Bolivian authorities incinerated 21.6 tonnes of cocaine on Tuesday following what officials described as the largest drug seizure in the country's history, according to reporting by AFP. Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo announced the destruction of the drugs, which were seized on October 15 and had been destined for Germany, in a Facebook post. "We are informing Bolivia and the international community about the incineration of 21.6 tons of seized cocaine," del Castillo wrote.

"This is the largest seizure in Bolivia's history and one of the largest in the region in recent years in a single operation," he added. The drugs were destroyed near the western city of Oruro. Law enforcement sources speaking to AFP said that while authorities initially believed the shipment contained soya mixed with cocaine, laboratory tests revealed it was pure cocaine. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) certified these results. The seizure significantly surpassed the previous record of 8.7 tonnes confiscated in January, which del Castillo had also described as unprecedented at the time.

Deputy Minister for Social Defense and Controlled Substances Jaime Mamani reported that three people connected to the company that was to export the supposed soy shipment had been arrested.

Bolivia ranks as the world's third-largest cocaine producer after Peru and Colombia, according to the UN. The country often serves as a transit route for Peruvian cocaine headed to Brazil and other nations. Bolivian authorities report seizing nearly 33 tonnes of cocaine in 2023.

The post $2B soy ploy: Bolivia destroys record-breaking cocaine bust appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Scientists have discovered traces of cocaine in wild sharks off the coast of Brazil, shedding light on the potential environmental impact of the illegal drug trade. The unprecedented study, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, reveals that all 13 Brazilian sharpnose sharks tested positive for cocaine and its metabolite, benzoylecgonine.

Between September 2021 and August 2023, fishing fleets captured the sharks – three male and ten female – off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state in southeastern Brazil. Researchers found the drug and its metabolite in the sharks' muscle tissue and livers, raising concerns about the extent of drug pollution in marine ecosystems.

While the exact source of exposure remains unclear, scientists speculate that cocaine traces may have entered coastal waters through untreated sewage discharged from rivers and urban canals. Another potential source could be cocaine packages drifting in the water, posing a risk if sharks inadvertently bite into them.

"This is the first time cocaine has been detected in wild sharks worldwide," the study's authors noted. "Our findings point to the potential impacts of the presence of illicit drugs in environments."

The discovery draws parallels to the infamous "Cocaine Bear" incident in Georgia, where a black bear overdosed on cocaine believed to have been discarded by drug smugglers. However, unlike the fictionalized movie adaptation, the bear's actual fate was likely a swift overdose.

Researchers expressed concern about cocaine potentially reentering the food chain, as these sharks are often fished for their meat. The study also revealed that cocaine levels were three times higher in muscle tissue than in the liver, with female sharks showing higher concentrations compared to males.

The amount of cocaine and benzoylecgonine found in the sharks "exceeded levels reported in the literature for fish and other aquatic organisms by up to two orders of magnitude," according to the study.

This research adds to a growing body of evidence highlighting the presence of illegal drugs and pharmaceuticals in water bodies worldwide. Previous studies in São Paulo state detected cocaine contamination posing ecological threats to marine life, including mussels and oysters. In 2019, British researchers found freshwater shrimp exposed to cocaine and other pharmaceuticals in UK rivers.

The UN reports a significant increase in global cocaine consumption over recent decades, with Brazilians among the largest consumers in South America. The researchers chose to study the sharpnose shark due to its small size and habitat in areas susceptible to sewage contamination, making it an "environmental sentinel."

As this study unveils the extent of drug pollution in marine ecosystems, it underscores the urgent need for improved wastewater treatment and stricter measures to combat drug trafficking to protect marine life and public health.

The post Sharks in Brazil test positive for cocaine appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

In a shocking turn of events, American rapper Nicki Minaj found herself embroiled in legal troubles just hours before her scheduled concert in Manchester, England. According to authorities, Minaj, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, was arrested on suspicion of drug possession at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport while en route to the UK for her "Pink Friday 2 World Tour."

They've been trying everything they possibly can to TRY to stop this tour

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) May 25, 2024

The 41-year-old artist was taken into custody by Dutch police but released after a few hours, having been fined for the alleged offense. In a statement shared on the social media platform X, law enforcement officials confirmed that an "American woman" had been apprehended for "possession of soft drugs" before being allowed to "continue her journey."

pic.twitter.com/h9UrZM9Abm

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) May 25, 2024

Despite Minaj's best efforts to salvage the situation, the promoter, Live Nation UK, was forced to postpone the Manchester show at the Co-op Live arena. "We are deeply disappointed by the inconvenience this has caused," the company said in an update, assuring that tickets would remain valid for the rescheduled concert.

In a candid social media post early Sunday, Minaj shared her side of the story, expressing her sincere apologies to fans. "After sitting in a jail cell for 5-6 hours, my plane still didn't take off for another 20 mins once I boarded" the 50-minute flight from Amsterdam, she wrote.

now they said they found weed & that another group of ppl have to come here to weigh the pre-rolls. Keep in mind they took my bags without consent. My security has already advised them those pre-rolls belong to him. Oh yea & the pilot wants me to take my ig post down.

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) May 25, 2024

Minaj, known for her outspoken nature, hinted at a potential conspiracy, stating, "They sure did know exactly how to hurt me today, but this too, shall pass." She also vowed to create "an added bonus" for ticket holders affected by the postponement.

Throughout the ordeal, the "Starships" rapper documented the events on social media, sharing videos of her interactions with authorities at the airport. In one clip, she questioned the decision to search her luggage after it had already been loaded onto the plane.  In response, her dedicated fans rallied behind her, sparking the hashtag #freenicki to trend across social media platforms. 

Minaj also alleged that certain individuals were trying to "sabotage" her successful tour, accusing them of planting evidence in her luggage and stealing money from her travel expenses. "This is how they plant things in your luggage," she wrote in one post, promising to provide video evidence and involve lawyers.

Despite the controversy, Minaj reassured fans that she would still perform at the remaining scheduled shows in Manchester on Thursday and Birmingham on Sunday. She expressed her determination to reschedule the missed Manchester concert, considering potential dates in June and July.

As the situation unfolds, Minaj's supporters eagerly await further updates, hoping for a smooth continuation of her highly anticipated world tour.

The post 'Pills N Potions' went too far? Nicki Minaj arrested in Amsterdam on suspicion of possessing drugs appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Tel Aviv University Professor Illana Gozes, along with a team of University of Hong Kong researchers, jointly received the 2021 Healthy Longevity Catalyst Awards from the US National Academy of Medicine (NAM) for their work on Alzheimer's disease.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

Gozes collaborated with Professor Victor OK Li and Dr. Jacqueline CK Lam to create an artificial intelligence-led strategy that helps select drug candidates for new Alzheimer's disease therapies.

The study shows how certain combinations of drug candidates respond to somatic gene mutations that accumulate as humans age.

"This is a great honor for me, and I am delighted that the international community sees fit to invest efforts in promoting solutions to diseases such as Alzheimer's," Gozes said, according to a university press release.

"I thank my colleagues from HKU-AI WiSe, the University of Hong Kong, led by Prof. Li and Dr. Lam, for our fruitful collaboration."

Tel Aviv University is placing a greater emphasis on aging-related research, including the diseases which accompany the process of growing older.

Age-related diseases are expected to become a larger concern in the future, with demographic shifts projecting "graying populations" in countries around the world.

Globally, over 50 million people are estimated to have Alzheimer's disease or another kind of dementia, the press release said.

This article was first published by i24NEWS

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post Israeli, Hong Kong researchers win award for AI-based Alzheimer's treatment appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Illegal migrants in Israel arrested on criminal charges, sometimes dozens of times, continue to commit crimes after being released, new data from the Israel Police obtained by Israel Hayom shows.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

Unlike Israeli citizens, who can be tracked by law enforcement agencies, illegal migrants – who live below the official radar – are harder to monitor.

From January 2020 to August 2021, 44 criminal case files were opened on a single migrant man.

"This isn't normal. The country is losing control over them," a law enforcement official told Israel Hayom, discussing the data about crimes committed by the illegal migrant population. "It's not normal that there are illegal residents with over 40 case files against them in a year and a half."

The police data was released in response to a freedom of information request filed by activist group Otef Tahana Merkazit, which is battling to stem the influx of illegal migrants into Israel.

According to the figures, in the past 19 months, police have opened 7,150 criminal cases against 1,531 illegal migrants. Estimates from the Interior Ministry's Population Registry puts the number of adult illegals residing in Israel at approximately 30,000 – meaning that 5.3% of adult illegal migrants have been the subject of a criminal complaint in the past 19 months.

The highest number of complaints against a single illegal migrant stands at 44, but the police data shows that 12 other individuals have been the subject of 30-42 complaints each. Another 42 migrants have been the subject of 20-30 complaints each, and 139 have been the subject of 10-20 complaints each.

There were 537 illegal migrants who had been involved in three to 10 complaints each, and 268 illegal migrants were the subject of two criminal complaints each. Meanwhile, 543 illegal migrants had a single criminal complaint.

"Unlike Israeli citizens, it's much harder to track illegal migrants because they don't have a regular address," a law enforcement official explained. "That makes it difficult for the police to prevent the next crime."

In 2020, the Tel Aviv district saw the most complaints filed against illegal migrants. The most common complaints were public disorder (44.1%); complaints about physical contact and/or attacks (39.9%); and property crimes (25.7%).

Complaints against illegal migrants involving sexual assault and other sexual offenses rose slightly from 2019 (which saw 125 such files opened) to 126 in 2020, the police data showed. The number of complaints involving finances, driving license violations, and administrative violations rose form 109 in 2019 to 114 in 2020.

The number of complaints related to security crimes involving illegal migrants rose from 37 in 2019 to 46 in 2020.

"We've known for years that the [south Tel Aviv neighborhood] Neve Shaanan leads the crime stats in Tel Aviv," a statement from Otef Tahana Merkazit read. 'We also know that Neve Shaanan is patrolled at the same level as east Jerusalem, and we know about every crime that isn't reported in the media," the statement continued.

The organization went on to report rampant "fights and stabbings on a daily basis," as well as "robberies, drug dealing, trade in stolen property, and prostitution" by illegal migrants.

According to the group, "the numbers reported by the Israel Police are just the tip of the iceberg. There are thousands of incidents of crime in the migrant population that aren't reported, including serious domestic violence, and thousands of incidents in which civilians don't complaint or their complaint isn't investigated, including vandalism, rioting, and gangs of kids who roam the streets at night throwing rocks. It's clear to everyone that the police won't really investigate, or that the next day a judge will release the migrant."

The group went on to say that "in Israel, judges don't ignore crime – they encourage crime as long as it doesn't reach their expensive neighborhoods. We demand that Justice Minister [Gideon Sa'ar] and Interior Minister [Ayelet Shaked] convene an urgent meeting of the Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice committee and invite the president of the Supreme Court. It's time for her and her judges to give us an explanation."

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post Israel Police data exposes rampant crime among illegal migrants appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

"People who take cannabis to treat PTSD are like a man who uses a cane. This prevents them from moving on to psychotherapy," Professor Yifrah Kaminer, a senior Israeli physician who has studied the effect of drugs on society, warns. Kaminer, who lives in the US, has tried for many years to put a mirror in front of us so that we won't fall into the trap of legalizing marijuana, despite the growing trend to decriminalize recreational use. 

Kaminer, whose expertise on this topic extends three decades, has seen how the drug can affect people. He believes that if you prescribe it to people suffering from mental issues just so they could use it as a walking cane, this would ultimately backfire and worsen their situation, and adversely impact society. 

Kaminer has witnessed the results with his own eyes in the US, where about 20 states have already legalized recreational use, including his home state of Connecticut. 

"We have seen how teens in junior high school use this drug, and the younger the starting age is, the greater the risk of developing serious issues down the road, including psychosis," he warned in an interview with Israel Hayom. 

"The second group is people who suffer from depression and anxiety, which comprises some 15-20% of the population. Studies show that using cannabis may help them in the short term, but then it begins to give them repeated depressive episodes that only get worse; we have seen a dramatic increase in suicidal tendencies [in the wake of legalization]." 

According to Kaminer, the voice of those two groups – teens and those with mental struggles – has been drowned out by the pro-legalization camp, in part because of interest groups that eye windfall profits.  

"I have been studying the treatment of adolescent substance abuse for over 30 years. I have studied more than 2,000 teens over the course of my research and what I see is that the age is getting lower and lower. And my colleagues have also noticed that teens are becoming more psychotic at a younger age, even without any familial history of psychosis," he laments. 

Not like cigarettes 

Kaminer adds that many have overlooked the big difference between cigarettes and marijuana because they don't realize that it's a matter of concentration of the substance. Legalization would make it part of people's daily lives and in high concentrations. Many also believe the drug can help cope with mental issues, but the effect has not been proved. 

"A study conducted among US veterans who were using the drug to deal with PTSD shows that those who believed that it was helping them, saw gains in the short term. Those who said they did not believe it could help them, did not see this. But both groups had experienced the same kind of PTSD, so it's very much a placebo effect. Also, those who truly believe this is a magic bullet cannot easily transition into psychotherapy and can't properly function without cannabis, and this is one of the challenges facing the healthcare professionals," he said. 

Kaminer believes that approving the recreational use of marijuana has unintended consequences. "When you smoke a cigarette, the amount of nicotine is about 0.5%. As for cocaine, the ranchers in the Andes chew on leaves that have only about 0.5% of the drug, which does not lead to addiction. But cocaine on the market is about 30% or even 60%. This is what is beginning to happen with cannabis. Cannabis products on the street can have a concentration of about 20%, which can lead to a euphoric state of mind. In oils and pastes, this can be as high as 80% or 90%. Teens who use this get psychotic." 

Just recently, with the swearing-in of a new government in Israel, the effort to legalize marijuana has picked up steam. A new Knesset committee is about to be formed on this matter and even though the coalition has failed to muster enough votes in the Knesset plenum, the proposed legislation has been moving forward and could result in people being able to sell and use the drug in small quantities. Kaminer believes that there is not enough data that would justify such a measure, especially in light of the effect this could have on at-risk populations such as adolescents. 

"To slow this train, I tell lawmakers: Before you pass such legislation, add a few amendments to control the concentration of the substance in products and to ensure vendors can only sell it at a safe distance from public buildings. Also, add a mechanism that would help keep it away from teens. It's like having a new road paved in a neighborhood but without any traffic lights, asphalt, or speed limits and then asking the public to cross it at their own risk. That is just beyond the pale.

"If the Knesset proposal sees the light of day, we have to include various amendments that would impose certain restrictions and allocate resources for enforcement of road traffic violations. In Washington and Colorado the number of deaths among drivers who had been using marijuana has doubled since legalizations in those states," he said. 

Kaminer is a psychiatrist and a senior physician at the University of Connecticut and has been at the forefront of the effort to counter the growing trend in the US to legalize the substance, and even around the world. He believes that ultimately it is the American taxpayer who would have to pay the price for the adverse effects of the move because it would hurt the development of youngsters and because it would only make PTSD patients feel worse in the long run. 

Kaminer believes that marijuana is not a gateway drug. "Those who are going to cash in from all this are the stockholders and former officials who are eager to make money off of this," he warned. 

Kaminer stresses that those who want to adopt the Dutch liberalization model of cannabis use are misguided because the substance is only legal in regulated "Coffee Shops" and generally banned in the Netherlands. About 60% of cases of drug-addiction therapy in that country are a result of cannabis use. 

Mitigate the damage

Those who believe the legalization train has already left the station claim that Kaminer is out of step with the global trend, but he believes that things are not as clear-cut. He notes that not a single country in Europe has legalized recreational use nationwide. He and others have been sounding the alarm on the impact on teens, stressing that there are not enough studies on this. "Lab mice's teenhood is just two weeks," he says. This, he claims, makes it all but impossible to extrapolate findings on human teens. 

Kaminer is on the board of the Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), an advisory group that seeks to inform lawmakers of the ramifications of legalization. Its experts, including Kaminer, testified in the Connecticut State Senate and most likely helped water down some of the provisions of the law they recently passed, by imposing restrictions on the how and where the drug can be sold. For example, some of the restrictions deal with keeping it away from schools or on how it can be advertised. 

As an Israeli, his focus now is on making sure Knesset members hear expert advice before moving forward with legalization. "Every such bill must include a budgetary estimate on the cost this could have on the economy and how to fund it, and I believe this could total some NIS 4 billion ($1.3 billion). 

"We must take into account the expected rise in car accidents and the collateral damage: loss of days of work, treatment for psychiatric disorders that could come up or get worse, including psychosis, more enforcement, and prevention efforts that would target children as early as elementary schools."

He is particularly interested in having limits imposed on the concentration of the substance on the products that would be sold if cannabis is approved, especially food products. He also seeks to close the loophole on the use of substances in vaping. "The work is cut out for us; we must engage in rigorous planning and preparations so that we don't make an unwise dash toward legalization," he warns. 

The post 'Teens are becoming more psychotic at a younger age' appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries is getting closer to returning to growth, its chief executive said on Wednesday, led by its two main branded drugs and following a corporate restructuring.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

Teva, the world's largest generic drugmaker, on Wednesday reported a first-quarter profit in line with estimates but lower-than-expected revenue, sending its New York-listed shares down 2% in late morning trading.

The Israeli-based company has focused on reducing its huge debt load, which stood at $23.2 billion at the end of March, and new products such as Huntington's disease treatment Austedo and migraine product Ajovy to replace revenue from multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone – once a blockbuster but now facing stiff competition.

"We are in the phase where the loss from Copaxone is now being balanced off by the growth in Ajovy, Austedo and biosimilars," CEO Kare Schultz said. "We're getting towards the growth phase, where we will see low single-digit growth on our top line."

In North America, Copaxone sales dipped 17% to $164 million. Austedo sales rose 20% to $146 million in the first quarter, while sales of Ajovy were up 8% to $31 million.

Shultz expressed disappointment with the pace of Ajovy sales but said he still expects the drug, which also faces tough competition, to ultimately gain a one-third market share, from 24.5% currently.

Overall, Teva earned 63 cents per diluted share excluding one-time items in the January-March period, down from 76 cents a share a year earlier. Revenue fell 9% to $3.98 billion.

Analysts had forecast Teva would earn 63 cents a share ex-items on revenue of $4.02 billion, according to I/B/E/S data from Refinitiv.

Revenue in North America dipped 5% to $2 billion and fell 13% in Europe where the company blamed COVID lockdowns for keeping people from visiting doctors. Schultz said sales in Europe should rebound in the second half as lockdowns are eased.

Income from respiratory products, generic and non-prescription drugs, and some oncology products in North America also fell.

Teva reaffirmed its 2021 forecasts of adjusted EPS of $2.50-$2.70 and revenue of $16.4-$16.8 billion, compared with adjusted EPS of $2.57 and revenue of $16.7 billion in 2020.

Schultz declined to comment on Teva's opioid case in the United States as the company is in active litigation. He also said he doubted Teva would reach deals to co-produce COVID-19 vaccines but the company remained in talks and was still willing.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post New branded drugs helping Teva move closer to growth appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

An Israeli man who had been on the run for 12 years after being convicted of a federal drug conspiracy charge has been sentenced to 30 months in prison, federal prosecutors in New Hampshire said Thursday.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

Boaz BenMoshe, 58, pleaded guilty in 2009 to conspiracy to engage in unlicensed wholesale distribution of prescription drugs, but he returned to Israel later that year before he could be sentenced.

He was brought back to the United States last summer and pleaded guilty in January to the bail jumping charge.

The court sentenced BenMoshe to 18 months in prison for the conspiracy offense and an additional 12 months for the bail jumping offense. He will receive credit for the time he has been in custody prior to sentencing.

BenMoshe's attorney Michael Iacopino said his client was "very happy" that the judge gave him time served for the 19 months he spent in an Israeli prison awaiting extradition. As a result, Ben Moshe is likely to serve less than 11 additional months of his 30-month sentence.

The post Israeli man jailed for drug charge after 12 years on the run appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Tal Prihar, a 37-year old Israeli living in Brazil, pleaded guilty Wednesday to operating illegal transactions on the darknet, including purchasing firearms, heroin, and other contraband.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

According to court documents, Phihar and his partner, another Israeli named Michael Phan, earned $8.4 million through running DeepDotWeb, a website that provided users with direct links to illegal darknet marketplaces. In return, Phihar and Phan received payments from the marketplaces in the form of bitcoin virtual currency.

To conceal the payments, Phihar transferred them from his bitcoin wallet to other accounts he owned in the names of shell companies.

DeepDotWeb was seized by federal authorities in April 2019. Both Phihar and Phan were indicted on Wednesday, and the website was shut down.

"This prosecution, seizure of the broker website, and forfeiture send a clear message that we are not only prosecuting the administrators of darknet marketplaces offering illegal goods and services, but we will also bring to justice those that aim to facilitate and profit from them," Acting Assistant Attorney-General Nicholas McQuaid of the Justice Department's Criminal Division said.

"For six years, DeepDotWeb was a gateway to facilitate the illegal purchase of items to include dangerous drugs, weapons, and malicious software," Acting Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples of the FBI's Pittsburgh Field Office said.

"Prihar profited as a byproduct from other people's dangerous transactions, and today's guilty plea sends a message to other cyber actors across the globe who think the dark web is a safe haven. The FBI works with our local, state, federal, and international partners regularly to dismantle illicit websites and go after those responsible for them," Peeples added.

Prihar pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 2 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

 Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post Israeli pleads guilty to money laundering on dark web, faces 20-year sentence appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

No injuries or damage to property belonging to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were reported. 

"IDF troops who tried to thwart the smuggling spotted a number of suspects who opened fire at them. The soldiers returned fire," the IDF said in a statement. 

It remains unclear if the IDF was successful in stopping the drug smuggling operation. An investigation into the incident has been opened and the IDF is searching for possible suspects. 

This article was originally published by i24NEWS.

The post IDF: Drug smugglers fire at troops stationed near Egyptian border appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.