Crime
California Legislature Strips Psychedelics Decriminalization from Senate Bill
A California bill that would have decriminalized psychedelic drugs including psilocybin and LSD was gutted by a legislative committee, leaving only legislation to study the decriminalization proposal.
Provisions of a California bill that would have decriminalized psychedelic drugs including magic mushrooms, LSD, and MDMA were stripped from the measure by a legislative committee last week, with lawmakers instead amending the bill to only study the issue.
The measure, Senate Bill 519 from Senator Scott Wiener, would have allowed for the personal possession and use of psychedelic drugs including mescaline, ibogaine, MDMA, and psilocybin. Wiener, a Democrat from San Francisco, has said that the legislation would have helped address the disproportionate enforcement of the state’s drug laws while allowing for the therapeutic use of psychedelics, which have been shown to have potential as treatments for serious mental health issues including addiction, PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Wiener originally introduced the legislation in the California Senate last year, where it passed with a narrow majority. But opposition to the legislation in the State Assembly led him to delay a vote on the bill until this year. The Assembly Appropriations Committee considered the measure on Thursday, passing an amended version of the bill that removes the psychedelics decriminalization provisions. Instead, the new language of the bill only authorizes a study of the proposal.
The bill was amended without debate or discussion under what the Sacramento Bee characterized as “California’s shadiest rules for lawmaking,” whereby the Appropriations Committee determines which of hundreds of bills that include costs for the state will advance to a vote of the full Assembly. The senator did not learn of the change until the next day, when he said he would reintroduce the bill next year.
“I’ve now confirmed that SB 519 – decriminalizing possession and use of small quantities of certain psychedelic drugs – was amended by the Assembly Appropriations Committee to remove the decriminalization aspect of the bill,” Wiener said in a statement from his office. “As a result, the soon-to-be-amended version of SB 519 is limited to a study. While I am extremely disappointed by this result, I am looking to reintroducing this legislation next year and continuing to make the case that it’s time to end the War on Drugs. Psychedelic drugs, which are not addictive, have incredible promise when it comes to mental health and addiction treatment. We are not giving up.”
A spokesman for Wiener reportedly said that he would withdraw the amended bill from consideration.
Psychedelics Decriminalization for Mental Health in California
When he introduced the legislation in 2021, Wiener said that it would allow those with mental health conditions including PTSD and anxiety to take advantage of the potential mental health benefits of psychedelics. The legislation was supported by many drug policy and mental health advocates, although some balked at provisions that set limits on the amount of psychedelics that would be decriminalized.
“I understand the frustration from advocates over possession limits added to the bill, and my preference would have been not to have possession limits at all,” Wiener said last year, adding that the legislation stood a better chance of passage with the limits. “But sometimes you have a choice about, do you want to pass a meaningful bill, or do you want to insist on the perfect and pass no bill?”
Law enforcement groups that had originally opposed Wiener’s bill had reportedly eased their position and were willing to compromise. A spokesperson for Wiener’s office said that he was “prepared to scale the bill back” in response to concerns that were raised over the legislation, including limiting the measure to entheogenic plants and fungi, which would remove LSD and MDMA from the decriminalization bill.
SB 519 was gutted by the Appropriations Committee despite bipartisan support in the legislature and no formal opposition to the measure. The Sacramento Bee noted that 58% of Californians support psychedelics decriminalization and the bill was on a path to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for approval. But with the bill now stripped of its decriminalization provisions, veterans and others living with severe mental health disorders will have to wait at least another year to use psychedelics for relief without fear of law enforcement interference.
“The problem, as with all moral victories in politics, is that real people suffer from the delay. Like the cancer-stricken veterans who waited years for Congress to expand health care coverage to include burn pit exposure, those with PTSD will have to wait longer until they can safely access psychedelics in California that could save their lives,” Yousef Baig, assistant opinion editor of the Sacramento Bee, wrote in an editorial. “The same applies to people with addiction disorders or other mental illnesses who struggle to find relief. All they have to do is survive until California lawmakers realize that their crooked practices have consequences.”
AI & Technology
Delhi Police Expose Crypto-Laundering Network Using Chinese Apps, Two Arrested Firm Under Probe
New Delhi: The Delhi Police Crime Branch has uncovered a sophisticated cyber-laundering network that used Chinese-controlled mobile apps and fake company bank accounts to convert proceeds of cyber fraud into cryptocurrency. Two suspects have been arrested, and investigators say the racket spans multiple states with links to foreign handlers.
Elderly Victim Defrauded of ₹33.10 Lakh in Stock Investment Scam
The investigation began after an elderly Delhi resident filed an online FIR reporting a ₹33.10 lakh loss in a fake stock investment scheme. According to DCP (Crime Branch) Aditya Gautam, the victim was lured with promises of high returns before the money was siphoned off through multiple fake entities.
A team led by Inspector Ashok Kumar traced the fund trail and discovered that the money had been split and deposited across fake company accounts to obscure its origin.
Ayodhya Resident First Arrested After Fake Company Account Identified
Police found that ₹10.38 lakh was transferred to the bank account of a fictitious company named Belcrest. The account holder, Lakshya Singh of Ayodhya, was arrested on November 19.
Singh admitted he opened the account using forged documents provided by another accused, Shubham, in exchange for ₹20,000. He claimed no knowledge of the fraud and said he simply “rented out” his account.
Mastermind Shubham Nabbed Through IP Tracking of Social Media Accounts
Shubham had been evading arrest by frequently switching mobile numbers and locations. However, Crime Branch officers traced him using the IP address of his Instagram account, eventually leading to his arrest in Tilak Nagar.
During interrogation, he confessed to working under the instructions of a foreign handler, helping move fraudulent funds through India-based shell companies.
Chinese-Controlled “Cool” App Used to Convert Stolen Funds Into Cryptocurrency
A major breakthrough in the case was the discovery that the gang used a Chinese-controlled app named “Cool” to convert stolen money into cryptocurrency.
How the laundering network operated:
- Victim funds were funneled into accounts of shell companies.
- Money was then transferred to the Cool app.
- The app was used to buy cryptocurrency on behalf of the foreign handler.
- Crypto assets were sold abroad, making the money difficult to trace.
- Shubham received a commission in cryptocurrency for each transaction.
Police say this method allowed the network to bypass traditional financial checkpoints and move money across borders instantly.
Suspect Tried to Destroy Evidence After Accomplice’s Arrest
After learning of Singh’s arrest, Shubham attempted to destroy crucial evidence by burning the cheque book and SIM card associated with the Belcrest account. Despite this, police recovered his mobile phone, containing key chats, logs, and transaction details with foreign handlers.
Investigators have also identified six additional fake companies linked to the same network.
Probe Expands as Police Track Foreign Handler and More Associates
Delhi Police are now tracing other members involved in the cyber-laundering ring and working to identify the overseas handler who coordinated the movement of funds.
Officials say the case highlights how Chinese apps, fake companies, and cryptocurrency are increasingly being used to launder cybercrime proceeds in India.
A significant fraud case has come to light in Kanpur, where a trader who ordered 35 tons of used edible oil was instead delivered water, resulting in a financial loss of Rs 34 lakh. Police at Juhi Station have registered an FIR, and investigations are ongoing to track down the perpetrators.
Fraud Orchestrated via Social Media Connections
The victim, Anil Kumar Dixit, manager at Navgrah Edible Oils in Yashodanagar, connected with alleged agents Nitin and Suresh Adukia from Juhi through a social media acquaintance. The scammers claimed to act as commission agents for suppliers of used edible oil and fatty acids, offering below-market rates.
In June 2025, Dixit’s firm placed an order at Rs 92.5 per kg, sending driver Pira Ram to collect the shipment. On October 31, Rs 34 lakh was transferred to the bank account provided by the fraudsters.
Fake Documents Used to Build Trust
The criminals sent falsified weight slips and e-way bills via WhatsApp, deceiving the trader. Suspecting inconsistencies, the driver arranged a separate weighment, revealing only 24 tons of material. Laboratory tests in Kanpur later confirmed that the delivered substance was water, not oil.
Juhi police confirmed that the FIR has been filed, and a manhunt for the accused is underway.
Growing Trend of Digital Trade Frauds
Experts say the Kanpur case reflects evolving methods of trade fraud, where scammers exploit social media and digital platforms to manipulate even experienced traders. Large transactions without prior verification of goods, payments, and delivery are increasingly targeted.
Rising Fraud Cases in Kanpur
The region has seen multiple high-profile scams in recent years:
- Gold and bullion traders losing millions through WhatsApp scams
- Confiscation of counterfeit edible oils and engine oils
- Interstate networks distributing adulterated petrol and diesel uncovered by STF
These incidents indicate that both large and small traders are vulnerable to sophisticated fraud schemes.
Police and Administrative Response
Authorities have urged traders to exercise caution in online transactions and to verify delivery, payments, and product quality before finalizing high-value deals. The police are actively pursuing the culprits involved in this latest Kanpur scam.
Crime
Rs 10 Note Used to Facilitate Hawala Transactions Worth Crores: Police Busts Intricate Money Laundering Racket in Sagar
Police in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district have exposed a sophisticated hawala operation that used torn pieces of ₹10 currency notes as a covert verification method to move crores of rupees without leaving a traditional financial trail. Several suspects have been arrested, and investigators say the network may be part of a much larger money-laundering chain.
How Torn ₹10 Notes Became the Key to the Racket
According to investigators, the operators devised an unconventional system: a single ₹10 note was cut into multiple fragments, each serving as a token exchanged among hawala agents. These matching pieces functioned as proof that a payment had been made, allowing money to be transferred across regions without the physical cash ever changing hands.
Police said the method was specifically designed to avoid detection by financial monitoring systems, enabling the smooth movement of unaccounted funds while keeping beneficiaries anonymous. The simplicity and anonymity of the system made it difficult for authorities to link transactions or identify the individuals behind them.
Arrests, Seizures and Expanding Investigation
Multiple individuals allegedly involved in the hawala network have been taken into custody. During the raids, police seized cut currency notes, digital devices, transaction logs, and communication records believed to have been used to coordinate the illegal transfers.
Investigators are now working to map the broader network, track associated financial channels, and identify assets acquired through the illicit transactions. Authorities expect more arrests as they follow the money trail.
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