Crime
Selling Weed Without a License? Trump Thinks You Should Get the Death Penalty
Trump Thinks The Death Penalty Is The Solution To Illegal Drugs
In a speech he delivered last week in Las Vegas, Nevada, Former President Donald Trump said that the US should replicate the drug policies of China where drug dealers face the death penalty after quick trials.
He discussed drastic measures which he believes are the solution for law and order in the country, praising China’s preferred method of governance. “The penalties should be very, very severe. If you look at countries throughout the world, the ones that don’t have a drug problem are ones that institute a very quick trial death penalty sentence for drug dealers,” he said.
“It sounds horrible, doesn’t it? But you know what? That’s the ones that don’t have any problem. It doesn’t take 15 years in court. It goes quickly, and you absolutely – you execute a drug dealer and you’ll save 500 lives,” he explains. He went on to say that the US needed a crack down on illegal drug dealers with the strengthening of police force, whom he thinks should be present in every corner.
“It’s terrible to say, but you take a look at every country in this world that doesn’t have a problem with drugs, they have a very strong death penalty for people that sell drugs,” Trump said.
The United States is already well on the way to spreading cannabis legalization – as well as the legalization of therapeutic psychedelics, both of which have tremendous benefits for society as proven by the data. But the opioid epidemic still haunts us, taking lives each day – and the death penalty is no solution to the opioid epidemic.
Death Penalty Is Not The Solution
If any country has a drug problem, the presence of illegal drug pushers is merely a symptom of a bigger issue. Death penalty is never the answer.
For people like Trump who think it is, their moral compass is seriously off the radar. Nobody has the right to take someone’s life from them.
According to a 2018 report by Harm Reduction International, some 35 countries around the world still issue the death penalty for drug related offenses. However, while these countries choose to use capital punishment, that doesn’t mean that it’s right or that it works. In fact, the trend is that more countries are working to abolish the death penalty for crimes – not just drug-related crimes, so if the US decides to adopt such an extreme measure, it would go against the global trend. Besides, the countries that have these measures in place don’t have any proof that it works in stopping the cycle of the illegal drug trade and the pushers behind them.
One also has to remember that in numerous cases, many people who have had no choice but to become pushers have only done so out of desperation. They are usually tricked or forced into going against the law, and oftentimes they are only teenagers. It is simply not fair to rob a teenager of their right to live – they are not the ones the law should be after.
Take the case of Shahrul Izani of Malaysia, who was only 19 years old when he was convicted of drug trafficking back in 2003. He was found with 622 grams of marijuana on him and was then given the death penalty due for 2009, with many fighting for his life. Thankfully, Amnesty International Malaysia was effective in their campaigns for his clemency and instead was sent to prison, where he is scheduled to be released in 2030.
Malaysia doesn’t disclose their execution statistics, though according to experts, more than half of the death sentences in the Asian country have been due to drug convictions. However, Iran and Malaysia were once two countries that were prime supporters of the death penalty yet both countries have already made efforts necessary to minimize having to go to this extreme for drug-related measures. It makes no sense for a country supposedly as progressive as the United States to start going in the opposite direction.
Instead, we should be looking at measures that are always humane and evidence based. More importantly, any measure should seek to address the root cause of any public health crisis. Policies are needed to ensure that marginalized communities are always protected while spreading awareness and information on harm reduction policies. Treatment and medication for those who are addicted to drugs need to be provided, but these things simply do not happen in cultures that use the drug penalty to punish drug pushers with the death penalty.
At the end of the day, capital punishment goes against the values of a democratic system. There are many things that are unfair, unjust, and inhumane about it but in the United States (and many other countries), what makes it worse is that it’s carried out on people based on their wealth status. It’s far more common for marginalized people, people of color, and the poor to be executed compared to rich, white people.
Besides, going after the death penalty will only waste resources: law enforcement, taxpayer money, and more. There is no real benefit for public health and will not even stop violent crime. Experts know that the real solution to end violent crime is to provide more employment, work on a better, more lucrative economy, and increasing the police force.
The data is there: based on the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, states that have the death penalty have a higher murder rate compared to states that don’t. It does nothing but fool the voting public that the government is indeed working on reducing violent crime but these laws really do nothing to protect you from criminals. Nobody deserves to die – not by the hand of another man and most especially not the law.
Gadag: Authorities in Karnataka have dismantled a cyber fraud network accused of exploiting students by opening bank accounts in their names and using them to channel illicit funds. Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, police confirmed.
The operation, uncovered in Gadag district, involved the seizure of 11 mobile phones and eight “bank kits,” including passbooks, ATM cards, SIM cards, and online banking credentials.
Students Targeted With Scholarship Promise
Investigators revealed that the accused allegedly targeted students by offering assistance in securing government scholarships. Under this pretext, they persuaded students—particularly those staying in hostels—to open bank accounts.
Once the accounts were created, the suspects reportedly took control of all associated banking materials, including login details and SIM cards, effectively gaining full access.
Small Deposits Used to Build Trust
To avoid suspicion, the accused allegedly deposited around ₹2,000 into each account during the setup phase. This initial transaction was used to create legitimacy and reassure victims before the accounts were misused.
Police believe these accounts were later used as “mule accounts” to route money obtained from cyber fraud operations conducted across multiple regions.
Arrests Made During Goa Operation
The investigation began earlier this month and quickly led authorities to track the suspects’ movements to Goa. Police intercepted the group while they were allegedly attempting to hand over collected bank kits to other members of the network.
The main accused—identified as Raja (23) and Vakdoth Vakeel (24)—are residents of the Vijayanagara district. During interrogation, they reportedly admitted to coordinating with other associates for commission-based transactions.
Additional Suspects and Seizures
Further arrests included individuals working and residing in Goa, such as a hotel employee and a DJ. Authorities also seized multiple bank kits linked to accounts opened in different districts, including Haveri and Gadag, primarily in branches of Bank of Maharashtra.
One key suspect remains absconding, and efforts are ongoing to track additional members of the network.
Larger Network Under Investigation
Officials suspect the operation may be part of a wider, multi-state cybercrime network. Forensic analysis of seized devices and bank transactions is underway to determine the scale of the fraud and identify links to other cases.
Cybersecurity experts note that the use of mule accounts has become a widespread tactic in financial fraud schemes. By using accounts opened in the names of unsuspecting individuals, criminals can obscure money trails and evade detection.
Rising Concern Over Student Exploitation
The case highlights a growing trend where students and vulnerable individuals are manipulated into unknowingly participating in financial crimes. Authorities have urged the public to remain cautious and avoid sharing banking details or opening accounts on behalf of others without full understanding.
Investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are expected as police continue to unravel the network.
Corporate Crime
Patna-Based Cyber Fraud Ring Busted for Crores-Scale Gas Connection Scam Targeting Mumbai Residents
Patna/Mumbai: Law enforcement authorities have dismantled an interstate cyber fraud network operating from Bihar’s capital Patna that allegedly cheated victims out of crores of rupees by posing as gas service providers. Four suspects, including the alleged mastermind, were arrested during a police raid conducted at a rented apartment in the city.
Investigators say the group specifically targeted residents of Mumbai while running its operations from Patna for several months, exploiting online communication platforms and social engineering techniques to deceive victims.
Cyber Fraud Operation Run from Patna Apartment
According to police officials, the accused had been running the fraudulent operation for nearly five to six months from a flat in the New Jaganpura locality under the jurisdiction of Ramkrishna Nagar police station.
Based on a tip-off, a cybercrime investigation team raided the apartment and arrested four individuals identified as Shridhar, Gultan Yadav, Arun Mandal, and Pankaj Kumar.
Authorities believe Shridhar, a resident of Pune in Maharashtra, orchestrated the scheme. The other suspects — Gultan Yadav, Arun Mandal, and Pankaj Kumar — are reportedly from Madhupur in Jharkhand’s Deoghar district.
Police suspect the group deliberately operated from Patna while focusing on victims in other states, particularly Mumbai, to avoid drawing local attention to their activities.
How the Gas Connection Scam Worked
Preliminary investigations reveal that the gang impersonated representatives of gas distribution agencies. Victims were approached with offers to help with new gas connections, transfers of existing connections, or disconnection services.
In several cases, victims were informed that their gas service would soon be suspended unless they made an immediate payment. The urgency created by the fraudsters reportedly pressured many individuals into transferring money without verifying the legitimacy of the request.
Authorities believe dozens of people may have fallen victim to the scam, with the total amount defrauded estimated to be in the crores.
Telegram Used to Find and Contact Victims
Investigators revealed that the gang used messaging platforms, particularly Telegram, to locate and communicate with potential victims. The suspects reportedly operated multiple channels and groups advertising assistance related to gas services and customer support.
Once a victim responded to these posts, the accused would initiate conversations and convince them to send payments through bank transfers or digital payment platforms.
Police say the scammers relied heavily on urgency and impersonation tactics to build trust and quickly obtain money before victims realized the fraud.
18 Mobile Phones Seized as Evidence
During the raid, police recovered 18 mobile phones from the suspects. Authorities believe the devices may contain critical digital evidence, including communication logs, transaction details, and data related to other potential victims.
Forensic examination of the devices is currently underway to trace the financial trail, identify bank accounts used in the fraud, and determine whether additional accomplices were involved.
Investigators are also exploring possible links between this group and other cybercrime networks operating across different states.
Cybersecurity Experts Warn About Social Engineering Scams
Cybersecurity experts caution that such fraud schemes often rely on social engineering, where criminals manipulate victims by creating urgency or fear related to essential services.
Former IPS officer and cybercrime expert Prof. Triveni Singh explained that scammers frequently send alarming messages regarding services such as gas, electricity, banking, or KYC updates.
He advised citizens to verify any payment requests directly through official customer support channels or company websites before transferring money online.
Experts say confirming information through legitimate sources remains one of the most effective ways to prevent cyber fraud.
Corruption
Excess Spending Exposes Irregularities: Corruption Case Filed Against Police Constable Driver
A police constable driver in Lucknow has been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act after an investigation revealed that his expenditure significantly exceeded his declared income, raising serious allegations of financial misconduct.
Investigation Reveals Major Income-Expenditure Discrepancy
The case concerns Constable Driver Rahul Kumar Shukla, posted in the BBD area of Lucknow. Authorities reported that during the period under review, his legitimate income was approximately ₹35.73 lakh, including salary, allowances, and arrears. However, his total expenditure was found to be ₹68.26 lakh, 91% higher than his known sources of income.
The investigation was triggered by a confidential complaint alleging accumulation of assets and spending far beyond lawful means. Authorities collected detailed information regarding Shukla’s bank transactions, assets, and financial activity. The analysis confirmed a ₹32.53 lakh gap between income and expenditure, prompting the registration of a formal corruption case.
Background of the Accused
Records indicate that Rahul Kumar Shukla, originally from Shahabpur village in Pratapgarh district, joined the Uttar Pradesh Police as a constable driver on April 26, 2003. He currently resides in Meera Vihar Colony, Panchamkheda, Lucknow.
Authorities are now examining his property records, bank accounts, and other financial documents to determine the source of the additional funds.
Possible Further Revelations
Investigators noted that in cases of disproportionate assets, financial scrutiny often spans several years. Investigators typically verify:
- Salary and allowance records
- Property purchases
- Bank and investment transactions
- Other financial activities
Authorities expect that further irregularities may emerge as the probe continues. Legal proceedings have already begun, and strict action could be taken if the allegations are confirmed.
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