Hammer of justice! Drug dealers watch in bewilderment as police dressed in superhero costumes smash down door and shut down narcotics operation
The caped crusaders then force their way into the building and seize packages of cocaine and marijuana, as the suspects watch on in bewilderment.
Click above to watch the video in full.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
19 hours ago
- The Independent
Peru seizes record 4-ton mercury shipment in fight against illegal gold mining
Peruvian customs officials have seized a record-breaking shipment of illegal mercury, exposing a cross-border smuggling network that is fueling one of the Amazon's most destructive criminal economies: illicit gold mining. The 4-ton haul — the largest mercury seizure ever made in an Amazon country and one of the world's largest — was discovered in June at the port of Callao, hidden inside gravel-filled bags on a cargo ship bound for Bolivia. Though labeled as crushed stone, the shipment was flagged by customs agents based on international intelligence sharing. 'This crushed stone was laced with mercury,' said Jorge Gallo Alvarado, head of customs enforcement at SUNAT, Peru's tax and customs agency. 'It's a restricted substance because it's used in illegal alluvial mining.' The container, which originated in Mexico, was singled out for inspection by SUNAT's risk analysis team. U.S. specialists later confirmed the presence of mercury embedded in the gravel — a tactic increasingly used to avoid detection at ports. The seized goods are valued at roughly $500,000, SUNAT said. High-value illicit trade Authorities say the bust marks a turning point in efforts to dismantle the supply chains behind the Amazon's illicit gold trade. Mercury, a powerful neurotoxin banned or tightly restricted in many countries, remains essential to the process used by illegal miners across the rainforest to extract gold from river sediment. The method is simple but dangerous: miners mix mercury with gold particles to form an amalgam, then burn it off, releasing toxic vapor into the air. The leftover mercury often flows into rivers, where it transforms into methylmercury — its most dangerous form — and builds up in fish and aquatic life. 'This is a very important seizure,' said Luis Fernandez, a research professor and mercury expert at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, who traveled to Lima to assess the find. 'We don't often see mercury seizures at this scale, especially not in transit through formal customs points," he said. Fernandez estimated the mercury could have been used to produce roughly 1,600 kilograms (3,527 pounds) of gold — worth more than $172 million at current prices. 'This isn't subsistence mining,' he said. 'It's organized, high-value illicit trade with serious environmental and public health consequences.' A 'gold-mercury-drug trifecta' In Peru's Madre de Dios region, an epicenter of illegal mining, mercury contamination has been detected in drinking water, fish and even breast milk. Long-term exposure to methylmercury can cause irreversible damage to the brain and nervous system, particularly in children and pregnant women. Indigenous and riverine communities that rely on fish for food are especially vulnerable. Peruvian authorities say much of the mercury entering the country is smuggled from Mexico, where it's mined in central states such as Querétaro. Prices have surged in recent years due to booming global demand for gold, reaching as high as $330 per kilogram of mercury — and more than $3,500 per ounce of gold — earlier this year. Some of the mercury seized in June is believed to have originated in small, artisanal mines inside a UNESCO ‑protected biosphere reserve. While the Environmental Investigation Agency, a nonprofit watchdog that investigates environmental crime, has documented that at least 30 tons of mercury have been trafficked annually from Mexico to countries like Peru and Colombia by a single criminal network, the real volume is likely higher. Soaring gold prices and a 400% markup on mercury in the Amazon compared to Mexico have made smuggling increasingly lucrative. Seizures and monitoring suggest flows rose to an estimated 56 tons in 2024, with further increases expected this year. Colombia remains one of the highest per capita emitters of mercury worldwide, with total annual releases reaching up to 150 tons, much of it tied to illegal gold mining. EIA's latest investigation, released in tandem with Peru's announcement, describes a growing 'gold-mercury-drug trifecta' linking illegal mining to transnational crime and environmental degradation. The group's investigators documented how organized criminal groups — including Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel — are now involved in mercury mining and trafficking. 'Until mercury mines are no longer in operation, traffickers will leave no stone unturned to smuggle the metal,' the report states. Growing calls to close mercury mines Traffickers often disguise mercury shipments with false paperwork and front companies, allowing them to slip through customs. Once across the border, the metal is sold to illegal mining camps — often in protected forests or Indigenous territories — where it becomes almost impossible to trace. In Colombia, security sources say armed groups such as the National Liberation Army and the Gulf Clan play a central role in the mercury-for-gold trade. Similar dynamics have been reported in Brazil and Bolivia, where enforcement is weak and black-market demand is high. Although Peru ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2013, enforcement has struggled to keep up with the pace and adaptability of trafficking networks. 'These networks are agile,' Fernandez said. 'As gold prices rise, they adapt quickly. Customs authorities need tools, training, and resources to keep pace.' Adam Dolezal, extractive industries campaigner at EIA, said the seizure shows what is possible when customs systems are properly resourced and coordinated — but warned that enforcement alone won't stop the trade. 'Unless mercury production is shut down at the source, this toxic trade will continue,' Dolezal said. Calls are growing to close remaining mercury mines in Mexico and reform global controls on the metal. The issue is expected to take center stage at the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention later this year, where advocates hope to eliminate legal loopholes that allow mercury to be traded for small-scale mining. ____ ____ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Reuters
20 hours ago
- Reuters
Brazil's top court rules out Bolsonaro arrest, for now
BRASILIA, July 24 (Reuters) - Brazil's Supreme Court decided on Thursday not to order the arrest of former President Jair Bolsonaro for an "isolated" breach of court-imposed restrictions, but warned he could be imprisoned for future violations. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the case in which Bolsonaro is charged with plotting a coup, kept in place the restraining orders he imposed on the former president and clarified he is not forbidden from giving interviews. Moraes last week ordered Bolsonaro to wear an ankle bracelet and stop using social media over allegations he courted the interference of U.S. President Donald Trump, who tied new tariffs on Brazil to what he called a "witch hunt" against his ally. On Monday, the justice threatened Bolsonaro with arrest, saying he breached the restrictions on his social media use - including through third parties - when he talked to journalists in Brasilia. Moraes wrote in his Thursday decision that there is "no doubt" the order has not been complied with, saying that Bolsonaro's son Eduardo, who is in the U.S. to drum up support for his father in Washington, posted the former president's remarks on social media to benefit him. The justice added, however, that given that the breach was "isolated," it did not call for an arrest order. Bolsonaro's lawyers did not immediately comment on Thursday's decision, but the former president has always denied any wrongdoing. In an last week, Bolsonaro described Moraes' decision to prohibit his social media use as "cowardice," and said he intended to continue engaging with the press to ensure his voice was heard.
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Police raid on 'Epping migrant hotel protester': Suspect is arrested at his home as a ring of steel is put up around two taxpayer-funded asylum seeker centres amid fears of riots
Bodycam footage has captured the dramatic moment police arrested a suspect in his living room following violent clashes outside an asylum seeker hotel. Video released by Essex Police showed officers telling the man to put his hands up before handcuffing him during the arrest on suspicion of violent disorder in Epping. The man was then led away into a police car to be interviewed and so detectives could search his home for clothing he wore on July 17, the day of the incident. The arrest of the suspect aged in his 20s took place at 5.45pm yesterday when officers visited the property in Harlow. He is now being questioned in custody. In the video issued today, the arresting officer can be heard saying: 'Hello mate, you all right? Put your hands up for me mate. You are going to be arrested, you are under arrest for section two violent disorder for an offence that occurred on July 17. 'So you do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. 'The reason for your arrest is so we can interview you about it and also do post arrest searches. So we will be searching for items of clothing you were wearing on the day. Understand? 'So what we're going to do is we're going to sit you down and then have a search around the address under section 32 of Pace (Police and Criminal Evidence Act).' After the man is put into the car, the officer says of a colleague: 'He's going to come with you. He's going to sit in the back with you. You got to go behind this one.' Police said they had been investigating after a protest on July 17 turned violent, and had now made 16 arrests for offences including violent disorder and criminal damage. The latest person to be charged is Kenneth Blissett, 34, of Harlow, who was charged with theft of police equipment and possession of an offensive weapon. Blissett is on bail and is due to appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court on September. Essex Police Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said today: 'We'd promised that we'd continue our investigations into the unacceptable actions of a small number of people who chose to take advantage of peaceful protest to try to cause harm to people in Epping or to property. 'We've been analysing footage and we have investigators and trained detectives working on this operation. 'We are identifying suspects and there will be more arrests in the coming days. Put simply: If you turn up to try to cause trouble, you won't get away with it.' The force claimed protesters damaged police vehicles, threw projectiles at officers and injured eight of them. Detectives also revealed they were trying to speak to Martin Peagram, 33, who has links to Stansted. He was described as 6ft tall, of slim build, with short brown hair and facial stubble. The force also wants to speak to Philip Curson, 52, of no last known address. He is 5ft 8i tall, of stocky build, with short brown hair and full tattoo sleeves on both arms, and tattoos covering the front of his neck. Essex Police last night issued a dispersal order in Epping following the demonstrations outside the Bell Hotel. The order, which is in place from 2pm today until 8am tomorrow, covers an area including the town centre and transport hubs such as the Tube station. It gives officers the power to direct anyone suspected of committing anti-social behaviour, or planning to do so, to leave the area or face arrest. It comes after the Chief Constable of Essex Police refused to resign after footage emerged of officers escorting pro-migrant activists to an asylum seeker hotel where violent clashes erupted. Ben-Julian Harrington rejected calls from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to step down and denied claims his officers had given a higher level of protection to pro-migrant protesters. Asked if he would stand down, he said: 'No, I am not [resigning]. The issue is not about my resignation. The issue is about an effective police operation that keeps the communities of Epping safe.' The Bell Hotel has been the centre of a string of violent demonstrations after Ethiopian asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl eight days after arriving in the UK. Essex Police had initially denied it had brought Stand Up to Racism activists to the hotel on July 17 before ugly clashes broke out with anti-migrant protesters. But after being shown footage of officers leading the group from a station to the hotel, the force admitted it had provided a 'foot cordon'. In a video posted on X, Mr Farage called for Chief Constable Harrington and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex Roger Hirst to resign. The Reform leader said footage showed pro-migrant protesters being bussed in police vans to the demonstration – but police said this was 'categorically' untrue. Mr Harrington has rejected claims his officers had given a higher level of protection to pro-migrant protesters. He said: 'The only protection that officers are doing is to those lawful and law-abiding people... We are not being partial in any way, shape or form.' A force spokesman added: 'Officers did provide a foot cordon around protesters on their way to the protest, where they and others were allowed to exercise their right to protest. 'Later, some people who were clearly at risk of being hurt were also escorted by vehicle away from the area for their safety. To reiterate, we categorically did not drive any counter-protesters to the site on any occasion.' Asked about comments made by the likes of Mr Farage and others who have been accused of stoking demonstrations, he said it was 'not the police's job to clamp down on elected politicians'. 'All I'm asking is people are responsible for what they say and consider the real-world consequences,' he added.
