to patients for a couple of years now and observing some incredible results. We continue to learn everyday what CBD can and can’t do for our patients in chronic pain.
Shortly after our exposure to hemp and CBD, we conducted a study on 100 patients early and learned some valuable lessons. Our patients’ lives improved in multiple ways including sleep, anxiety relief and hope. The patients began calling hemp a “miracle plant,” and we can understand why.
Sleep is an extremely important aspect of life. It is the time our bodies and brains rejuvenate ourselves and prepare us for the next day. Without good quality sleep, the toll on our bodies and mental capacities really adds up. But CBD helps with sleep. On average, our patients’ sleep duration grew from 4.5 to 6 hours, and they reported the quality of sleep was significantly improved. Patients even told us they started remembering dreams, which was a surprise for them. Given the amount of medications these patients take, it’s no wonder many of them had not dreamed in years.
Chronic pain wears on your nerves. It is common for patients to experience severe anxiety. Historically, patients have been prescribed benzodiazepines (Valium and Xanax) to deal with this problem. Unfortunately, the combination of narcotics and benzos has led to increased overdose deaths. During our study it was clear our patients experienced less anxiety. Instead of reaching for a friend’s benzo or alcohol to deal with their anxiety, they instead started reaching for their CBD oil.
Chronic pain leads to a feeling of despair and hopelessness. One wonders if the pain will ever end? Will I ever get my life back? An unexpected finding during our study was our patients were coming back to us saying they were hopeful. Instead of their glass being half empty, it was now half full. Hope is powerful. When you have hope, your mind starts to work for you instead of against you. You start to imagine things can be different. You find the motivation to get off the couch and get busy living instead of waiting to die. This feeling of hope inspired these patients to start engaging in activities we had encouraged them to do for years, like doing yoga, eating healthier, losing weight and moving more.
Photo by seksan Mongkhonkhamsao/Getty Images
Our initial assessment of pain relief was at first disappointing. We typically only see a 10-20 percent pain reduction on average when a patient uses CBD. While some patients reported complete resolution of their pain, it was the exception, not the rule. Patients with a strong inflammatory component or fibromyalgia seem to get the best results.
As we continue to work with CBD our knowledge of the power of this plant is growing as well. We are obtaining much better results as we work with our patients to think themselves out of pain. You might think I’m kidding, but I’m not. Chronic pain changes the brain and lays down dysfunctional pathways. CBD promotes neuroplasticity and neurogenesis — the formation of new brain cells developing into new pathways of thinking. We are encouraged and excited to continue to work with CBD to maximize its potential to address chronic pain.
If you are living with chronic pain, hemp offers you hope. CBD can be purchased online or over the counter in many forms in every state in the U.S., and many places around the world. The good news is CBD has a very broad safety profile, and you should feel comfortable trying it. Dosing is key.
Taking too much won’t harm you, but it might not help you either. Please be sure to talk to your physician about CBD. In my next column, I will offer some tips for having this conversation, particularly if you feel awkward about cannabis or hemp, or suspect your doctor might react badly to your interest.
Suspects had 5,000 pounds of marijuana,, police allege
Two California men face felony charges after Illinois State Police allege the suspects had more than 5,000 pounds of marijuana, a news release says.
Illinois State Police (ISP) arrested 29-year-old Robert Mazo and 33-year-old Pedro Arreola, both from Lancaster, California, for cannabis trafficking (Class X felony), unlawful possession of cannabis – more than 5,000 grams with intent to deliver (Class X felony) and unlawful possession of cannabis – more than 5,000 grams, a Class 1 felony, a news release says.
Pedro Arreola (L) and Robert Mazo (Illinois State Police)
About 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, an ISP trooper conducted a traffic stop on a 2000 Provost Bus on Interstate 80 eastbound near milepost 13 in Henry County, the release says. During the traffic stop, “numerous indicators of criminal activity were observed,” the release says.
An ISP K9 arrived to assist, and alerted to the odor of narcotics. During the resulting search, numerous packages of illegal cannabis were located throughout the vehicle. The total weight of the cannabis was about 5,231 pounds, the release says.
More than 5,000 pounds of cannabis (Illinois State Police)
This seizure is one of the largest in ISP history and has an estimated value of between $6.3 and $14.7 million, the release says.
Both suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Henry County Jail. The Henry County State’s…
There has been a trace of marijuana at the White House, discovered by the Secret Service at the West Wing’s executive entrance. The search was made by the Secret Service, and all of these unusual drug busts have been showing up since the Biden Administration.
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the White House, where over the Fourth of July holiday weekend cocaine was discovered in an entry area where visitors place electronics and other belongings before taking tours, in Washington, U.S. June 12, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo(REUTERS)
On July 2nd, during a routine sweep, it was brought to the attention of a Secret Service agent that a white powder-like substance had been discovered. After running tests, it was found that this powder-like substance was nothing but cocaine. The narcotics were found in the hallway of the West Wing’s executive entrance.
Rep. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said in his statement, “No one was arrested in these incidents because the weight of the marijuana confiscated did not meet the legal threshold for federal charges or DC misdemeanor criminal charges as the District of Columbia had decriminalized possession.” The marijuana was collected by the officers and eventually destroyed.
In 2022, while passing through security and screening, people were caught in possession of marijuana twice before, making this the third time narcotics were found on the property. Biden Administration to be held suspicious and…
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