Belgium Launches Landmark Drug Trial Involving $3.5 Billion Cocaine Smuggling

The Costa case, Belgium's largest drug trial, has commenced, featuring four criminal gangs accused of smuggling €3.5 billion worth of cocaine. This trial is expected to expose intricate networks within the drug trafficking underworld and highlight the need for enhanced international cooperation against organized crime. In the U.S., Deputy Michael Meiser of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has been arrested for allegedly conspiring with gang leaders to smuggle heroin into a detention center, underscoring issues of corruption and gang influence in jails. Meanwhile, El Menchito, a key figure in the Jalisco New Generation cartel, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in violent drug operations. Additionally, Border Patrol agents in Texas are intensifying efforts against sophisticated smuggling operations, including the use of tunnels and rafts by human smugglers. These incidents collectively illustrate the pervasive challenges posed by drug trafficking and smuggling across different regions.