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9 August 2026
Enforcement
Police uproot more than 2,000 marijuana plants in the Vatuyalewa range in the Northern Division
The Fiji Police Force said on 9 August 2026 that officers from the Northern Division Operations team had discovered and uprooted more than 2,000 plants believed to be marijuana in the rugged Vatuyalewa mountain range. In a separate operation police destroyed more than 200 further suspected marijuana plants in the Nasea farming area at Tukavesi. Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Kasiano Vusonilawe said cultivators had changed their methods to avoid detection and that enhanced information sharing and the use of drones had helped officers locate farms in difficult terrain. The operations were supported by the Joint Task Force, which includes the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. The dates of the two operations were not stated. Police separately reported multiple arrests for alleged unlawful possession of illicit drugs across all five policing divisions over the previous week. Reported by Anish Chand for the Fiji Times.
8 August 2026
Trafficking
Four arrested as police seize 22 bags of cannabis from a car and motorcycle in Barahkshetra, Sunsari
Police in Sunsari arrested four people after finding 22 bags of cannabis in a car and on a motorcycle travelling on the road between Barahkshetra and Chatara in Barahkshetra Municipality-1. The car's driver Thaman Rai (34) of Dharan, his passenger Jeevani Rai (22) of Manebhanjyang in Okhaldhunga, motorcyclist Amar Kamat (26) and pillion passenger Shankar Chaudhary (38), both of Kathari in Morang, were taken into custody and held at the area police office in Mahendranagar. District Police Office information officer Chandra Bahadur Khadka confirmed the arrests to the national news agency RSS. Reported by Enewspolar on 8 August 2026.
7 August 2026
Policy
Saint Kitts and Nevis launches cannabis seed-to-sale tracking system
The Medicinal Cannabis Authority of Saint Kitts and Nevis, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, launched a national seed-to-sale tracking system monitoring the medicinal cannabis supply chain from cultivation to retail. The digital platform was developed by the Canadian provider Grower IQ. Agriculture minister Samal Duggins said implementation of the system establishes the foundation for commercial licensing, patient registration and future research initiatives. Reported by ZIZ on 7 August 2026.
7 August 2026
Trafficking
Cannabis Regulatory Authority board member arrested with 19.2 kg of cannabis at Jenda roadblock
Police at a roadblock at Jenda in Mzimba District intercepted a Toyota Sienta travelling from Lilongwe to Mzuzu and found 19.2 kg of suspected cannabis hidden inside the vehicle. Officers arrested David Chikomeni Chirwa (49), a board member of Malawi's Cannabis Regulatory Authority known as Ras Chikomeni, together with Storm Kandodo (45). Both were charged with possession of cannabis without a permit and were expected to appear in court. The authority on whose board Chirwa sits regulates cannabis cultivation, possession and permits in Malawi. Reported by Nyasa Times on 7 August 2026.
7 August 2026
Trafficking
Two arrested at Hong Kong airport with 9.8 kg of suspected cannabis buds carried from Bangkok
Hong Kong Customs arrested two male mainland Chinese passengers, aged 37 and 32, at Hong Kong International Airport on 7 August 2026 after finding a total of about 9.8 kg of suspected cannabis buds in their carry-on suitcases, 4.8 kg in one case and 5 kg in the other. Both men had arrived on flights from Bangkok. Customs estimated the market value at about HK$2 million. One of the two was charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug for appearance at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on 10 August while the investigation continued. Reported by Bastille Post on 8 August 2026.
7 August 2026
Enforcement
Two camp residents detained with 5 kg of cannabis and ammunition in RAB raid at Kutupalong
A Rapid Action Battalion team raided Block B of the Kutupalong registered Rohingya camp in Ukhiya upazila, Cox's Bazar, at about 2.00 pm on 7 August 2026 and detained two female residents, aged 17 and 47. RAB-15 said officers found eight rounds of ammunition carried by the younger detainee and recovered 5 kg of cannabis with a mobile phone from a room near the older woman's shelter. RAB alleged both were involved in drug trafficking inside the camp; the detainees and the seized items were handed to Ukhiya police for legal action. Reported by Views Bangladesh on 8 August 2026.
7 August 2026
Trafficking
Man arrested with 18.5 kg of cannabis on the Konark Express at Hyderabad
Officers of Telangana's EAGLE Force with railway police arrested a 22-year-old man, Niranjan Pradhan, with 18.5 kg of cannabis on the Konark Express at Hyderabad on 7 August 2026 during a checking operation. Police valued the seizure at Rs 9.26 lakh and said Pradhan was carrying the consignment from Odisha towards Pune on the instructions of a supplier, Deepak Pradhan, who is absconding. The man and the seized cannabis were handed to the Government Railway Police at Nampally for investigation. Reported by Telangana Today on 7 August 2026.
7 August 2026
Trafficking
290 kg of cannabis bound for Sri Lanka seized from a van near Uchipuli, Ramanathapuram
Acting on a tip-off, the Rameswaram Sub-Divisional Crime Branch with Uchipuli police searched the Prabhan Walasai beach area of Ramanathapuram district from 4.00 am on 7 August 2026 and stopped a passing van found to be carrying about 290 kg of cannabis hidden inside. Police said the consignment was to be smuggled to Sri Lanka. Two men, P Dinesh (24) of Ramanathapuram and S Kalanjeeswaran (22) of Pillai Math near Mandapam, were arrested; an investigation into the wider network continued. Reported by ANI on 7 August 2026.
6 August 2026
Trafficking
NCB seizes more than 30 kg of hashish oil and arrests three at Dumbriguda in Alluri Sitharama Raju district
The Narcotics Control Bureau's Visakhapatnam Zonal Unit seized more than 30 kg of hashish oil valued at over ₹3 crore and arrested three men during an operation at Dumbriguda in Alluri Sitharama Raju district, Andhra Pradesh, the agency reported on 6 August 2026. The NCB described the three as part of an inter-state trafficking network: a 47-year-old from Idukki district in Kerala, a 26-year-old from Ralagadda village in Malkangiri district of Odisha said to have acted as the intermediary and a 22-year-old student from Dumbriguda said to have transported the consignment. Preliminary investigation indicated the hashish oil was procured from remote areas of Odisha; no processing site or plantation was reported found. The operation followed specific intelligence and the date of the seizure was not stated. The NCB said the investigation into other members of the network was continuing. Reported by the Deccan Chronicle.
6 August 2026
Enforcement
Excise officials incinerate 696.1 kg of seized marijuana at a disposal facility in Khammam district
The Excise department incinerated 696.1 kg of marijuana, worth an estimated ₹3.5 crore, at the government-approved disposal facility at Gopalpet in Tallada mandal, Khammam district, Telangana, on 6 August 2026. The Hindu reported that the material had been seized in 32 cases registered by four excise stations: Kothagudem (316.07 kg), Bhadrachalam (329.51 kg), Palvancha (43.62 kg) and Manuguru (6.9 kg). Khammam Deputy Commissioner Somireddy ordered the incineration, which was carried out in the presence of Excise Superintendent Srinivas Reddy, circle inspectors and other departmental officials under the prescribed procedure for the disposal of narcotic substances. The event disposed of evidence from earlier seizures; the origin of the cannabis was not stated. Reported by The Hindu.
6 August 2026
Enforcement
Police uproot 321 marijuana plants at Sitio Talahidan in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon
Operatives of the 1st Bukidnon Provincial Mobile Force Company and the Malaybalay City Police Station, coordinating with the Bukidnon Provincial Intelligence Unit, uprooted 321 fully grown plants alleged to be marijuana during a combat patrol at Sitio Talahidan, Barangay Caburacanan, Malaybalay City, at about 4.20 pm on 6 August 2026. Lieutenant Colonel Dave Mahilum, the company's commander, put the estimated market value of the crop at ₱64,200. After a physical inventory at the site witnessed by a barangay councillor, officers burned 311 hills of the contraband in place and submitted 10 hills to the Provincial Forensic Unit in Malaybalay City as representative specimens for laboratory examination. No arrests were reported. Reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on 9 August 2026.
6 August 2026
Trafficking
Devon woman pleads guilty to importing 51.2 kg of cannabis seized at Heathrow
Amy Jayne Durban (45), of Hemyock in Devon, pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court on 6 August 2026 to smuggling Class B drugs after Border Force officers found 51.2 kg of cannabis in two suitcases she brought off a Bangkok flight at Heathrow Airport on 6 July. The National Crime Agency, which investigated, said the cannabis had a street value of at least £512,000. Durban was remanded after an earlier appearance at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court and is to be sentenced on 14 October. NCA senior investigating officer Mark Abbott warned that couriers caught smuggling cannabis face prison and lasting damage to career and travel prospects. Reported by the National Crime Agency on 7 August 2026.
6 August 2026
Trafficking
Nigeria Customs intercepts 842 kg of cannabis-infused food products from the US at Tin Can Island Port
Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service Bashir Adeniyi announced on 6 August 2026 that operatives of the TinCan Island Port Command in Lagos had intercepted two 40-foot containers of cannabis-infused food products shipped from the United States, concealed among imported vehicles, generators, batteries and fabrics. The seizure comprised 8,720 Delta-8 cannabis pre-roll cookies weighing 17.44 kg, 740 packs of cannabis-infused gummies weighing 515.2 kg and 873 cartons of cannabis-infused cookies in 442 packs weighing 309.4 kg, a combined street value the service put at N373.8 million. Adeniyi said the flavoured packaging resembled ordinary snacks and could appeal to children and students. The products were handed to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, which said two suspects were in custody. The same briefing announced the interception of a container of pump-action rifle components on 8 July, from which 140 rifles had been assembled. Reported by The Eagle Online on 7 August 2026.
6 August 2026
Trafficking
Mainland Chinese passenger arrested at Hong Kong airport with about 6 kg of suspected cannabis buds
Hong Kong Customs arrested a 46-year-old male mainland Chinese passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on 6 August 2026 after finding about 6 kg of suspected cannabis buds packed in 20 bags in his carry-on suitcase. The man had arrived on a flight from Bangkok. Customs put the estimated market value at about HK$1.2 million. He was charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug for appearance at Kowloon City Magistrates' Court on 8 August; trafficking carries a maximum penalty of a HK$5 million fine and life imprisonment under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. Reported by Bastille Post on 7 August 2026.
6 August 2026
Trafficking
Truck carrying 1,315 kg of cannabis seized on the Mid-Hill Highway in Khotang
Police in Khotang seized 1,315 kg of cannabis from a truck parked in forest at Waling in Ward 7 of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality, on the Mid-Hill Highway. A team led by Inspector Nirajan Basnet of the District Police Office checked the suspiciously parked vehicle at around midnight on Thursday 6 August 2026 and found the cannabis hidden in a false bottom built between the driver's cab and the cargo bed. The truck, registered Province 1-02-002 Kh 0083, was taken to the district police office; the search for its driver and owner was continuing. Reported by Ratopati on 7 August 2026.
5 August 2026
Trafficking
Warrington woman given community order after importing 35.3 kg of cannabis from Thailand
A 27-year-old Warrington woman, Shannon Bragg of Latchford, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on 5 August 2026 after pleading guilty to importing cannabis. Bragg landed at Manchester Airport on 2 June on a flight from Bangkok carrying only hand luggage; Border Force officers found evidence in it that she had checked in two cases, retrieved the suitcases from the belt and found 32 black packages holding 35.3 kg of cannabis. The court heard she had been offered a free holiday to carry the cases back and that naivety, immaturity and an element of grooming played into her decision. Judge Nicholas Dean, saying her time on remand was punishment enough, imposed a 12-month community order with up to ten rehabilitation activity days and a 12-month mental health treatment requirement. Reported by the Warrington Guardian on 7 August 2026.
5 August 2026
Trafficking
Two Indian nationals arrested at Kathmandu bus park with 5.5 kg of cannabis carried from Thailand
A team from the Narcotics Control Bureau arrested two Indian nationals, aged 43 and 32, at the New Buspark in Gongabu, Kathmandu, on 5 August 2026. Police recovered 5 kg of cannabis brought from Thailand from the older man. The pair had come to collect the consignment in a vehicle with Uttar Pradesh plates driven from Ludhiana; when officers pursued it the driver and another occupant abandoned it on the Prithvi Highway at Kanakot in Dhading, where a further half kilogram was found hidden under the seats. SP Durga Raj Regmi said the bureau's investigation indicates cannabis smuggled from Thailand into Kathmandu moves onward to India in Indian-plated vehicles. Two absconding suspects are being sought. Reported by Ratopati on 6 August 2026.
5 August 2026
Enforcement
Police seize close to 8,000 cannabis plants at Bilobiloca farming area in the Northern Division
The Fiji Police Force reported on 5 August 2026 that close to 8,000 plants believed to be cannabis had been seized in an operation at the Bilobiloca farming area in the Northern Division. Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Kasiano Vusonilawe said the raid was made possible through information sharing, with a drone deployed to confirm the cultivation site before the operation. He said community support had been instrumental in the success of such raids and said drug operations also targeted other offences alongside illicit drugs. Police urged the public to use the 1681 line to report crime, share information or raise service concerns. Reported by Inoke Rabonu for the Fiji Sun.
4 August 2026
Enforcement
Bireuen prosecutors destroy 155.49 kg of forfeited cannabis from five concluded cases
The Bireuen District Prosecutor's Office (Kejaksaan Negeri Bireuen) destroyed 155,487.39 grams of dried cannabis and 156.66 grams of methamphetamine in the courtyard of its office in Bireuen, Aceh, on 4 August 2026. The exhibits came from five cannabis cases and 17 methamphetamine cases concluded with legally final verdicts between March and July 2026. Chief prosecutor Yarnes led the ceremony, witnessed by Bireuen police chief AKBP Yulhendri, the district office of the National Narcotics Agency, the district court and the Mahkamah Syariah. The cannabis, including a stalk more than two metres long with its root still attached, was burned; the methamphetamine was ground in a blender and mixed with water. The event disposed of evidence from earlier seizures; no cultivation site was involved and the origin of the cannabis was not stated. Reported by Yusmandin Idris for Serambi Indonesia.
4 August 2026
Policy
Gandaki Province enacts law licensing cannabis cultivation for medicinal and industrial use
Gandaki Province's Bill to Regulate and Utilise Cannabis Cultivation for Medicinal and Industrial Purposes, 2026 was authenticated by Province Chief Dilliraj Bhatta on 4 August 2026 after a second passage through the provincial assembly, which had first passed it on 14 July. The law creates five-year renewable licences for medicinal or industrial cultivation, open to applicants holding owned or leased land of at least two ropani (about 1,018 square metres) inside cultivation zones to be designated by the provincial industry and tourism ministry, with a purchase commitment from a pharmaceutical or manufacturing company. Cannabis must test at or below 0.3 percent THC before harvest, storage, transport, processing or sale. Administrative violations carry fines of Rs50,000 to Rs500,000 while unlicensed cultivation remains criminal under federal narcotics law. The law enters into force on publication in the provincial gazette and licensing awaits implementing regulations. Chief Attorney Chiranjeevi Sharma Paudel said the law was introduced primarily to benefit farmers. Reported by the Kathmandu Post on 7 August 2026.
4 August 2026
Enforcement
Two arrested as multi-agency raid yields cannabis worth KSh 1.5 million at Divayo village in Malindi
A multi-agency security team acting on intelligence raided Divayo village in Malindi Sub-County, Kilifi County, arresting two suspects and recovering cannabis with an estimated street value of KSh 1,548,000, Capital FM reported on 4 August 2026. Officers uprooted 43 kg of growing cannabis plants and confiscated 8.5 kg of harvested cannabis along with six individual rolls, a total recovery of 51.6 kg. The recovered items were secured as court exhibits at Langobaya Police Station. The two suspects remained in custody pending arraignment on drug-related charges. Reported by Yvonne Mandela for Capital FM.
3 August 2026
Trafficking
Two Indian nationals arrested at Bali airport with 10.1 kg of cannabis carried from Thailand
Customs officers at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport intercepted two Indian nationals, identified by the initials AR (28) and PC (31), on their arrival in Bali from Koh Samui via Singapore on 3 August 2026. Officers found 14 boxes holding ten packages of cannabis with a net weight of 10,110 grams concealed inside food and toy boxes in their luggage. The Ngurah Rai Customs and Excise Office put the street value at around Rp3.3 billion (about US$200,000) and said the pair had been due to continue to India; each admitted being promised US$150 by an individual in Thailand. The seizure was announced on 7 August. Reported by Antara on 7 August 2026.
3 August 2026
Trafficking
Motorcyclist arrested with cannabis after pursuit at Pap Rombe, Migori
Officers from Macalder Police Station on routine patrol in the Pap Rombe area of Nyatike sub-county signalled a motorcyclist to stop. The National Police Service said the rider failed to comply, was pursued and was intercepted shortly afterwards. A search of the rider and his luggage produced several rolls of a substance suspected to be cannabis, tightly wrapped and concealed beneath layers of clothing. The suspect was held at Macalder Police Station pending arraignment, with the impounded motorcycle and the recovered material secured as exhibits for prosecution.
3 August 2026
Enforcement
35.7 kg of cannabis recovered in dawn raid at a Molo homestead, Nakuru
Detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit based in Molo, working with officers from Molo Police Station, searched a home in the Munju area of Molo at dawn and recovered a quantity of cannabis that police believed had been prepared for distribution. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said the haul comprised one full sack, 55 blue carrier bags of five-kilogram capacity and one half-filled sack, totalling 35.7 kg with a street value of KSh 1,071,000. Eric Asande Albert, 45, was arrested at the property and held at Molo Police Station while detectives completed investigations ahead of his arraignment. The DCI said the haul was secured and detained as exhibits.
2 August 2026
Trafficking
Phuket passenger arrested at Delhi airport with 2.7 kg of suspected hydroponic cannabis
Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport arrested a passenger who arrived from Phuket on an Air India flight on 2 August 2026 after recovering four vacuum-sealed packets of a green-coloured substance suspected to be hydroponic cannabis from the baggage, weighing 2,759 grams including packing material. The passenger was intercepted after crossing the customs green channel on the basis of Advance Passenger Information System profiling, with the packets detected during X-ray screening. Delhi Customs said in a post on X that the passenger was arrested under Section 43(b) of the NDPS Act, 1985 and the substance seized with its concealing material and packaging under Section 43(a). The Tribune reported the packets had been hidden inside chocolate packets. Reported by ANI on 2 August 2026.
2 August 2026
Trafficking
Cannabis concealed under bananas seized from a Busia to Mombasa bus at Mariakani, Kilifi
Detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit in the Coast Region, working with officers from Mariakani Police Station, stopped a passenger bus travelling from Busia to Mombasa at the Mariakani weighbridge and recovered five gunny bags of cannabis hidden beneath a consignment of bananas. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said the officers acted on intelligence that led them to the weighbridge. A 45-year-old woman identified by police as the owner of the consignment was arrested at the scene and held pending arraignment. The recovered cannabis was seized as an exhibit while investigations continued.
1 August 2026
Report
Cambodia reports 105 kg of dry cannabis among seven-month drug seizures and 16,498 arrests
Cambodia's Anti-Drug Department said in a report released on 1 August 2026 that authorities arrested 16,498 drug-related suspects from January to July 2026, a 10 per cent increase on the 14,977 apprehensions in the same period of 2025. The suspects included 889 foreigners of 21 nationalities, 108 of them women. The report put seizures at 2.51 tonnes of illicit drugs plus 105 kg of dry cannabis, up from 1.91 tonnes of narcotics in the same period last year, with the confiscated drugs consisting mostly of ketamine, ecstasy, heroin, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine pills, cocaine and cathinone. Operations over the seven months also yielded 54 pistols, 18 rifles, 119 cars, 1,580 motorcycles, 7,220 telephones, 665 scales and cash assets. Cambodia does not impose the death penalty for drug trafficking; under national law, trafficking more than 80 grams of illicit drugs carries life imprisonment. Reported by Xinhua on 1 August 2026.
1 August 2026
Trafficking
Three Indian nationals arrested at Kathmandu airport with 11 kg of cannabis carried from Thailand
A team from the Narcotics Control Bureau at Koteshwar arrested three Indian nationals at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on the night of 1 August 2026 over 11 kg of cannabis carried from Thailand. Two of the men, Sonu (30) and Jagroop Singh (23), both residents of Punjab, arrived on a Cathay Pacific flight from Thailand transiting through Hong Kong; the third, Sahil (22), of Haryana, had come to the airport to receive the consignment. Police arrested all three and opened an investigation on drug charges. Reported by Onlinekhabar on 2 August 2026.
1 August 2026
Enforcement
Anti-Narcotics Unit uproots cannabis farm in Kajiado, 78.98 kg recovered
Detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit, working with officers from Ololua, uprooted an established cannabis plantation in Kajiado County following an intelligence-led operation. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said the site yielded 78.98 kg of suspected cannabis packed into five sacks, with an estimated street value of KSh 2,369,000. Joseph Leimyayan, 40, was arrested at the scene and held in custody while detectives completed investigations ahead of his arraignment. The DCI said it remained committed to curbing the cultivation and trade of narcotics. It asked the public to keep sharing information through its anonymous #FichuaKwaDCI reporting channels.
31 July 2026
Trafficking
Odisha STF seizes 497 kg of cannabis hidden under rice bags on a truck bound for Delhi
The Special Task Force of Odisha's Crime Branch said on 31 July 2026 it had seized 497 kg of ganja valued at around Rs 2.5 crore from a goods carrier truck intercepted near Pitapalli under Infovalley police limits in Khordha district. Acting on intelligence, the STF found the consignment concealed beneath bags of rice during a search under the NDPS Act, 1985. Preliminary investigation indicated the cannabis was sourced from Gajapati district, loaded at Berhampur and bound for Delhi. The Statesman identified the detained driver-cum-owner as Prem Chandra of Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh; Pragativadi identified him as Raju, son of Prem Chandra, of Chaman Nagaria village in Aligarh and gave the truck's registration as UP81ET0981. The STF said teams would travel to Uttar Pradesh and Delhi to identify suppliers, transporters, recipients and financiers and to trace the financial trail, with the accused to be produced before the jurisdictional magistrate. Reported by The Statesman and Pragativadi on 31 July 2026.
31 July 2026
Trafficking
Two arrested with 84 rolls of cannabis at Mariakani township, Kilifi
Officers from Mariakani Police Station intercepted a motorcycle in the Njoro area of Mariakani township and arrested two men, Ali Mbaji (alias Mkadinali) and Rashid Mustafa (alias Malalo). Searches of the two produced 59 and 25 large rolls of cannabis respectively, a total of 84 rolls. Both suspects were held in custody pending arraignment, with the recovered cannabis and the motorcycle secured as exhibits. The National Police Service said it would continue to act against drug trafficking and asked the public to keep sharing information to help dismantle criminal networks.
31 July 2026
Enforcement
PNP Calabarzon seizes 2,360 g of marijuana among ₱29.5M of drugs in 942 July operations
Police Regional Office 4A reported 942 anti-illegal drug operations across Calabarzon between 1 and 31 July 2026, with 1,208 people arrested and seizures valued at ₱29,563,092 under the Dangerous Drugs Board standard valuation. Cannabis accounted for 2,360 grams of dried marijuana leaves and 43.46 grams of kush, against 4,333.59 grams of shabu. Regional director Police Brig. Gen. Dominic Baccay characterised the campaign as relentless and said enforcement would continue across the Calabarzon provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon. Those arrested are held by their respective arresting units and face charges under Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Reported by Delfin T. Mallari Jr. for the Philippine Daily Inquirer on 4 August 2026.
30 July 2026
Policy
Fiji police shift Kadavu drug enforcement from raids to a community-led strategy after 12 years
Divisional Police Commander Central Superintendent Luke Cerenasiga said the Fiji Police Force was shifting its approach in Kadavu from police-led operations to a community-driven strategy, saying 12 years of drug operations on the island had not produced a significant impact. He said the direct operational presence from Suva would be reduced so local authorities and communities take responsibility for drug issues, with village leaders, chiefs and district representatives expected to identify problems, report offenders and work with police and the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs. The approach had been trialled for about two months in coordination with the Turaga na Roko Tui Kadavu. Cerenasiga said only a small number of communities were affected, pointed to Namosi's chief-led drug-free declaration as a model for other provinces, stressed that any customary action must remain within the law and rejected claims of police involvement in the Kadavu drug trade, saying no such reports had been received. Police seizures from Kadavu farms in 2021 included plants with an estimated street value of more than FJ$539 million. Reported by Sosiveta Korobiau for the Fiji Sun on 30 July 2026.
30 July 2026
Trafficking
Two Bangkok passengers arrested at Delhi airport with 18.15 kg of suspected hydroponic cannabis
Customs officers at Indira Gandhi International Airport arrested two passengers who arrived from Bangkok on 30 July 2026 after recovering 17 vacuum-sealed packets containing a green-coloured substance suspected to be hydroponic cannabis, 18.15 kg in total. The two were intercepted after crossing the customs green channel on the basis of Advance Passenger Information System profiling; X-ray screening of their baggage showed suspicious images that led to a detailed examination. Officials said the material had been concealed inside the baggage to evade detection. Both passengers were arrested and the suspected cannabis seized with its packaging under the NDPS Act, with investigation continuing into the source and intended destination. Officials disclosed the case on 1 August. Reported by The Tribune.
30 July 2026
Trafficking
Customs seize 41.5 kg of marijuana worth ₱62.3M from four Bangkok arrivals at NAIA Terminal 3
The Bureau of Customs arrested four Filipino passengers arriving from Bangkok at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on 30 July 2026 after eight pieces of luggage were found to hold suspected cannabis. BOC-NAIA District Collector Yasmin Mapa said the bags were flagged by X-ray screening and a K9 inspection conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. Physical examination recovered around 41,551 grams valued at ₱62.326 million, a figure reported by the Inquirer and Journal Online on 30 July while examination was still under way. The Daily Tribune reported on 1 August that Customs officials gave 41,851 grams with an estimated value of ₱62,776,500. That report named the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service among the units involved. The four were taken into PDEA custody and face charges of drug importation under Republic Act 9165 in relation to the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
29 July 2026
Policy
Kadavu chiefs call for stronger police presence over cannabis cultivation and methamphetamine flows
Speaking after a Kadavu Provincial Council meeting, Turaga na Tui Yale Ratu Navitalai Litidamu said chiefs were urging the government to review police operations on the island and resume regular raids, saying Kadavu continued to be known for cannabis cultivation while raids had become less frequent. He said methamphetamine was increasingly moving into the island because boats travelling to Kadavu were not inspected as boats arriving in Suva were, a gap he said affected many maritime islands. The chiefs supported the government's eradication efforts but called for proper consultation and a vakavanua approach when enforcing the law in villages. Ratu Navitalai said the council encouraged villagers to pursue alternative incomes, particularly yaqona farming, that demand in Suva continued to drive production and that officers lacked fuel and resources for regular village patrols. He proposed stationing officers in villages, with communities providing accommodation and the government supplying fuel and operational support. He noted villages had no legal authority of their own to remove people involved in drugs, with criminal matters remaining the responsibility of the police. Reported by Pita Toganivalu for fijivillage News on 29 July 2026.
29 July 2026
Trafficking
Bangkok passenger arrested at Delhi airport with nearly 9 kg of suspected hydroponic cannabis
Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport arrested a passenger arriving from Bangkok on 29 July 2026 after recovering five vacuum-sealed packets of a green-coloured substance suspected to be hydroponic cannabis, with a net weight of 8,961 grams. The passenger was intercepted after crossing the customs green channel on the basis of profiling through the Advance Passenger Information System; X-ray screening of the baggage showed suspicious images that prompted a detailed examination. The report described the material, which it termed hydroponic weed, as a high-potency form of cannabis cultivated in nutrient-rich water rather than soil. The passenger was arrested under Section 43(b) of the NDPS Act, 1985, with the contraband seized under Section 43(a) and an investigation opened into the source and intended destination of the consignment. Reported by Daijiworld on 30 July 2026.
28 July 2026
Enforcement
Odisha STF arrests three operatives of an interstate cannabis syndicate and starts a pan-India database
Odisha's Special Task Force announced on 28 July 2026 the arrest of three men it identified as operatives of an interstate cannabis trafficking syndicate, all from Ganjam district: Sibaram Biswal, 38, of Phasiguda; Sibaram Patra, 33, of Chanameri; and Kana Mitu alias Manoranjan Sabat, 49, of Berhampur, described by police as a habitual offender. The arrests stem from a case registered on 18 April under the NDPS Act after the STF intercepted an Eicher container truck on NH-16 near Pitapali in Khordha district and seized 227.4 kg of ganja being moved from Adava in Gajapati district towards Rajasthan; the driver, Paras Nath of Bhilwara in Rajasthan, was arrested during that operation. A search at Biswal's residence yielded Rs 3.86 lakh in cash together with documents police described as incriminating. The STF said it had opened a financial investigation into proceeds and assets. At a press conference in Bhubaneswar, DIG Kanwar Vishal Singh said the agency had begun a data-mapping exercise across states to build a consolidated database of interstate smugglers, with STF teams recently visiting Rajasthan and Gujarat to trace supply chains and information being shared with other states' Crime Branch units. Reported by ANI on 28 July 2026.
27 July 2026
Trafficking
110 kg of cannabis recovered after vehicle pursuit on the Eldoret-Nakuru highway
Detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations flagged down a blue Nissan Note at the KFA roundabout on the Eldoret-Nakuru highway. According to the DCI the driver accelerated instead of stopping, made a dangerous U-turn and drove towards the Eveready area, continuing on the rim after a front tyre was punctured, before the two occupants abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Emmanuel Wesonga and Stephen Daria were arrested after a pursuit. A search of the vehicle recovered five sacks holding 110 kg of cannabis with an estimated value of about KSh 3.3 million. The seizure followed coordinated operations in Nandi, Kiambu and Kisii counties days earlier in which cannabis worth KSh 13.4 million was recovered.
24 July 2026
Trafficking
Indian national arrested with 11.8 kg of cannabis at Dhaka airport after Bangkok flight
The Department of Narcotics Control announced on 25 July 2026 that Md Zulfikar Molla, an Indian national aged 33 from Rajarhat in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, had been arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka with 11.8 kg of cannabis concealed beneath clothing in 21 polythene packets in his trolley bag. Molla arrived from Bangkok on Thai Airways flight TG321. Acting on a tip-off, a DNC team led by Inspector Shahria Sharmin of the Dhaka Metro (North) Airport Circle intercepted him at the green channel of the arrival hall at about 1:30pm on 24 July and searched the bag in the presence of witnesses and airport authorities. Officials seized his Indian passport, boarding card and a smartphone with an Indian SIM card. A case was filed under the Narcotics Control Act, 2018 at Airport Police Station with Sharmin as complainant. Molla told interrogators he had planned to stay in Bangladesh for two to three days before returning to India. Reported by The Business Standard on 25 July 2026.
24 July 2026
Enforcement
Police officer arrested in Dagoretti after 20 kg of cannabis recovered from his home, Nairobi
Officers from Muthangari Police Station arrested a fellow officer after recovering two bags holding about 20 kg of suspected cannabis during a search of his residence in Dagoretti sub-county. The National Police Service said the operation followed a tip-off from members of the public about alleged illegal activities. The officer was taken into custody pending processing and arraignment, with the suspected narcotics secured as exhibits. The service said no individual would receive preferential treatment because of position or status, stating that "any person, regardless of status or position, found to be engaging in criminal activities will be subjected to due process".
23 July 2026
Policy
Prabowo names drug eradication a prerequisite for the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision
In remarks delivered by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago at the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Bogor regency, West Java, on 23 July 2026, President Prabowo Subianto described narcotics eradication as a strategic investment in national competitiveness and as a prerequisite for the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision. Prabowo said more than 4.15 million Indonesians aged between 15 and 64 had been exposed to drugs. He listed enforcement results for 2026 as including 147 kilograms of marijuana, 107.5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 1,029 grams of ketamine, 1,250 millilitres of etomidate and 6,681 ecstasy pills, with Rp167.9 billion of assets linked to money laundering confiscated. "This is a firm political commitment and a national strategy of my administration," he said. The figures were attributed to the National Narcotics Agency, the national police, the armed forces and the customs and excise directorate.
23 July 2026
Report
BNN reports 12.3 tonnes of narcotics seized over 21 months including 3.37 tonnes of cannabis buds
At the 2026 International Anti-Narcotics Day commemoration in Bogor, West Java, on 23 July 2026, National Narcotics Agency head Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto reported more than 12.3 tonnes of narcotics seized between October 2024 and July 2026, across operations in Indonesia's 34 provinces leading to 1,259 arrests. Among the itemised seizures Seto gave 12.7 kilograms of marijuana alongside 126.3 kilograms of methamphetamine and 1,428 ecstasy pills. Separately in the same account he described a joint operation with the national police and customs at Gresik in East Java that recovered about 3.37 tonnes of cannabis buds. The report does not reconcile those two cannabis figures. Seto put the trade halted at an estimated Rp16.5 trillion, about US$896 million, with Rp165 billion in money-laundering assets secured.
22 July 2026
Enforcement
Police find 19 cannabis plants hidden in Sukatendel farmland, Karo
Polres Karo with BNN Kabupaten Karo found 19 cannabis plants at Perladangan Tembuten, a farming area of Desa Sukatendel in Tiganderket district, on 22 July 2026. Five plants grew in pots while 14 stood planted in the ground. DNA Berita reported that no suspect had been named at the time of publication.
18 July 2026
Trafficking
Two arrested with 13.9 kg of cannabis at the Suo roadblock, Busia
Officers on patrol stopped a motorcycle at the Suo roadblock on the Busia-Kisumu highway and found eight packages of cannabis strapped to the body of the pillion passenger, according to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. A further search of a black travel bag uncovered more packages, bringing the total to 13.9 kg with an estimated street value of KSh 417,000. Two suspects were held in police custody pending arraignment. The recovered cannabis and the motorcycle were detained as exhibits.
16 July 2026
Policy
Fiji reports 75 per cent support for a medicinal cannabis industry in nationwide consultations
Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel said 75 per cent of people consulted supported exploring a medicinal cannabis industry in Fiji, following nationwide discussions on the future of cannabis-based medical products. Immanuel said the Nutraceutical and Medicinal Cannabis Task Force held 17 consultations across Fiji involving 518 people and 12 government agencies, with the feedback to help the government assess the sector's potential and put the right systems in place if Fiji moves forward. He described the exploration of medicinal cannabis as part of a wider plan to create new economic opportunities and diversify Fiji's industries, citing the Commercial Agriculture Task Force's progress since 2023 on investment projects in coffee, cocoa, honey, oil palm, papaya, citrus, pineapple and food manufacturing. Reported by Litia Cava for FBC News on 16 July 2026.
15 July 2026
Policy
High Court dismisses Rastafari petition to exempt sacramental cannabis use, Nairobi
Justice Bahati Mwamuye of the Milimani High Court dismissed a petition by the Rastafarian Society of Kenya challenging the constitutionality of provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act that criminalise the cultivation, possession and use of cannabis. The society had sought an exemption for sacramental use in private homes and designated places of worship rather than general decriminalisation. The judge held that the evidence tendered on the centrality of cannabis to the Rastafari faith was inconsistent, that the petitioners had not shown the impugned provisions violated their constitutional rights and that they had not exhausted available legal and administrative mechanisms before invoking the court's constitutional jurisdiction. Mwamuye ruled that "the evidence on the centrality of cannabis to the Rastafari faith was also inconsistent and does not demonstrate that its use is an essential element of the religion". He added that a national conversation was needed outside the courts and legislative houses, noting that the petitioners had shown cannabinoid products being sold openly in shops and supermarkets.
13 July 2026
Enforcement
Koops Habema task force finds 5,000 cannabis plants at two sites in Yahukimo, Highland Papua
Personnel of the RI-PNG mobile border task force, Infantry Battalion 725/Woroagi, under the Habema Joint Operations Command found about 5,000 cannabis plants at two sites in Yahukimo regency, Highland Papua, on 13 July 2026. Koops TNI Habema information chief Lieutenant Colonel M. Wirya Arthadiguna said in a written statement that roughly 3,000 plants were found at Kampung Kima and about 2,000 at Kampung Air Garam, together with one bow and 26 arrows near the second site. The find followed information gathered by personnel during a patrol, after which they carried out surveillance to confirm the location before moving in. Arthadiguna said those responsible for maintaining the plots had not yet been identified and that the command would work with police so the case could be pursued in law. Reported by Antara on 16 July 2026.
11 July 2026
Trafficking
Irish pair jailed after arriving on Réunion from Bangkok with 38 kg of cannabis in their suitcases
Customs officials at Roland Garros Airport on Réunion arrested an Irish man aged 48 and an Irish woman aged 27 on 11 July 2026 after finding a 19 kg package of cannabis in each of their suitcases on arrival from Bangkok, 38 kg in total with an estimated value of €760,000. Cork Beo reported that the suitcases contained no clothes, that the pair had been promised €50,000 each and that the man said he had been recruited in Dublin before asking the woman, a friend of his son, to take part. Both admitted guilt before the court in Saint-Denis within days of the arrest. Each received a two-year prison sentence with a lifetime ban on returning to Réunion. The outlet counted almost 30 large cannabis seizures at the island's main airport this year and described Réunion as a smuggling route from Thailand towards Africa. Reported by Cork Beo on 23 July 2026, citing local reports.
10 July 2026
Trafficking
825 kg of cannabis seized from a trailer at Voi, Taita-Taveta
Detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit based in Mombasa and Voi, working with officers from Voi Police Station, intercepted a Scania truck and trailer within Voi township and recovered 11 gunny bags holding 825 kg of cannabis. Police estimated the street value at approximately KSh 24.7 million. The truck driver Fredrick Otieno Ogode and an alleged accomplice, Edwin Ochieng Otieno, were arrested at the scene and taken into custody together with the truck and the recovered cannabis pending arraignment. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said the interception followed an intelligence-led operation. Investigations into the consignment's source and intended destination continued.
8 July 2026
Trafficking
Passenger vehicle search at Lumakanda junction yields 100 kg of cannabis, Kakamega
Officers from Lumakanda Police Station stopped a public service vehicle at Lumakanda junction in Kakamega County and arrested a passenger whose luggage held 100 kg of cannabis, with an estimated street value of KSh 3 million. Police said the roadblock had been mounted after information that traffickers were moving drugs across the region by public transport. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said its "specialized teams remain permanently deployed across major highway transit corridors" and described the case as part of a trend of traffickers attempting to blend into public service vehicles. The suspect was held at Lumakanda Police Station pending arraignment. The cannabis was secured as evidence.
5 July 2026
Policy
Thai PM Anutin warns Thailand may shut down its cannabis industry after overseas seizures
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters on 5 July 2026 that Thailand may have to reassess its cannabis policy after a series of overseas seizures traced to Thai sources. He said he was prepared to shut down the cannabis sector if authorities judged it to cause more harm than benefit. "No matter how strict our measures are, if people can still smuggle drugs out, we need to go back and reassess our approach," Anutin said, adding that Thailand needed to prevent other countries from blaming it as the weak link. Thai Examiner reported the seizures behind the statement as 1.2 tonnes in Germany across two shipments with a street value above US$13 million, about 3.37 tonnes of cannabis buds in East Java and two arrests in Hong Kong involving roughly 13 and 10 kilograms, alongside arrests of British nationals carrying cannabis in luggage. Cannabis was delisted from Thailand's narcotics list in June 2022. The change under discussion would reschedule it as a controlled narcotic, restoring police powers of seizure and arrest.
1 July 2026
Trafficking
BNN seizes 3.37 tonnes of Thai cannabis buds bound for vape production in Gresik, East Java
The National Narcotics Agency announced on 2 July 2026 the seizure of about 3.37 tonnes of cannabis buds from an industrial warehouse in Gresik regency, East Java, in operations running from 29 June to 1 July. BNN head Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto said the consignment originated in Thailand and was declared as imported goods, with a recorded brute weight of 3,371,400 grams held in roughly 500 suitcases and 80 cardboard bales. BNN said the buds were intended for extraction into tetrahydrocannabinol as a base for electronic cigarette refill liquid, with distribution planned for cities including Jakarta and Bali. Twelve people were detained, among them transporters, company administrators, a truck driver, a port official and a Chinese national said to run the warehouse. BNN named a Malaysian national and a Chinese national outside Indonesian jurisdiction as controlling the network. The operation was conducted with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise and the East Java regional police.
20 June 2026
Policy
Himachal Pradesh cabinet approves NDPS rules amendment for regulated medicinal cannabis cultivation
On 20 June 2026 the Himachal Pradesh cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, approved amendments to the state's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Rules 1989, establishing a framework for the regulated cultivation, processing, storage and transport of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes. Announcing the decision, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis would be tightly regulated and described the move as an "important and visionary decision" intended to raise farmer incomes and to supply the textile, cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors. Negi said medicinal cultivation would follow a licensed model comparable to opium production in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, with a limited number of licences issued initially, and that industrial hemp would be grown for fibre and seed. Reported by ANI; regulatory detail corroborated by LawStreet.
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