Man sentenced over £50m drugs haul find on Norfolk beach – BBC News
‘A man who helped himself to cocaine that had washed up on a beach has been given a two year suspended sentence.’
BBC News, 7th November 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: drug offences
Websites allowing illegal activity ‘complicit in crime’ – BBC News
‘Websites that do not prevent the sale of illegal goods are complicit in cyber-crime, a crime chief has said.’
BBC News, 23rd October 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Modern slavery referrals up 300% in UK due to improved identification – The Guardian
‘There has been a 300% increase in the number of victims of modern slavery referred for support in the past six years, and a huge increase in the number of men from Vietnam trafficked to work in illegal cannabis farms.’
The Guardian, 16th October 2017
Source: www.theguardian.com
Refuse collector jailed for supplying drugs to 15-year-old girl who died – The Guardian
‘A refuse collector has been jailed for supplying drugs to a 15-year-old girl shortly before she collapsed and died.’
The Guardian, 22nd September 2017
Source: www.theguardian.com
Newcastle grooming gang members jailed for up to 29 years – The Guardian
‘Members of a “cynical and well-practised” grooming gang have been jailed for up to 29 years for sexually abusing vulnerable girls in Newcastle upon Tyne after plying them with drugs.’
The Guardian, 5th September 2017
Source: www.theguardian.com
New laws on laughing gas face court challenge – Daily Telegraph
‘An undergraduate who became one of the first people to be convicted for selling laughing gas or “hippy crack” is to launch an appeal after similar court cases collapsed over confusion surrounding the law.’
Daily Telegraph, 3rd September 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Laughing gas ban: Judge rules ‘hippy crack’ still legal despite law which bans psychoactive substances – The Independent
‘Laughing gas could still be legal after a judge dismissed a case, saying the drug is not covered by a law which bans “legal highs”.’
The Independent, 31st August 2017
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Three men jailed for running cannabis factory in ex-nuclear bunker – The Guardian
‘Three men have been jailed for their part in running a vast underground cannabis farm in a former nuclear bunker in Wiltshire, staffed by young Vietnamese workers who were held in slave-like conditions.’
The Guardian, 11th August 2017
Source: www.theguardian.com
18 people convicted after girls and young women groomed, drugged and raped in Newcastle – The Independent
‘Under-age girls and vulnerable young women were taken to parties in Newcastle and groomed with drugs before being raped and sexually abused, it can now be reported.’
The Independent, 9th August 2017
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Spice ban ‘puts prisoners and homeless at risk’ as street drug goes underground – The Guardian
‘The ban on new psychoactive substances, including the “zombie drug”, spice, has served to drive the trade underground as more potent and unpredictable strains enter the market, pushed by street dealers.’
The Guardian, 6th August 2017
Source: www.theguardian.com
Controlled drugs, religion and Article 9: Beneficent Spiritist Center União Do Vegetal – Law & Religion UK
‘The Beneficent Spiritist Center União do Vegetal is a religion with Christian and reincarnationist foundations; its declared objective to contribute to the spiritual development of the human being and the improvement of his or her intellectual qualities and moral virtues, without distinction of race, sex, creed, social class or nationality. In its rituals it uses hoasca tea (also known as ayahuasca). The tea is prepared from two Amazonian plants: the Mariri vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and the leaves of the Chacrona bush (Psicotria viridis). In the União do Vegetal (UDV), hoasca tea is also known as “vegetal”; and the congregations drink it for the purpose of mental concentration. The plant materials from which the tea is made contain dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a class A controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 [1-3].’
Law & Religion UK, 31st July 2017
Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com
Leicester mum jailed for gun and drugs in kitchen cupboard – BBC News
‘A mother who kept a gun and drugs in her kitchen cupboard has been jailed for eight years.’
BBC News, 9th June 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Two Manchester Spice dealers jailed – BBC News
‘Two men caught with “thousands of pounds” worth of the former legal high Spice have been jailed.’
BBC News, 1st June 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Murderers and rapists could have convictions quashed after police reveal thousands of forensics tests may have been compromised – Daily Telegraph
‘Hundreds of convicted criminals, including some murderers and rapists, could have their convictions quashed after police admitted thousands of forensic tests may have been tampered with.’
Daily Telegraph, 9th May 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
University lecturer jailed after using bitcoins to buy drugs over ‘dark web’ that led to friend’s death – Daily Telegraph
‘A university lecturer has been jailed after buying a cocktail of drugs over the “dark web” that led to the death of his friend.’
Daily Telegraph, 5th April 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Drugs seized 30 times a day in prisons, according to new data – The Guardian
‘Drugs were seized almost 30 times a day in prisons in England and Wales last year with the weight of the illegal substances confiscated reaching 225kg. The figures come from new government analysis documenting the epidemic of drugs being smuggled into the penal network.’
The Guardian, 5th March 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
First case dropped since forensic science blunders as CPS says it cannot proceed against drug driver following intervention from ‘Mr Loophole’ – Daily Telegraph
‘The first case linked to allegations of a forensic science blunder has been dropped after the CPS said it cannot proceed against a drug driver.’
Daily Telegraph, 22nd February 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Rogue forensic workers feared to have doctored the results of 500 lab tests – throwing hundreds of court cases into doubt – Daily Telegraph
‘Almost 500 criminal investigations are being reviewed after test results at a forensics lab were allegedly tampered with by two “rogue” scientists.’
Daily Telegraph, February 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Cancer sufferer jailed for 11 years after starting up ‘Breaking Bad’ drugs enterprise – Daily Telegraph
‘A former banker, who began supplying crystal meth after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, has been condemned to die in prison after being sentenced to 11-years.’
Daily Telegraph, 13th February 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Criminals fleeing British justice can no longer use Cyprus as a safe haven, judges rule, in landmark decision – Daily Telegraph
‘Fugitives from British justice cannot use Northern Cyprus to dodge punishment for their crimes, High Court judges have ruled in a landmark decision.’
Daily Telegraph, 3rd February 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
