Illegal drug trade

Police in Brussels have intercepted a drug trafficking channel through which ecstasy pills were imported from Bulgaria.

The drug trafficking channel was detected on a tip-off of a woman who had suffered systematic abuse by her husband for years on end, according to reports of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency based on local media outlets.

Violence in the run-up to Mexico's mid-term elections this weekend has killed at least seven candidates and forced another 20 out of the race, battering the government's record on law and order. 

Pakistani authorities have seized more than 3 tons of hashish bound for the Middle East and Europe on an oil tanker, one of the country's largest hauls of the drug ever, police and coastguard officials said on May 6. 

Police seized 358 kilograms of heroin, allegedly brought from Iran and worth approximately 9 million Turkish Liras, from a flat in Istanbul's Esenyurt district on April 27.

Organized crime in the European Union generates about 110 billion euros a year, corresponding to around 1 percent of the EU?s gross domestic product, a recent report commissioned by the European Commission found, with the bulk of that coming from the ?traditional? market of illegal narcotics.

362 kilos of drugs burned at power plant

BELGRADE -- 362 kilograms of drugs worth some EUR 7.5 million were burned at the thermal power plant Nikola Tesla in Obrenovac on Thursday.

The disposal of the illegal narcotics was overseen by a government commission set up for this purpose.

Bulgaria is strategically situated along the Balkan Route for illicit drugs and other contraband trafficked from Southwest Asia into Western Europe, according to a report of the U.S. Department of State.

"Balkan group" of cocaine smugglers arrested in Spain

ZAGREB -- Croatia's Jutarnji List newspaper is reporting that "a Serb, a Croat, and a Montenegrin" have been arrested in Spain on drug trafficking charges.

Quoting Spanish media, the daily said they were caught while attempting to smuggle nearly 300 kilograms of cocaine.

A police operation was under way Monday in a housing estate in the French city of Marseille where residents said "Kalashnikov shots" were fired "in the air", sources close to the case said, adding there were no victims.
      
According to an AFP photographer on site, special forces entered the La Castellane estate, which is known for being a drug trafficking hotspot.

The trial of Naser Kelmendi started in Prishtina on Friday with EULEX Special Prosecutor Andrew Hughes giving an opening statement in front of the Basic Court in Prishtina.